The Only 5 Hairstyles You Need to Know About This Summer

This decidedly '70s style is a get-up-and-go staple look. But since a shag has layers, the wrong styling can make you look less like Debbie Harry and more like a '90s substitute teacher trying to copy Rachel Green's dated flip. Luckily, Rita Hazan Salon hairstylist Nelson Vercher, who has worked with celebrities like Keyshia Cole and Pharrell Williams, has a few tips that will keep the style on track.

First, know that this isn't a cut you can DIY over your bathroom sink at 2 a.m. Instead, Vercher says to hit up a pro and ask that for a shag with layers that are shorter underneath and at the top of the head, and then longer around the sides and back.

"The shag is a haircut that builds volume around the face, and is almost always best with curly hair," said Cash Lawless, a NYC-based celebrity stylist who has worked with Mandy Moore and Evan Rachel Wood. "It's popular right now as more and more women are embracing their curls."

That said, it is possible for those with fine, thin, or superstraight hair to pull off this edgy look — with the help of a perfect air-dry. A pro tip from Lawless: "Air-drying can be a volume-killer, so tease the roots around your crown up with a comb to bring life back into the hair."

Vercher added that before you air-dry, add in some texture spray to separate the strands. This ensures that your hair looks choppy, piece-y, and ready for The Deuce central casting. Once your hair is no longer wet, Lawless likes to spritz in dry shampoo at the roots as a final tszuj for extra volume.

Commitment-phobes of the world, relish in Summer's most relaxed, in-between haircuts. "This style reaches the collarbone or a little longer, and it's for the girl who doesn't want a bob, but has no intention of growing her hair out," said Giovanni Vaccaro, artistic director of Glamsquad.

While this cut can have a uniform length, Vacarro suggests adding layers to lighten it up. "Those get rid of weight and density," which means you'll avoid that heavy feeling that's only made worse with a little (OK, a lot) of sweat.

If you've got curly hair and want to maintain the non-committal lob, Vacarro says you'll need a trim every six weeks. In between appointments, Lawless says to create as little disruption as possible. "Don't tug or breakup your waves or curls before they are completely dry — this creates frizz," he said. Before you air-dry, Lawless suggests using a nylon and rubber Denman brush (£12) to pull a cream-based styling product through your hair. Pull it all to one side, then gently "karate chop" the mid-shaft of the hair with the back end of the brush. This ensures that hair falls in an undone, effortless manner.

You can embrace your natural hair while also making sure it doesn't insulate your face and neck. "Pulled-back natural texture is as simple as it sounds," Vercher said. "Pick up a product that controls the curls such as a dry oil, leave-in conditioner, or curl cream." Run it through your hair, pin back parts, and, as Vercher insisted, "Don't touch." Quick and easy, so you can jet off to your Summer soirees.

In this case, Kerry Washington opted to make frizz work in her favour. We love how her errant bangs frame her face, and her half-up look is packed with tons of natural volume. "For thicker, coarser textures, the rule about creating as little disruption as possible during an air-dry is even more important," said Lawless.

His "power cocktail" of styling products? A mixture of Seven's Texture Cream and Diamond Serum, or any combination of a cream-base mixed with an oil. "This provides extra definition and tons of shine," he said. Brush this duo into while your hair is very wet, then use a silk handkerchief to scrunch hair and give it shape. "I love a heart shape for most people," Lawless said.

"This is the epitome of wash-and-go hair," said Vacarro. Ask for a cut that's chin length, with little or no layers — and bangs are optional.

Vacarro noted that the grown-out bob is trendy right now because "clients are no longer having the weather and season dictate their haircut." Back in the day, you may have associated Summer hair with a long, wavy, "beachy" styles. However, more people are deciding to go with shorter bob styles, because your hair elastics deserve a rest sometimes.

Think bangs will weigh you down? Lawless has a solution: "A great flattering technique that works on many women is creating height in the crown and making hair look as dense as possible." The stylist said you can give some "easy instant lift" by using a paste or pomade such as Fatboy Hair Perfect Putty (£26) to pull up your roots. Rub a bit of the goo on your fingers, then massage it in upward around your crown to add some volume.

Granted, this isn't a haircut, but sometimes you just need to throw everything on top of your head. According to Vercher, all you need to do is put leave-in conditioner like the coconut-scented IGK Thirsty Girl (£24) on wet hair, and then add a lightweight gel for extra hold. Brush everything back, and tie it into a ponytail. After you've twisted everything around into a bun, pin it all back with bobby pins.

Lawless said that his clients are currently asking for two very different trends. "The requests are pretty polar," he said. "Either less is more or more is more. I would say length and density seems to be more common. Thicker and fuller hair is a comment request, as well as big, defined curly hair — more drama." Drama is great and all, but on days when you pull it all back, we'll let Yara Shahidi show us how it's done.