24 Summer Hairstyles for Long Hair That Beat the Heat

Long hair in summer presents one specific challenge that no other length deals with: the constant decision between wearing it down and dealing with it stuck to your neck, or wearing it up and dealing with helmet hair when you take it down. The styles that actually solve this give you both, polished enough to wear out, secure enough to handle heat, and easy enough to redo throughout the day. The 24 styles below all work for long hair specifically, with options for casual days, formal events, and everything between.

Sleek High Ponytail

A sleek high ponytail at the crown creates dramatic lift and pulls long hair completely off your neck. Smooth all your hair upward with a brush and a small amount of gel, then secure with an elastic. Wrap a section of hair around the base to hide it. Apply hair oil to the lengths for shine. Best for office days, dressy events, and any summer occasion where you want polish with heat relief.

Loose Beach Waves

Beach waves on long hair create the quintessential summer aesthetic. Use a 1-inch curling wand and alternate the direction of each section, leaving the last inch of each strand straight. Apply a sea salt spray for that lived-in texture. Best for women who want effortless summer style that photographs as casual and chic. The waves loosen throughout the day into even more lived-in texture.

Low Sleek Bun

Smooth all your hair back with a brush and gel, then twist into a tight bun at the nape and secure with pins. Apply a smoothing serum throughout for shine. The low bun sits completely out of the way of summer heat while looking polished. Best for women who want sophisticated styling that handles humidity beautifully. Works on most face shapes and stays in place all day.

Long Half-Up with Curls

Pull the top half of your long hair back from your temples while leaving the bottom half flowing in soft curls. The combination keeps hair off your face while showcasing your length. Use a 1-inch curling iron to add waves before pulling back. Secure with a decorative clip or pearl pins for polish. Best for garden parties, weddings, and dressy summer occasions.

Long French Braid

A single French braid down the back keeps long hair contained throughout summer activities while looking intentional. Start at your hairline and incorporate new sections as you braid down. Apply edge control along the part for cleanest finish. Best for active summer days, gym mornings, swimming, and any occasion where you need long hair secured. The braid handles humidity and movement beautifully.

Loose Side Braid

A loose, romantic side braid pulled over one shoulder works beautifully on long hair. Braid all your hair into a fishtail or three-strand braid, then loosen sections gently with your fingers. Secure with a small elastic. Apply sea salt spray before braiding for textured volume. Best for casual to dressy summer occasions and travel where the braid stays in place all day.

Messy Bun

The messy bun is the easiest summer style available for long hair. Gather your hair at the crown or back of your head, twist loosely, and secure with a claw clip or elastic. Pull face-framing pieces free for softness. Apply a texture spray for hold without stiffness. Best for casual summer days, beach mornings, and any time you need long hair up in under a minute.

Long Hair with Curtain Bangs

If you have curtain bangs, summer is when they shine on long hair. Style the bangs forward with a small round brush, then add loose waves through the lengths using a 1.25-inch curling iron. The bangs frame your face while the length stays flowing. Best for women who want face-framing softness with long summer texture. Photographs beautifully and works for casual to dressy occasions.

High Topknot

Pull all your long hair into a high topknot at the very top of your head. Twist loosely and secure with an elastic or claw clip. Pull face-framing pieces free for softness. Best for casual summer days, errands, and any time you need your hair completely off your neck quickly. The topknot showcases your length when you take it down later. Effortless and forgiving.

Sleek Low Ponytail

A sleek low ponytail at the nape sits cleanly out of the way while looking polished. Smooth your hair back with a brush and apply a shine serum throughout. Wrap a small section of hair around the elastic to hide it. Best for office days, dinners, and dressy summer occasions where you want hair off your neck without going casual. Photographs as effortlessly sophisticated.

Long Halo Braid

A halo braid wraps a single braid around the crown of your head like a crown. Section a strip of hair around your hairline, braid it continuously while incorporating new sections, and pin the end where it meets the start. Best for weddings, garden parties, and dressy summer occasions. Works beautifully on long hair where the braid has enough length to wrap fully around the head.

Double Dutch Braids

Two Dutch braids running parallel down your head create playful sporty styling perfect for active summer days. Apply edge control along the part for cleanest finish. Best for beach days, festivals, gym mornings, and any summer activity where you want hair secured without compromising style. The braids stay in place through swimming, sweating, and movement.

Long Hair with Center Part

Sleek straight long hair with a clean center part creates polished modern summer styling. Apply a smoothing serum and use a flat iron in small sections for maximum sleekness. Finish with a drop of hair oil through the lengths. Best for women who want effortless polish that handles humidity in dry climates. The center part frames the face symmetrically and feels distinctly current.

Bubble Ponytail

A bubble ponytail divides a basic ponytail into multiple sections secured by small elastics, creating bubble-shaped pieces along the length. Apply a texture spray for hold. Best for festivals, parties, and casual summer occasions where you want playful styling that handles activity. The structure keeps the look intentional throughout the day even with movement.

Twisted Updo

Twist sections of your long hair and pin them into a sculpted updo at the back of your head. The texture creates visual interest that smooth updos lack. Apply a strong-hold hairspray to lock the twists. Best for weddings, garden parties, and elevated summer occasions where you want intentional styling. The architectural shape suits formal photographs and dressy occasions.

Half-Up Twist

Take two small sections from each temple and twist them back independently, joining them at the back of your crown. Secure with a small claw clip. The twisted detail adds polish without committing to a full updo. Best for medium-formality summer occasions where you want effort visible without being overwhelming. Works on every long hair texture.

Pulled-Back with Statement Earrings

A minimal pulled-back style lets statement earrings be the focal point. Smooth all your hair into a low ponytail or sleek bun, then add dramatic earrings to elevate the entire look. Apply a shine serum throughout for polish. Best for women who want their face and accessories to take center stage in summer photos. Modern, editorial, and easy to execute.

Long Hair with Headband

Pair flowing long hair with a fabric, jeweled, or pearl headband across the top of your head. The headband adds accessory polish while pulling hair off your face. Choose materials that complement your outfit. Best for casual to dressy summer occasions where you want effortless polish without elaborate styling. The accessory does the heavy lifting while you focus on the day.

Long Hair with Loose Waves

Long hair worn down with loose, romantic waves creates effortless summer styling. Use a 1.5-inch curling iron and curl away from your face. Apply a flexible-hold hairspray for staying power. The waves should look touchable, not stiff. Best for women who want romantic glamour for evening events. Photographs as effortless and elegant from every angle.

Side-Swept Long Hair

Brush all your long hair to one side and secure behind one ear with a decorative clip. The cascading length flows over one shoulder. Best for dressy summer occasions where you want asymmetric polish. Apply a smoothing serum to the swept side to keep it sleek throughout the day. Old Hollywood-inspired and unmistakably glamorous on long hair specifically.

Long Boho Braid

A loose, bohemian-style braid combined with face-framing pieces left out creates effortless summer styling. Braid loosely and pull sections gently after braiding for that undone look. Best for festivals, garden parties, and casual romantic summer occasions. The braid handles wind and humidity while looking intentional. Pairs beautifully with flowy summer dresses and minimal accessories.

Hair Wrap with Scarf

Wrap a silk scarf around your head or weave it through long hair to create a fashion-forward summer style. The scarf can tie at the top of your head, wrap around a ponytail, or function as a headband. Best for women who want to combine sun protection with style. The accessory adds personality while protecting your length from summer damage.

Long Curly Hair with Pineapple

For naturally curly long hair, the pineapple technique gathers everything at the very top of your head, preserving curl definition while keeping hair off your neck. Apply a satin scarf at night to maintain the shape. Best for women with shoulder-length or longer curls who want to extend a wash and go through summer days. Cultural, practical, and effortless.

Wet Hair Slicked Back

Apply a generous amount of gel or smoothing cream to wet long hair, then comb everything straight back from your forehead. Gather at the nape and secure with a claw clip or low elastic. The wet, slicked finish is high-fashion and editorial. Best for hot summer days, post-pool styling, or occasions where you want bold polish. Embraces summer conditions rather than fighting them.