Come December 1st, the thing that typically springs to mind when we hear the term “seasonal preparation” is the upcoming festive period. However, for our southern hemisphere readers, the final calends of the year marks the start of another highly-anticipated event: summer.

Like the personal spring cleaning maintenance we undergo to enter a new season, summer provides an opportunity to refresh and reset as we head into a new year.

If you ask the beauty-crazed team here at GRAZIA, we can attest to a much-needed haircut being our top priority. Whether we’re trimming off any remnants of our sluggish winter tresses or planning a major makeover to suit the languid days ahead, this season is proving no shortage of beach-ready styles.

The summer of 2024 is all about fuss-free looks. Rather than occupying your time under the basin at your salon, hairstylists are predicting a period of low-maintenance crops and lived-in colour. Not only does this guarantee longer stints between touch-ups, but also more time to enjoy the balmy sunshine. In saying that, experts are also predicting that experimentation will be a thing of yore, with many of us sticking to a signature style for the duration of the summer spell.

Of course, a revitalising chop or lick of colour onto our muted locks also offers an injection into our summer wardrobes. Our summer hairstyles serve as a certified way of breathing new life into our resort wear or breezy staples, meaning that a new ‘do can save you from the annual existential peril of feeling like you have nothing to wear.

(Editors note: You do, trust us. But if you genuinely feel tired from last year’s summer clothes, click here for all the best luxury Black Friday sales so you can nab yourself a flirty mini or string bikini at a discount).

Ahead, one of Sydney’s leading hair stylists, Koda Cutter’s creative director Diane Gorgievski, divulges the biggest hair trends for summer 2024, as seen from inside her stylish salon. With outposts in Bondi Beach and an award-winning QVB boutique, Gorgievski shares her expert secrets and insider tips to achieving your best hair this summer.

The Biggest Hair Trends For Summer 2024

GRAZIA: Before summer begins, what are three haircare maintenance tips GRAZIA’s readers can do or ask for in the salon?

DIANE GORGIEVSKI: “Definitely using rebonding treatments like OLAPLEX and K18 to prepare hair for colour services and surviving the elements. Always use a leave-in protector and professionally prescribed hair care. One that’s a great all-rounder is One United Multi-Benefit Leave-In Spray from Redken. These can be done both at home and in the salon to keep your hair in optimum health over the summer!”

GRAZIA: In terms of hair colour, what shades will be trending for summer?

DG: “I am predicting honey blondes and cool brunettes—filling the hair with gloss treatments is a great way to survive the sun and surf. Choose basin balayage to softly lift the colour with minimal damage and ask for Shades EQ gloss services to topcoat the hair and add shine and vitality to your blonde. Finer hair types benefit from ongoing glossing and filling, while thicker hair looks better with a lightning service to provide texture to the hair shaft.”

GRAZIA: What hairstyles will be trending for summer? What should our readers ask for in the salon to achieve this? Are there any particular hair types that suit these styles best?

DG: “Summer 2024 will see a huge shift in shapes. My take on the mullet is a growing trend – deeply layering the front of the hair while maintaining the length gives long hair a point of difference and showcases the bone structure of the face, allowing our individual features to come through.”

GRAZIA: For hair novices, what trending hairstyles can GRAZIA readers achieve themselves at home?

DG: “I am loving the top knot that is easily achieved at home with sexy front pieces/bangs left out. Or dress it up by slicking it right back for a more nighttime look. I also always love an ‘S’-bend wave and big bouncy blowouts with rollers.”

GRAZIA: The bob has been the biggest haircut for 2023. What do you think will take over in 2024?

DG: “We are returning to polished looks with health trims on the rise. These are cuts that maintain length and shape the face rather than a bob. Face frames with deep layers and bangs are also back.”

GRAZIA: Bronde colours and a return to natural shades have also been trending. Will we see this continue into 2024?

DG: “Natural colours are definitely here to stay, but I am predicting bold blondes and creative colours back in the limelight. Think: peach blondes and bold reds.”

GRAZIA: What products can GRAZIA readers keep in their hair care arsenal to ensure they have the tools they need to achieve these summer trends?

DG: “Newest to the market, Redken’s liquid mask is a game-changer in the treatment world, keeping all colours and textures in check with the power of a professional mask in just 5 mins!”

Below, trending cuts and colours you can take inspiration from this summer season.