Hair for the summer

Koh Joon-hee

Carey Mulligan as Daisy in “The Great Gatsby”

Yoon Eun-hye in MAC advertisement

Koo Ha-ra of KARA

Jessica Alba

Victoria of f(x)

By Yun Suh-young

For women, it’s the time of the year to take action in order to stop your sweat-soaked hair from sticking to your neck.

For those with long hair, putting it up in a ponytail may be the easiest option, but even that may be cumbersome if strands of hair stick out of the hair band and end up nestling on your neck.

Women with shoulder-length hair probably have the hardest time because there’s not much they can do with it: it’s not long enough to tie back, nor short enough to leave it down.

Is it better to cut it really short so that it won’t annoy you? Yes, if you’re brave enough to do so.

For those willing to go for a big change or those stubborn about keeping their hair length as it is, here are a couple of options for the summer to help you stay cool.

Braided hair

The most noticeable hair trend for this summer is braided hair.

At the New York Fashion Week last winter overlooking the spring/summer trends for this year, a couple of cool, funky style of braids were introduced that are already worn by global celebrities such as actresses Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson to K-pop girl band Girls Generation.

All sorts of braiding styles, from tight to loose, are expected to be popular this season, whether just some of the hair is braided or all of it.

Instead of classic styles of braiding, sportier versions will be much sought-after. For a vintage-style look, wearing looser braids with volume can add a trendier, yet retro look.

Tighter braids such as those shown in Jason Wu’s collections might be a classical alternative giving it a neater, cleaner look by tucking in the braided part.

Braided pony tails also create a sporty look.

Partly braided bangs are in for this season. A style known as “byeo meo-ri” in Korean, for braids that resemble an ear of rice, is being widely adopted among Korean celebrities.

The bangs are braided along the sidelines of the forehead and fixed next to the ear on one side. This prevents the bangs on the forehead from soaking in sweat.

Bob cut

Another popular style among celebrities is a C-curved bob-cut hairdo.

The C-curve means that the hair is shaped like a C following the ear lines inwards toward the face. Actress Koh Joon-hee’s bob cut hair is gaining popularity among Korean women.

The C curve looks natural yet stylish and adds a cute, lovely flair to the blandest of hairstyles. The curve can be added by getting a perm for a permanent wave or by using a curling iron for a temporary one.

“For the summer, shorter and lighter cuts are preferred. When the hair is cut short, it naturally creates an up-curve. A slight curve on the end of the hair adds cuteness to a style that can look blunt,” said Joe In-kyu, hair designer at Marz, a shop near Hannam-dong.

This style can also be seen in the recent film adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” where female protagonists Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and Jordan (Elizabeth Debicki) show off this bob hair with a curly C curve in the 1920s style.

The curlier the C curve, the cuter the look, as worn by Carey Mulligan.

Up-do

Another summer regular is the up-do style either in a bun or a donut. This one can’t be left out during the summer season because the scorching heat makes women want to stick up their hair as high up as possible.

The up-do can be a sporty, active look perfect for the beach or a water park. The up-do hair allows the neck line to stand out and emphasizes the face line.

Putting on a bright-colored make-up can help accentuate this effect.

Short cut

Last but not least, the short cut style is also a summer favorite that can’t be ignored.

Among the chic summer styles, actress Yoon Euh-hye’s short-cut hair in an advertisement for cosmetics brand MAC is very noticeable. The ruggedly-cut hair looks stylish and cool; a fashionable way to fight against the heat.

This summer is expected to be especially hot, with the thermometer stuck above 30 degrees Celsius for most of it, so keeping your hair short might be the best way to stay cool all summer.

Two-tone dying

To add a little color to your hair, consider the two-tone dying style which is also gaining ground among trendsetters.

Started by Hollywood celebrities such as Melissa George, Rihanna, and Jessica Alba, the style has nestled in among Korean celebrities as well.

Two-tone dying is, as the term suggests, dying the hair into two different colors or different tones.

The way to do this is to dye the upper part of the head and the ends of the hair in different colors. The colors then separate naturally by gradation. If hair roots are dyed in a darker color rather than a lighter one, it saves money and effort.

If a vivid contrast between the two colors such as blond and black or blond and red are too much to bear, then try a more natural contrast like dark brown and lighter brown.

For a yellower toned skin, chocolate brown, red brown or wine colors help the skin look fresh and lively, and for whiter skin, warmer colors in a brown tone such as red brown or orange brown make the skin look lively. For redder skin, dark brown, violet brown or khaki brown are good matches, and for darker skin, orange brown or gold brown help the skin look healthy and bright.

Dyed hair, however, must be managed with care because the hair can dry easily. Using conditioner and treatment are a must. Oil and essence are also good ways of keeping the hair moist.