Hair & Makeup

The Hottest Hair Trends For Summer 2025

The season for carefree, effortlessly elevated hair is here. MALENA HARBERS highlights the trending styles, cuts and colors to inspire you.

Beauty
Jodie Comer's sun-kissed highlights

Going blonde? Consider sunset-hued micro-balayage

“One of the biggest things that has happened in the last year is how micro-balayage has become our go-to technique for blondes,” says Zoë Irwin, trend forecaster and creative director at John Frieda. Where balayage paints sun-kissed highlights onto hair for all-over brightening, this new technique is much softer and subtler, adding a hint of sparkle to a darker base. “It’s ideal if you don’t want to be committed to coloring your hair all the time,” says Irwin. “What’s key is that the ends of the hair have tones of metallic bronze, and what I would call desert rose [a strawberry blonde], which are both super-flattering.” Nicola Clarke, celebrity hair colorist who applies this technique to her clients Emilia Clarke and Jodie Comer agrees: “From a colorist’s point of view, pink suits most skin tones, from pale to dark-olive. “Especially when you have a darker hair color base, adding glimmers of this tone throughout your hair is very wearable.”

Try the most requested bob hairstyle

While the bob haircut – in every iteration – has been trending for seasons, this summer is all about the classic French bob. Chin-length with blunt ends, yet still effortlessly tousled (think Sofia Richie Grainge here) it’s an easy, low-maintenance chop. “Everyone wants a style that requires little upkeep and this cut is about keeping it simple,” says London-based stylist and Virtue Labs ambassador Jonny Eagland. “You want it to almost look as if you’ve done it yourself.” When going for the chop, it’s important to keep hair texture in mind. “With curly hair, you can’t go too short because the curl will shrink up. You also need to remove some of the weight to get more lightness into the look.”

When it comes to styling, keep it natural too. “A leave-in conditioner and air-drying is the best way for the natural texture of spiral curls to come out. For all hair types, tuck your hair around the ears when it’s damp – to get that hourglass ‘S’ shape around the front pieces as it dries. For straighter or finer hair, run a hydrating styling cream over the top when dry to ensure a glossy, hydrated finish.”

Halle Berry, Kiera Knightley and Sofia Richie Grainge are all fans of the bob
Stephanie Suganami’s ‘on vacation’ waves

Embrace ‘on vacation’ waves

“Waves and movement are big right now,” says hairstylist Larry King. If your hair is naturally wavy, apply a mousse or styling spray on freshly washed hair for hold; then braid it and let it dry overnight to get a tousled texture when undone the next morning. For a faster approach, or if your hair is fine and straight, curl one-inch sections of dry hair, leaving the ends free – so it looks more natural. “Avoid volume at the roots by placing the iron two inches down the hair shaft,” says King. Start slightly higher the shorter your hair is. “Break up the waves with your fingers and add a dollop of styling cream to smooth frizz and add definition,” he suggests. For a slightly messier, I-woke-up-like-this energy, mist with a salt spray to finish.

Opt for a monotone brunette

“From Selena Gomez to Margaret Qualley and Rihanna, the A-list are choosing a classic, ultra-deep mono shade when it comes being brunette,” says Clarke. “Getting that depth of tone makes your skin tone and eye color pop and really delivers on shine, health and a polished finish,” affirms Irwin. “It’s great for summer’s fresh, short cuts, like the pixie or French bob, and pairs so well with a statement lip.” While it involves a relatively easy application of a solid strong color to get the look, there are little tricks to ensure the finish is polished and expensive and delivers that glam Hollywood effect. “Ask your colorist for that first half a centimeter of the hairline around your face to be a tiny bit lighter than the rest of your hair, so you don’t get a completely uniform, box-dye effect,” advises Clark.

Monotone brunettes Selena Gomez and Priyanka Chopra
Dakota Johnson modeling a most luxurious luster

Lock in a luxurious luster

Reflective, ultra healthy-looking hair is always in demand – especially when temperatures rise. But this summer the look is softer – more naturally glossy than the mirror-shine, glass-hair trend of seasons past. To guarantee good gloss when sun, sand, sea, pool and frizz-inducing humidity are at play, use products that both restore moisture levels and protect against sun damage while enhancing shine.

To start, incorporate a weekly deep treatment hair mask into your routine. Sisley Paris The Intense Nutrition Hair Care Mask contains a blend of proteins, ceramides and glycerine to fortify and revive shine. For easy daily maintenance, a dollop of Oribe Gold Lust Restorative Night Crème For Hair applied nightly leaves strands soft and hydrated, not sticky or crunchy, the morning after. And for textured, curly or coarse hair, there’s nothing better than Oribe’s aptly named Mirror Rinse Glass Hair Treatment. Use it in place of, or after, your conditioner to lock in a smooth, sheeny finish for days.

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