6 Humidity-Proof Hairstyles to Keep You Frizz-Free All Summer Long

Stylist-approved ways to keep the frizzies away.

Ah, summer. There are so many things to love about the season: Long days spent at the beach, lazy afternoons on the porch, a cold glass of rosé (or orange wine). The only potential spoiler to all this fun? Untamed, frizzy, hot mess hair. No matter your hair type, texture, or length, heat and humidity can take a toll on your tresses, and make styling a serious chore. So to alleviate all your hot weather tress stress, we asked top stylists to share their favorite cute summer hairstyles.

There are a few universal things to keep in mind. One, whenever you can, get your hair up. "As the temperatures rise, I love to create fashionable summer hairstyles that keep your neck free. This keeps you cooler longer, but it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on style," says celebrity hairstylist Laurie Heaps. Two: Have fun! Now’s the time to play around with accessories like brightly colored pins or scarves and easy ways to add visual interest to otherwise simple styles. And when all else fails, don’t forget that a simple topknot or loose bun is always a good back-up option, notes John Mouzakis, a stylist at Mixed Co. Salon in Chicago. (And to that point, he advises always keeping a few extra bobby pins or hair ties on hand, just in case). Ahead, the six best summer hairstyles for 2019. Happy summer!

For Short Hair: Half-Up Topknot

When your hair isn’t long enough to pull up completely, try this versatile ‘do, pulling back just the front section. “This is a great look for work or play, and works especially well on second-day hair,” points out Mouzakis. (An added bonus, since really, who wants to be washing and re-styling their hair every day, especially during the summer?)

Take the top section of your hair, stretching from temple to temple, and pull it up, twisting it into a loose topknot and securing with either a hair tie or bobby pins. You can either brush it back or keep it parted in the center, then wear the rest of your hair straight or with a little texture, Mouzakis says—both look just as good. And for an unexpected and summery pop, try using fun, colored bobby pins to secure the topknot, like the Conair Scunci Everyday & Active No-Slip Grip Bobby Pins ($4; target.com).

For Medium Hair: Beachy Bun

Rock this look whether or not you just spent a day enjoying the surf and sand. There are two secrets to success here. One, lots and lots of texture. If you are lucky enough to be coming off a beach day, all that saltwater and wind will probably have done the trick. But if not, you can easily recreate the same effect with the right type of product. Try misting a wave-enhancing spray on damp hair before air-drying or blow-drying. Our pick: Colorproof SeaSugar Salt-Free Beach Spray ($28;

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). Either way, start by sweeping hair up and securing into a high pony. Add even more texture at this point by sprinkling the ponytail with a texturizing powder, like BioSilk Volumizing Therapy Texturizing Powder ($12; walmart.com). This both creates volume and gives the hair just the right amount of grip so that it won’t slip. Use a clear elastic and loop hair into a bun—the messier the better. But don’t stop there. The key to this summer hairstyle for medium hair is to then repeat this process, looping the bun into another bun to add more structure, Heaps says.

For Long Hair: Scarf Braid

"I love a fun braid with a headscarf, especially for hot summer days," says Jenny Cho, Suave celebrity stylist, who created this look. Adding some texture and volume to your hair pre-braiding is key to ensuring the finished plait looks nice and full, so start by applying an apricot-size dollop of mousse throughout towel-dried hair. One to try is Suave Professional Firm Control Boosting Mousse ($4; walmart.com). Blow-dry or let it air-dry, then pull it back. Create a traditional French braid, treating the scarf as part of one of the three sections of hair you're braiding. Secure the ends with an elastic, then knot the scarf around that. Finish by tugging on either side of the braid to loosen it and make it appear thicker.

For Natural Hair: Loose Chignon

Don’t fight your natural texture—curls, waves, and everything in between—embrace it. First, loosely pull your hair back into a ponytail at the nape of your neck. Using bobby pins, pin a section of hair from the middle of the ponytail an inch or two above the hair tie, repeating this until all the remaining length has been pinned up. The best part? “It doesn’t have to be perfect,” says Heaps. In fact, the more undone the better; you can even pull out a few pieces as needed for more texture and dimension. This is the style to opt for when you need your hair to look just as good at the start of the day as it does at the end. You can also dress it up by wrapping a printed scarf around the base of the ponytail.

For Curly Hair: Defined Curls

Any attempt you make to completely straighten your curls likely won’t last long in the heat and humidity. Instead, Mouzakis recommends working with what you’ve got and simply enhancing your curls: “Twist in a curl lotion or cream, and let hair air dry,” he says. Try Oribe Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Créme ($46;

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). You can then touch up any pieces that aren’t falling just so with a curling iron. Heaps likes the CHI Lava Wand ($80; ulta.com) since you can use it to define any size curl depending on which part of the wand you twist your hair around. Finally, instead of brushing them out, use your fingers to piece out and separate the spirals ever so slightly. And if all else fails, “Pull your hair into a low bun and call it a day,” says Mouzakis.

For Black Hair: Curly Ponytail

A contrast between smooth strands and plenty of texture, this look is a great way to save time, says Mouzakis. “The root area is always the hardest area to style on ethnic hair, especially when you’re dealing with heat and humidity,” he says. Use a bit of smoothing gel, like SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Soufflé ($13; ulta.com) to smooth down just the top part, letting your texture do its thing throughout the lengths of a ponytail. You can also either wear the pony low, or higher up on your head. Consider this the perfect opportunity to pop in a patterned scrunchie, like these Rhode Patterned Scrunchies ($15 each; shopbop.com). Yep, scrunchies are back in a big way, and are an easy way to add a little visual interest to this and other cute summer hairstyles.