15 Low-Maintenance Summer Haircuts to Bookmark for an Easy, Breezy Chop

Selena Gomez wearing her waves in an easy bob. Credit:
Getty Images

The perfect summer haircut is one that's easy to style and works well with your hair type and lifestyle.
Consider low-maintenance styles like an hourglass cut, Fulani braids, or a pixie.

When the weather gets warm, there's a natural tendency to go lighter, shorter, and more carefree with your hairstyle. After all, summer is the time to spend outside, soaking up the sun with friends and family, not indoors, styling an intricate cut that requires seven different hair products and three hot tools.

If you know you want a more low-maintenance style but don't want to chop all your hair off, know there's a plethora of chic, easy-to-style options to consider. It's all about finding what makes you feel your best, and what works for your hair type and lifestyle. Whether that be long layers, a textured bob, a piecey pixie, or a blunt cut, the right haircut will complement your lifestyle, not make it more difficult.

To help you determine your best summery style, InStyle tapped pro hairstylists Cheryl Bergamy and Chiran Hayasaka for their expert advice. Scroll on for 15 of the best summer haircuts for women that are stylist-approved.

Meet the expert

Cheryl Bergamy is a celebrity hairstylist, groomer to the stars, and the founder of Contents Haircare.
Chiran Hayasaka is a New York City-based stylist at Fekkai SoHo. She does cuts and color.

01 of 15

The Shag

Natasha Lyonne with curly shag — Natasha Lyonne at the NBCU Emmy Luncheon in L.A. in April 2025.
Michael Buckner / Deadline via Getty Images

Shaggy layers will give you that rock and roll vibe that will perfectly complement every party look this summer. For a style like Natasha Lyonne's, Bergamy suggests taking a photo to your hairstylist. "The stylist then can see if this specific style goes with your face shape [and] can create a variation of the style to best suit you," she says.

02 of 15

Long Layers

Jennifer Aniston with face-framing layers — Jennifer Aniston at the 76th Annual Emmys in L.A. in September 2024.
Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images

Jennifer Aniston's classic cut is ideal for summer, or any time of year, for that matter. Long layers can lend life to limp tresses. Best of all? They work on all hair types and textures.

03 of 15

Asymmetric Bob

Naomi Watts with a wavy blonde asymmetrical bob — Naomi Watts at the 30th Annual SAG Awards in L.A. in February 2024.
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

To add some interest to your summer bob, consider an asymmetrical version. "An asymmetric cut adds a mystique, sexy, and chic look whether it's a bob or lob," says Bergamy. "This style has such an ageless look. Cutting the hair directly on the shoulders delivers a perfectly soft look and frames the jawline."

04 of 15

Baby Layers

Jennifer Lopez with a long, layered summer haircut — Jennifer Lopez at a movie premier in Hollywood, CA, in February 2024.
Steve Granitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images

Whether your hair is short, long, thick, thin, curly, or straight, Hayasaka says layering the front of your hair is a great way to frame the face and add texture. While a butterfly cut may be a bit more tricky and laborious to style during the summer months, face-framing layers give a similar look with way less maintenance.

05 of 15

Wavy Long Bob

Whether your hair is thick or thin, this wavy long bob will look good, and it will be so easy to style. If your hair is thick, ask for some layers; if your hair is thin, skip them. Style it with your favorite leave-in cream to tame frizz, and you're good to go.

06 of 15

Wavy Pixie

Ruth Negga with long curly pixie — Ruth Negga at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
Taylor Hill / FilmMagic

Bergamy predicts that a textured pixie cut like actress Ruth Negga's here is going to be the "it" cut of the summer. "A pixie is a sassy look that is light and gives a youthful look," she says. "Adding texture gives a whole new dimension to this already sexy cut."

07 of 15

Curly Bangs

Sandra Oh with a curly lob and bangs — Sandra Oh at a premiere in Los Angeles, California, in January 2024.
Robin L Marshall / WireImage / Getty Images

Bangs: You either love them or you hate them. In order to ensure that you fall into the former camp, opt for a style that doesn't require much upkeep; Sandra Oh's curly fringe is a great example. "It [is] all about embracing your texture this summer," says Bergamy. "Textured bangs frame the face and give a voluminous, sophisticated look."

08 of 15

Hourglass Cut

Dua Lipa with an auburn hourglass summer haircut — Dua Lipa at the BAFTA Film Awards in London in February 2024.
Karwai Tang / WireImage / Getty Images

The hourglass cut is a look that evokes effortless style as the layers give body, definition, and shape. "This look is good for summer because it does well in humidity," says Hayasaka. "The flipped-out curls hold well in the heat, so the hair doesn't get too frizzy or out of control."

09 of 15

Long and Au Natural

Jennie Kim with long black hair — Jennie Kim at an event in Inglewood, California, in March 2025.
Maya Dehlin Spach / FilmMagic

Long hair, don't care? Perhaps. If you want lengthy tresses during the summer that don't require much upkeep, embrace your natural hair color and texture like Jennie Kim. It doesn't get much easier (or cheaper) than that.

10 of 15

Wavy Lob With Middle Part

Try a middle-parted lob for a classic yet modernized look. Bergamy suggests using a hair thickening spray to add some texture. She also suggests asking your stylist for a light layer or adding texture to the ends for a more voluminous look.

11 of 15

The In-Between Length

Zoe Saldana with wavy mid length hair — Zoe Saldana at an event in Santa Monica, California, in April 2025.
Taylor Hill / FilmMagic

If you don't wanna go short but you don't wanna leave your hair long for summer, this in-between length on Zoe Saldaña is perfection. It'll make your hair a little bit easier to care for during the warmer months, but by fall, it will grow back to its long length once again.

12 of 15

Pixie With Bangs

Michelle Williams with a platinum blonde pixie cut with bangs — Michelle Williams at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in February 2024.
Monica Schipper / Getty Images

If you're looking to go short, a pixie with bangs is the perfect way to achieve face-framing short 'do. "Bangs with a pixie are amazing and will add dramatic flair," says Bergamy. For a low-maintenance look, opt for curtain bangs.

13 of 15

Fulani Braids

Solange with long braids — Solange Knowles at the Watermill Gala in New York in July 2024.
Sonia Moskowitz / Getty Images for ABA

A protective style for natural hair wears well any time of year, but especially during the summer months. Here, Solange's middle-part Fulani braids work to keep her hair healthy and stylish sans effort. You can wear yours down and loose or style them into an updo once the temperature spikes.

14 of 15

Curly Layers

Zendaya with long, natural curly hair — Zendaya at the "Dune: Part Two" premiere in February 2024 in NYC.
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

Easy, breezy summer beckons for low-maintenance haircuts with minimal styling time. "Wearing your natural texture is not only the favorite trend, but it's moving toward healthier hair, which never goes out of style," says Bergamy. Add layers to your curls for a face-framing look with shape.

15 of 15

Undone Mid-Length Cut

Alexa Chung with an undone lob summer haircut — Alexa Chung at The Fashion Awards in London in December 2023.
Lionel Hahn / Getty Images

A collarbone-grazing cut is the perfect in-between length for summer. "This is a low-maintenance cut," adds Hayasaka, "You can wash it, put in a leave-in cream...and head out!" So if you haven't got time to hassle with your hair in the heat, and want a style where you can wash and go, take a cue from Alexa Chung.