The cool-girl hair styles you need to try for summer 2025: From the Riviera Bob to the Stepford Set

We’ve seen this easy-breezy style bob on the likes of Hailee Steinfeld, Kendall Jenner and Khloé Kardashian 

According to Tom, undone, natural textures are leading the way into summer more than ever this year, in part thanks to The White Lotus.

The hair stylist explains: “An evolution of the much-loved Italian Bob, this naturally ruffled and blunt cut shape has just enough movement to feel fresh, while still maximizing volume and lift and the look of luxurious health of the hair.”

Tom’s Top Tips: 

• Ask your stylist for a straight bob cut just longer than your chin. Some soft very long layering should be cut with a  shattered finish. 
• Avoid steps or blunt lines and keep any fringe area longer and blended into the rest of the shape.
•  Wear with a side parting for more glamour, or central for something that looks youthful and carefree.

Continuing for the second season, Ghost Waves 2.0 are everywhere from red carpets on the likes of Miley Cyrus and Hailey Bieber to runways and events. “These relaxed, irregular and undulating waves are youthful, feminine and care-free,” the expert reveals.  

Tom explains that the rise of this style comes from the fact that beauty trends are moving towards a “more natural and undetectable place than ever. ” He reveals: “Obvious beach waves or perfectly tonged curls are too try hard looking. Instead, Ghost Waves provide a barely there natural inspired look which flatters everyone.”

Tom’s Top Tips:

•  For straight hair use a curling iron and turning it in different directions – sometimes curling strands in stages to avoid the spiral effect. 
• For naturally wavy or curly hair brush through your favourite curl defining product and air dry – only scrunch first if your hair gets too straight after brushing. Don’t touch it till it’s fully dry then gentle massage to soften the product cast.

The Stepford Set takes inspiration from 1950s housewife’s but is fashionably empowered. “This voluminous and perfectly coiffed style is everywhere and speaks to a new empowered femininity to a very traditional look,” the stylist explains. 

The rise of the Stepford Set comes from the desire for glamour. Tom says:”This style was traditionally designed to keep the wearer looking perfect and put together at all times.” 

Tom’s Top Tips: 

“Due to the heavy styling required to achieve this, it can be done on all hair types if there is time and will. The longer the hair the harder it is to keep things in place and so the style will end up softening sooner. Shorter hair is easier to keep fixed in place.”

• Curl using a small curling iron, in small horizontal sections. 
• Once cool, brush with a boar bristle brush and secure in place either with copious amounts of hairspray, with pins, or even a headscarf.

Meghan Thee Stallion’s Swarovski encrusted Met Gala look perfectly captured this hardware trend. 

According to the expert, as we head to festival season, it’s expected that we’ll see an uptick in hair accessories. “Think metallics, stones, pearls and slides, rather than fabrics and bows we saw in 2024,” Tom explains. “Perhaps this speaks to the time of technology and larger AI conversation.”

Tom’s Top Tips: 

• This can be scaled up or down. It can be as simple as a metal cuff on a ponytail, or a highly detail braided look full of beads, charms and other hardware accents.
•  Look for interesting metal accessories. Even earrings or brooches can be added into braided styles for decorative detail, but many come ready to clip in or attached to hair bands which makes it easier for all hair types.