1 min read
From flowing waves to Cheryl Cole-style "big hair" and full-on candy floss frizz, the styles for summer and autumn are full of movement, volume and texture and - like the seasons' fashion they are designed to complement - they owe a lot to earlier decades.
Centre partings, eye-skimming fringes and varied lengths have all made a return, says Akin Konizi, creative director of HOB Salons, "but they work with the hair's natural movement which gives a more wearable and on-trend look."
Ponytails, worn low with flyaway pieces falling on to the face, chignons and rope braids are all hot right now according to Neil Moodie for Bumble and Bumble.
Moodie, who is a regular backstage at runway shows, says a ponytail is perfect for younger women, while a relaxed chignon is an ideal style for the not so young.
"Loosely wrap the ends of the ponytail around the tied section and pin into the back of the head," he explains.
Michael Charalambous, at Mayfair's Nyumba, believes big hair is going to remain strong throughout autumn.
"But you want movement and softness, not helmet hair. Go for height if you have a round or square face or short neck; for those with a small face or narrow shoulders, create width," he advises.
If your hair needs extra va-va voom, Neil Moodie recommends TheO (from £152.95, www.cloudninehair.com), a set of heated Velcro rollers that warm up in four seconds."Soft waves and volume are perfect for the summer, but will also make you fashion forward," says Moodie.
With fashion's love affair with the 70s, it is hardly surprising that the perm is also back. Jon Halacoglu from Hari's on Kings Road says: "A perm is perfect for wavy, beach hair, and it is low maintenance."
And the news from Neville Tucker of Neville Hair and Beauty in Belgravia, is that the newest version of Ombré hair (the "two-tone" look adopted by, among others, Alexa Chung, Sarah Jessica-Parker and Rachel Bilson) is "more subtle".
"Our Ombré dip-dye technique was brought over from LA," says Tucker. "The ends of the hair should look like they have been lifted by the sun, and connect to the rest of the hair with a few natural highlights around the face to stop the ugly contrast with darker roots."
Antoinette Beenders, creative director for Aveda, feels this is also a strong look for autumn as it resembles a summer grow-out "and is relatively low-maintainance".
Another key trend, moving from summer into autumn, is red. Christel Lundqvist, colour director for HOB Salons recommends making reds slightly richer and deeper as autumn approaches. She also notes notes that red fades quickly and recommends protecting red hair from the sun with leave-in hair protector or a sun-hat.
