Hair and Make-up: A Summer Guide

Summers are upon us and monsoons will be here soon after. The point? Changing seasons will soon start taking a toll on our hair and skin! Fancy hairstyles will fail in face of the humidity and no kind of make-up really seems to work in the summer months. Fretting already? Don’t fear. Help is at hand. We whittle down the season’s most non-fussy trends, endorsed by industry experts
Up, short or scrunched hair
It is time to sport easy-to-do textured ponytails, top knots, chignons and messy buns. One can further add to the styling, by weaving the hair in rope-like braids, fishtail or a French plait. In case you are on a vacation, the sexy mermaid hair can be a game changer. Suggests Gourav Bhardwaj, Creative Stylist, LOOKS Salon, “In fact, the best time to show your artistic abilities when you are traveling. Go ahead and play with the braids, scrunch them up to give a beach-like look and people around you will love it. Always carry compatible products according to your hair and destination.” In this weather, you can risk it all!
In case you are looking to go short, be it a pixie, bob or lob, take cues from Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, Nargis Fakri and Frieda Pinto and have your hair cut the way they have done. In case you have curly or frizzy hair, Kangana Ranaut can be your serious summer hair inspiration. One can accentuate the ‘basic’ look by sporting accessories like hair bands, claws, crystal-embellished pins, flowers and clips.
Just remember to not load on too much product on the hair, as the weather is already humid and maintenance during this time becomes a major concern; so remember ‘less’ goes a long way in this weather.
Barely there make-up
Summer is about going bare in terms of make-up, but you must wear sunscreen to protect your skin. This is also the time to use your tints and BB creams and experiment with different coloured kohls and eyeliners. Suggests celebrity make-up guru, Puneet B. Saini, “It is a great idea to incorporate neutral colours in make-up, as they match with every skin tone. One product that I absolutely love for all seasons is the mascara, as it opens up your eyes when applied correctly and can really make a marked difference to your overall look. Opt for a waterproof one as it will stay put, no matter how sweaty and rainy the day is. For the evenings, one can opt for a bronzed smoky eye instead of the regular black one and team that up with a deep burgundy or a pinkish red mouth to add a sultry twist to the look.”
With an approach towards less is more, Ambika Pillai, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Ambika Pillai Salons says, “There should be nothing drastically heavy on the face. The more luminous the skin, the more people will appreciate your beauty. Solid mouth in the shades of coral, peach, rose pink and orange works beautifully in this season.”
Gorgeous nails
This season, some of the most dazzling nail lacquers and patterns are waiting for you to embrace them. To get away from those lifeless maroons and blacks, Disha Meher, National Expert – Skin and Nails, Lakmé Salons, advises experimenting with a dual-tone French manicure. It can be a feast to your eyes! Try adding colourful shots of blue, vintage rose, pastel ombré, classic reds or bright whites; further experimenting with styles like translucent glitter and poppy flower art will surely make you look, and feel, as fresh as a daisy!