4 Easy Summer Hair and Makeup Tips

Four easy summer hair and makeup tips that will help your survive the hot, humid days ahead ... and look beautiful while doing it!

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Summer Hair and Makeup Tips

Do you ever feel like a hot mess after a long summer day? I am totally with you.

At the slightest hint of humidity my hair tends to frizz and my makeup begins to melt, and the heat doesn't help either. It's not a pretty sight!

It's been really hot and humid in New York lately, so I'm in full-on defense mode! I have some tricks that get me through these steamy days, so today I thought I'd share my favorite 4 easy summer hair and makeup tips.

They're all easy to accomplish, so give one a try!

1. Work Braids into Your Summer Hair Routine

Braids are your hair's best friend in summer, and I'm not talking about super complicated ones either. I'm actually not that great at braiding, but I've found that even a traditional three strand braid can dress up the most basic hairstyle.

Polished Ponytail

Here's how to create a ponytail that's a little more polished than usual. You'll need a hair tie and a bobby pin or small barrette.

Start by pulling your hair into a high or low ponytail. Secure it with a hair tie. Separate a small section of hair underneath your ponytail. Braid this small section and then wrap it around the base of your ponytail. Secure it underneath with a small clip or bobby pin. Easy-peasy!

Voluminous Ponytail

Even if you hair is fine like mine, you can still get a voluminous ponytail. You'll need two hair ties.

Do a little teasing at the crown of your head and then smooth over the top layer with a brush or comb.

Pull the top section of your hair (ear level and above only) into a ponytail. Secure it with a tie and then loosen up the top for more volume, if necessary.

Pull the lower part of your hair up to the ponytail and secure it with another tie, right over the top of the other tie.

Braided Bun

This braid wrapped bun is another easy option ... perfect for those days when it's too hot to have hair on your neck! You'll need two hair ties and some bobby pins.

Pull your hair into a low or high ponytail first and secure it with a hair tie. Separate a medium-sized section and braid it, securing the end with another hair tie. Twist the rest of your hair into a bun (leaving out the braided section) and secure it with bobby pins.

Wrap the braid around the outside of your bun, securing with more bobby pins to hold it in place. Tuck the end under you bun and hold it in place with another bobby pins. That's it!

Tip: Get a larger bun with lots of teasing or by wrapping your hair around a hair donut. I find these donuts to be kind of tricky for fine hair, but a little practice makes perfect.

Fishtail Braid

This one's a little more complicated, but if I can do it, so can you. Watch my video to learn how to do an easy fishtail braid. Please be nice; it's my first video!

2. Focus on One Feature

Don't pile on a lot of makeup on hot days, because it will just melt off. Instead keep things light and focus on one standout feature ... like your lips!

To recreate this bold lip look, start with a primer. Julep Blank Canvas Mattifying Primer is my fave, and it's excellent for oily skin. On top of that, I'm wearing Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream. It's a little pricey, but a little goes a long way, and one tube lasts months. Then, I added some concealer and Benefit Posietint. It's the perfect blush for hot days, because it stains your cheeks. Finally, I topped everything with NYX Studio Finishing Powder. This powder has a great finish that evens out skin and helps control oil. Plus, it's inexpensive ... love it!

After powder, I filled in my eyebrows a bit and applied mascara. Lately, my go-to mascara has been L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara. It gets every lash.

On to the standout feature: the lips! I'm wearing L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire in Ruby Opera, and I'm in love with this color! The finish is shiny, flattering, and super moisturizing.

Tips: let each product (primer, foundation/cc cream, powder) set for a minute or two before adding the next product. You're makeup will stay in place better. Also, keep lipstick off your teeth with one simple step. After applying a bright lip color, stick your finger in your mouth, purse your lips around it, and draw your finger out. Any excess color will be transferred to your finger and not your teeth.

3. Embrace Your Hair's Natural Texture

I'm pretty much addicted to my blow dryer and round brush routine. However, I don't want to spend a lot of time on my hair on hot days. It only leads to me getting even hotter, and my hair frizzes the minute I step outside anyway.

Instead, I've been working on embracing my hair's natural texture, which is half straight and half wavy. I look so different when I let my hair air dry, that I almost feel like a different person!

This style works for any length hair from short to long, so give it a try. You will need some sea salt spray and want to start with freshly washed hair. If your hair is very dry, add a little leave in conditioner to the ends.

While my hair is still wet, I twist it up a bit and clip it on the nape of my neck. Then, I'll do my makeup, eat breakfast, and let me hair dry a bit. Finally, I remove the clip, gently run my fingers through it to position my hair and part.

Finally, I spray my hair with the sea salt spray, gently scrunching it as I do. After adding the sea salt spray, let your hair finish air drying, and try to keep your hands off as much as possible. An occasional scrunch is okay, but you want to avoid disturbing the waves and causing more frizz. Check your hair once or twice as it dries, and apply more spray if you notice any frizzy spots. That's it!

I love Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Spray. It smells heavenly (like a tropical beach), it's affordable, and it leaves my hair moisturized, not dry.

4. Have Fun with Your Nails

Summer is time to have fun and experiment with colors. My favorite place to do this is on my nails, both hands and feet.

If you're color shy, keep the nails on your hands neutral and chose a fun color for your toenails. Feeling more adventurous? Go bold on both with bright colors or even nail art.

For my nails, I chose two coordinating colors. I'm wearing Tart Deco on my hands and Sunday Funday on my toes. Both are from Essie, and they're some of my favorite summer colors.

Looking for More Summer Beauty Ideas?

I hope you found these summer hair and makeup tips helpful! If you're looking for more warm weather ideas, check out these articles next:

• The Pale Girl's Guide to a Natural Summer Glow
• 5 Reasons to Wear Sunscreen Every Day
• Glowy Skin Makeup Tutorial
• Bold Summer Makeup Routine
• Workout-Friendly Summer Hair Style

What are your favorite summer beauty tips?