Skip to content

Top Navigation

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Food
  • Home
  • Life
  • Health
  • Money
  • Style and Beauty
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • News
  • Shopping
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Real Simple

Real Simple Logo Real Simple Logo
  • Explore

    Explore

    • How to Measure Your Ring Size at Home

      How to Measure Your Ring Size at Home

      Try one of these three easy methods to make sure your ring fits perfectly, every time. Read More
    • Here's the Right Temperature for Your Refrigerator and Freezer (Because a Few Degrees Makes a Difference)

      Here's the Right Temperature for Your Refrigerator and Freezer (Because a Few Degrees Makes a Difference)

      Keeping foods chilled properly helps them last longer and stay fresher. Sticking to the ideal refrigerator temps can help you avoid potential foodborne illnesses, too. Read More
    • 34 Great Books to Suit Any Mood or Interest

      34 Great Books to Suit Any Mood or Interest

      This list has you covered, no matter how you're feeling. Read More
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    9 Cheeses You Can Eat Even If You're Lactose Intolerant

    9 Cheeses You Can Eat Even If You're Lactose Intolerant

    Not all dairy is created equal. 
    • Recipes
    • Real Simple Cooking School
    • Cooking Tips & Techniques
    • Shopping and Storing
    • Kitchen Tools and Products
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    • Cleaning
    • Organizing
    • Decorating
    • Gardening
    • Home Improvement
    • Green Living
    • New Uses for Old Things at Home
    • Quick Fix
    • Real Simple Home
  • Life

    Life

    See All Life
    • Family
    • Entertainment
    • Technology
    • Wedding Planning
    • Travel Ideas
    • Career
    • Get It Done
  • Health

    Health

    See All Health
    Feel Like You Don't Enjoy Anything Anymore? There's a Name for That—Here Are 8 Ways You Can Break Through It

    Feel Like You Don't Enjoy Anything Anymore? There's a Name for That—Here Are 8 Ways You Can Break Through It

    Mental health experts explain anhedonia and how you can bounce back from this joyless state of mind.
    • Preventive Health
    • Mental Health
    • Health Coach
    • Crisis Coping
    • Fitness & Exercise
    • Sleep
    • Healthy Eating
    • Well Fed
  • Money

    Money

    See All Money
    Are You Keeping Too Much Money in the Bank? Here's How to Tell

    Are You Keeping Too Much Money in the Bank? Here's How to Tell

    Putting money in the bank is smart, but too much cash savings can actually be a poor use of that money.
    • Money Confidential Podcast
    • Saving Money
    • Money Planning
    • Money Confidential
    • Spending
    • Money Etiquette
    • Invest Better
  • Style and Beauty

    Style and Beauty

    See All Style and Beauty
    How to Measure Your Bra Size at Home

    How to Measure Your Bra Size at Home

    All you need is a tape measure and a little free time.
    • Clothing
    • Skincare
    • Shoes
    • Hair
    • Clothing Care
    • Makeup
    • Hair Body Face
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining
    PowerPoint Parties Are the Party Trend You Have to Try: Here's How to Host One

    PowerPoint Parties Are the Party Trend You Have to Try: Here's How to Host One

    PowerPoint nights are the new fun way to party together—even when you're far apart.
    • All Holidays
    • Gifts
    • Father's Day
    • Passover
    • Entertaining
    • Home for the Holidays
    • Come Together
    • Hanukkah
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
  • News
  • Shopping
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • My Account
  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Free Organizing App this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Real Simple
  2. Style
  3. Hair
  4. 5-Minute Hot-Weather Hairstyles (Seriously)

5-Minute Hot-Weather Hairstyles (Seriously)

Real Simple Author
By Real Simple Editors Updated July 11, 2018
Skip gallery slides
FB Tweet
Model wearing a braided crown hairstyle
Credit: Sarah Maingot
Ugh! Hot? Sweaty? Get that hair up off your neck right? That's exactly what these 10 styles do—in just minutes.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Crown of Braids

Model wearing a braided crown hairstyle
Credit: Sarah Maingot

Simple braiding skills are all you need for this style, which works for hair that’s medium-length to long.

Get the look: Separate hair into two low pigtails. Braid both sections and secure with clear elastics. Pull one braid up over your head and bobby-pin it an inch back from your hairline. Repeat on the opposite side, positioning the second braid behind the first.

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Easy Knot Updo

The Knot Up-Do
Credit: James Westman

You create this style by tying your hair into knots. How easy is that?

Get the look: Section off the hair horizontally at the crown. Subdivide the section into two pieces, then tie them into a knot. Pin the knot to secure it, letting the ends dangle freely. Repeat the process: Section off hair midway down the head, subdivide it into two pieces, then knot and pin them. Repeat again with a last section at the nape. Then gather any two ends on the left side of the head and knot them together; pin to hold. Repeat until all sections have been knotted and pinned. Pin up any loose ends. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.

2 of 10

3 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Side French Braid Bun

Step 4 of the Side French Braid Bun
Credit: James Westman

One for the French braiders out there.

Get the look: Work a little mousse into wet hair, or spritz hair spray on dry hair, to make it more workable. Starting at the temple, French braid the hair, working across the back of the head. (Don’t worry if strands pop out.) Secure the end of the braid with an elastic band. Twist the end of the braid around to form a bun. Pin ends to secure. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Easy French Twist

Step 5 of the Easy French Twist
Credit: James Westman

A slightly messy take on the classic.

Get the look: Sweep your hair to one side, just off center. Slip in a bobby pin vertically, up from the bottom. Working from the bottom up, insert a row of bobby pins vertically, crisscrossing them to secure the hair. Finish by pushing in the last one downward. Gather hair in one hand and twist tightly, pulling up. Insert bobby pins horizontally into the base of the twist, intersecting with the vertical pins to hold the style. Arrange the ends, letting them fall freely. Spray hair lightly to hold the style.

4 of 10

5 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Triple Knots

Triple knots
Credit: Plamen Petkov

This trio of mini-buns looks elaborate but couldn’t be simpler.

Get the look: Comb hair back. Divide into three sections, and create three low ponytails at the hairline. Twist each ponytail fully, then wrap the hair around the base of the tail to create a small bun. Secure each with bobby pins and set with hair spray.

5 of 10

6 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

High Bun

High bun
Credit: Plamen Petkov

This bun, which works for hair of almost any length, is not about perfection: Casualness is part of its charm.

Get the look: Spritz a texturizing spray on dry hair, scrunching sections to create body. Gather hair into a high ponytail so it rests at the very top of your head. Secure with an elastic; use bobby pins to tack up shorter strands in back. Gently tousle the ends, randomly twisting them under and pinning them around the ponytail’s base. For longer lengths, create a loose bun and secure with pins.

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Swept-Up Curls

Gold comb in curly hair up-do
Credit: Mary Rozzi

This style highlights curls while getting them out of the way.

Get the look: Pull the back section of your hair into a ponytail at your crown, leaving the pieces around your hairline loose. Secure with an elastic. Twist the ponytail upward; anchor it with bobby pins. Sweep the front section of hair back toward the twist. Pin with bobby pins (a few tendrils may fall out). Slip in a pretty comb to finish.

7 of 10

8 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Side Braided Bun

Model with long blonde hair in a braid around a bun
Credit: Mary Rozzi

Flat hair? Here’s your new go-to.

Get the look: Pull hair into a low side ponytail just behind your ear; secure with an elastic. Separate out a 2-inch-wide section from the ponytail and braid it. Pull the braid aside and wind the rest of the ponytail around its base. Pin to secure. Wrap the braid around the bun and pin the ends into the underside.

8 of 10

9 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Side French-Braid Updo

Finished Side French-Braid Updo by Kate Bryan
Credit: Kate Bryan

Part braid, part messy bun, all cute.

Get the look: Part your hair from front to back. Clip up the hair on the right side of your head. Begin a French braid near the crown on the left, working your way down (the braid should fall behind your left ear). When the braid is level with the bottom of your ear, secure it with an elastic; leave the remaining hair unbraided. Unclip the right side. Separate the hair at the crown and at the very front of your head; clip up the rest. Gather the hair you’ve just separated out and fold it over the part you made in back. Pin the hair to hide the part. Unclip the rest of the hair on your right side and allow it to fall over the remainder of the part. Wind the end of the braid around to the back of your head and pin. Gather your hair into a ponytail near the end of the braid. Wrap with an elastic. Using a fine-tooth comb, tease the ponytail to create texture and volume. Separating the ponytail into strands, pin the ends onto your head around the elastic, making sure to cover all the bobby pins. Finish with hair spray.

For step-by-step photos, click here.

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print

Twisted Side Updo

Finished Side Updo With a Twist by Kate Bryan
Credit: Kate Bryan

Curly hair is perfect for this style. If you lack natural curls, start by using a small-barrel curling iron.

Get the look: Working from the left, sweep the hair from about three-quarters across the back of your head up off your nape and over to the right, making a very rough diagonal part. Clip the hair. Clip up the remaining hair on the left. Gather the hair on the right; wrap it with an elastic as though you’re going to make a ponytail, but don’t pull the ends all the way through, so you create a small bun. Release the clipped hair on the right. Bobby-pin the curls to the little bun. Don’t get too fussy with your pinning: You want to keep the effect casual. Now unclip the hair on the left. Working from your left temple, begin twisting the hair alongside your head. Slowly incorporate more hair as you work downward. Pin the twist of hair securely to the bottom of your bun. Use as many pins as you need to make sure it won’t come loose. Finish with a mist of hair spray.

For step-by-step photos, click here.

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Real Simple Editors

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 10 Crown of Braids
    2 of 10 Easy Knot Updo
    3 of 10 Side French Braid Bun
    4 of 10 Easy French Twist
    5 of 10 Triple Knots
    6 of 10 High Bun
    7 of 10 Swept-Up Curls
    8 of 10 Side Braided Bun
    9 of 10 Side French-Braid Updo
    10 of 10 Twisted Side Updo

    Share & More

    Pinterest Email Send Text Message Print
    Real Simple Logo

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Help
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithAll products and services featured are selected by our editors. Real Simple may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Real Simple is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Real Simple. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.realsimple.com

    Sign in

    View image

    5-Minute Hot-Weather Hairstyles (Seriously)
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.