When the temperature climbs above pleasant pub garden and into tube platform at rush hour, complicated hair routines become the bane of one's existence. In other words, summer is not the season for wrestling with hot tools, twenty-step styling routines and fringe-related pools of forehead sweat. It's, instead, the season for cuts that do the work for you because when time and patience aren't on your side, your hair should be.
So, in search of the chicest low-effort styles for summer 2026, we spoke to world-renowned hairstylist Samantha Cusick, who gave us the lowdown on the best low-maintenance haircuts that not only look cool, but keep you cool, too. Two for the price of one!
The undone bob
A haircut that improves the more you ignore it? Sign me up! The undone bob is soft, choppy and intentionally imperfect as it's designed to air-dry – making it ideal for anyone with a natural kink, curl or coil. I'm talking texture people spend fortunes trying to fake (it's me, hi, I'm the people it's me).
"The whole point of this cut is that the less you do to it, the better it looks," Sam says. "The layers and choppy ends mean it air dries with beautiful movement." She recommends using "a small amount of Olaplex No.9 Bond Protector on damp hair before you let it dry naturally " for extra polish. Better still, Sam says it grows out beautifully, becoming even softer and more lived-in over time!
The curtain fringe
If Sabrina Carpenter can rock a curtain fringe on the desert stage of Coachella, then so can we Brits on the humid high street. And while a traditional full fringe may sound intimidating (read: a totally unmanageable sweat hazard), the curtain variation is minimal effort, maximum impact, thanks to its ability to part off and away from the skin.
Sam calls it "one of the most genuinely low-maintenance additions you can make to any length right now." The key, she says, is keeping it slightly longer than you think you need. "It grows out really gracefully, too, which makes it a very low-commitment way to refresh your hair for summer."
The androgynous crop
If there's one style that embodies "the shorter the better", it's the androgynous crop. Short back and sides with a slightly textured length on top, it looks impossibly cool while requiring very little effort. "It's one of those cuts that looks like it takes effort but genuinely takes about ninety seconds to style in the morning," Sam says.
Like the undone bob, a natural kink or curl will work best with this style; however, with a little more styling and coaxing, it can work with any hair texture. Your BFFs? Styling cream and a can of texture spray. Done.
The in-between bob
Not quite a bob, not quite a lob, the in-between bob sits just on the collarbone and has been quietly emerging as one of the most requested styles in Sam's salon.
What makes it so effortless is the remaining weight through the ends – it falls neatly with very little styling and works brilliantly in heatwaves because it can be tied up so easily. "Keep the ends healthy with a hair treatment every couple of weeks, and it looks brilliant all summer long," Sam advises.
The pixie cut
Just like the androgynous crop, the pixie is summer liberation in haircut form. I'm talking an exposed neck, styling time reduced to almost nothing and an immediate increase in perceived coolness levels. Y'know, Jamie Lee Curtis post-Freaky Friday makeover vibes.
"It's the ultimate summer cut, and I will die on this hill," Sam declares – which is a bold but important statement. After all, all you need is a little bit of styling cream scrunched through the top, and you're good to go! And sure, while it may require regular trims to maintain the shape, day-to-day, it's pure bliss.
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
