Get Insta-worthy poolside hair
We may not spend all our days on a beach, with walnut-tanned skin and perfectly honed bodies, being paid a fortune to post pictures in our swimwear, but what we CAN have in common with all those stunning bikini model accounts we follow on Instagram (A Bikini A Day, we mean you!) is tousled, beachy, fresh-off-the-yacht locks that ooze sex appeal, nonchalance and serious summer feels.
When it comes to styling hair for summer – whether it’s for some poolside cabana lounging or a beach party– the key is to have a handful of go-to styles, that are quick and easy to create, will last all day (even when it’s pushing 40 degrees and the humidity threatens to turn us all Monica Geller) but will also, most crucially, look stylish and effortlessly sexy. We’ve searched, spotted and taken note of the styles that epitomize our favorite swimwear accounts and travelling Insta-models – read on to replicate.
Braids are everything that poolside styling should be. Braid dry hair – it gives you a better idea of how the finished braid will look – and if hair needs extra guts, use a dry shampoo to add volume and body. Our favorite is Soap & Glory Rushower Dry Shampoo* (extra bonus points for the yummy scent, that is released every time you ruffle your fingers through your hair). Create a scalp braid that follows the top section of the crown, pulling hairs away from your face. The ends of hair can then either be tied up, in to a top-knot, pulled back in to a chic pony, or can be left loose.
For a truly Instagrammable look, that’s the hallmark of the bikini model tribe, go for textured waves. To create beachy waves in hair that has a slight natural kink to it, a salt spray, such as Label.M Sea Salt Spray is ideal. Dampen hair with the spray and braid. Keep the braid chunky, loose and slightly uneven, for finished waves that look unkempt and effortless. When hair is dry remove the plaits and hair will be left with long-lasting beachy waves.
Finally, with all that time spent in the sun, the bikini models of Instagram wouldn’t dream of not using protection. Always use a protective product after washing and before styling, to shield hair from the damage-causing sunrays and moisture-stripping effects of chlorine. We heart Kerastase Soleil Masque.
How do you wear yours? Tell us your top poolside styles below...
* The travel-sized 50ml version is available in your July Roccabox, for UK subscribers only