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Wash 'n' wear cuts for summer

Giving your hair a break from styling tools (and possibly even products) is always a good thing, and in this day and age, the more precious seconds you can save the better right? At the same time, you don't want to have to trade looking-good for more time on the clock - and neither do you have to!

In the 1960’s famed British hairdresser, Vidal Sassoon transformed the hair industry with his pioneering “wash and wear” philosophy that dubbed him “the Chanel of hair.” He revolutionised hair-art by creating cuts that give the illusion of endless styling, but are in fact extremely low maintenance.

Summer calls for easy breezy carefree hairstyles that make you feel fabulous and look great – naturally. We've chosen 3 classic Vidal-inspired cuts that - as well as being super versatile and simple to maintain - are effortlessly chic and a little bit edgy!

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Short and Sweet

Taking cue from Mia Farrow’s “Rosemary’s Baby” pixie cut, Michelle William’s soft and feathered crop really puts your bone structure in the spotlight. This strong but feminine style is a no-fuss cut that requires minimal styling.

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The Mod Bob 

Nancy Kwan’s inverted bob was first made famous in the sixties, but it’s made a comeback with A-listers such as Keira Knightley, sporting the super elegant style. Drawing focus to your eyes and cheekbones, this uber chic cut with it’s voluminous flair, is a guaranteed showstopper!

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Fancy Free!

Jean Shrimpton worked it in the sixties and Alexa Chung is rocking is now! With a choppy fringe and layers that frame the face, this longer cut works particularly well for hair that has a natural wave. It creates a textured and carefree, layered style that looks fantastic - slick and straight or tousled and wavy.

 

Get the look: Emma Stone’s relaxed retro up-do

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This last week has marked the world premiere and subsequent release of the new Spiderman film: The Amazing Spider-Man, in Tokyo, Seoul and Moscow. Leading lady, Emma Stone has looked strikingly chic at each of the red-carpet events with stunning outfits and classy hairstyles.

We particularly loved her soft and sophisticated up-do at the Seoul Premiere. Her strawberry blonde locks were swept high in a bouffant style, enhanced with a voluminous bun. Paired with a striking printed Fendi dress and Stella McCartney heels, Ms Stone looked charmingly fresh and elegant.

This modern-take on the retro beehive style is super versatile and can carry you from day-time errands to a formal evening event.

Replicate Emma’s style by following these simple steps…

• Begin by applying styling mousse and blow-drying your hair.


• Separate your hair into two sections (a front and a back section) by drawing a line from just in front of one ear, over the top of your head to the other ear. Clip the front section out of the way for the moment.


• Take the back section and tease volume at the crown of your head (teasing is great for creating height and control).


• Draw your hair back into a loose high ponytail and secure with a hair tie.


• Form a deep side parting in the front section and lightly tease both sides for added volume and texture. (If you have a fringe side-sweep it so that it seamlessly blends into a side section.)


• Smooth each section with your comb and sweep both sides back to your ponytail securing with bobby pins.


• Heavily tease your ponytail and then loosely twist it into a relaxed bun - pinning it in place.


• Smooth away any stray strands, and finish with a spritz of hairspray to fix the style.

Summer hair care

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The summer months have finally arrived! The days are longer, the sun is higher and the summery warmth is setting in. It’s time for summer soirees and basking in the golden light at the beach, lake or poolside.

But for all its benefits, the summer season can take its toll on your hair. Just like your skin, your hair needs protection from the sun and water in order stay healthy and hydrated. As well as the sun’s heat and resulting humidity, your hair is exposed to salty seawater and the chlorine in pools. These summer charms can damage your tresses leaving them dry, brittle and discoloured.

Here are a few essential tips, to avoid damaging your locks and maintain healthy hair while enjoying the rays this summer:

Give heat the cold-shoulder
With all the heat your hair will be getting from the sun, try to take a break from hot stylers (hairdryer, curling and straightening irons). Air-dry your hair (with rollers for added volume) or consider a new “wash and wear” haircut that will air-dry in style. Help combat potential frizzy hair and limit the amount of sun reaching your locks, by sweeping your hair back in a high pony, low bun, or braided arrangement (dry your hair in braids for natural beach-worthy waves.)

Shield your hair from the water and rays
Intensive moisturising will help you avoid dry, brittle, frizzy hair. Replenish and maintain moisture, with regular deep conditioning treatments. Book a treatment at Wellbeing, give yourself a hair mask or use a quality leave-in conditioner (especially when sunbathing or swimming). As well as hydrating your hair, keep your body hydrated with eight to twelve glasses of water a day – it’s good for your hair and your health!

Cover up
Your hair can get sunburnt just like your scalp. Prevent sun damage by slipping on a super cute sunhat or headscarf, when you’re going to be in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. As well as protecting your head and hair, hats and head wraps are a quick fix on bad hair days for effortless style (check out our guide to wearing headscarves).

Rinse well
After swimming, make sure you give your hair a good rinse (ideally a shampoo and condition too) to wash away the salt and chlorine trapped in your tresses.

Take care
Prevent split ends by making sure you don’t over-brush your hair. Try to restrict your combing to before and after showering (carefully untangle knots – no need to tug too hard).

Stay trim
Dry hair leads to frizzies and split ends. Make sure you have your locks trimmed every six to eight weeks to rid your hair of damaged ends.

Braided Beauty

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We have a bit of a crush on plaits. Though they may initially trigger memories of your schoolgirl days, just as you have matured into a graceful beauty, so have braids!

Bohemian braids are a timeless festival style combining pretty plaits with loose wavy tresses. Weave your fringe into a braid that hugs your hairline, fashion a partial French braid on one or both sides and secure behind your ear, or create two mini English braids and draw them back to meet at the back of your head. These carefree, laced looks are easy to achieve and provide instant boho-chic.

For a soft elegance, sweep your locks into a relaxed side-laden plait. Create a deep side parting and braid a French plait along your hairline into a fishtail braid that rests over your shoulder. For a more understated version, simply weave a tousled English plait, leaving wavy strands to frame your face.

Halo braids are the epitome of girlish charm. Taking cue from Heidi and her fellow milkmaids, this plaited style is both whimsical and romantic. Crown yourself with a braided halo by forming a French or Dutch plait from behind one ear. Following your hairline, continue plaiting across your forehead, adding hair as you go. Once you’ve gone full circle, simply plait any remaining free hair and tuck it into your halo. This style looks best a little dishevelled and loose.

Lacing your locks creates an instant statement style that exudes femininity. Whether thick and full or delicate and dainty, English, French, Dutch or fishtail - braids are super versatile and relatively easy to fashion. And as well as being an ideal way to sweep your hair off your face, braids create texture and volume without having to spend an exuberant amount of time and effort with hair-stylers and products.

BRAIDS TO MASTER:


English Braid

• This is the standard school braid and is the perfect plait to start with if you’re a beginner.


• Part your hair evenly into three sections.


• Take the right-hand section over the top of the middle section, so that it becomes the new centre piece.


• Now cross the left section over the centre piece, so that it converts to middle position.


• Continue crossing the right and left sections over to the middle until your braid is finished.


• Secure with a hair tie or suitable clip.

French Braid

• Take a small section of hair and part it into 3 equal sections.


• Commence with a regular English braid.


• After a few initial weaves, begin drawing small portions of hair into the right and left strands just before you cross them over the middle piece.


• Continue this process until you have no more hair to add.


• Finish by English plaiting the remaining free hair or twisting it into a loose bun.


• Secure with a hair tie or suitable clip.

Dutch Braid

• Follow the same process as a French braid, except instead of crossing sections over the top of each other, cross them underneath so that the braid is inverted and exposed.

Fish Tail

• Part your hair evenly into two sections.


• Take a small piece of hair from underneath one of the sections and wrap it around and over to join the other section.


• Reset your hands, so you’re holding two sections again and repeat the same process with the other section.


• Continue taking small portions of hair from under one section and transferring them over to the other section, until your braid is finished.


• Lightly tug the edges of your braid to create a wider, fuller looking plait.