High Concept Hair, on Call

A firefighter turned globe-trotting editorial hairstylist, the New York–based Marcos Diaz brings a delicate, high-concept finesse to the runway (Diaz is a frequent Guido Palau collaborator) and red carpet alike. “Diaz reps a black book’s worth of New York girls-about-town—from gallery owner Dasha Zhukova and editor Giovanna Battaglia to DJ Mia Moretti—for major events,” says Vogue.com Beauty Director Catherine Piercy.

The Chameleons of Summer: How a Dramatic Hair Transformation Became the Season’s Secret Weapon

As summer prepares to make its slow, sunset-like descent into autumn, a quick look back at our favorite metamorphic beauty moments confirms that it was the season of the fearless hair change. Dramatic chops and color adjustments inspired us—while constantly keeping us guessing—and promised to provide a template for our own adventurous shifts going into September.

Case in point: Georgia May Jagger bleached her layered lengths before saturating sections in playfully bright pastels, resulting in a physical representation of summertime whimsy that will segue nicely into the washed-out shades of blush, lavender, and tangerine as the temperature dips. Meanwhile, Lupita Nyong’o proved that changing one’s hair can be done easily and often, morphing from short-haired siren into side-braid bohemian and back, this time with a headful of natural curls that we can’t help but mentally pair with a chunky knit sweater.

While many embraced the long, swingy lengths typically associated with beach bombshell season, hairstylist Orlando Pita snipped Amanda Seyfried’s signature wheat-colored mane into a shoulder-grazing, polished bob, and for a good cause—Seyfried donated her shorn lengths to Locks for Love. Also going against the grain: Poppy Delevingne, who lightened her honey-colored hair to an icy, Nordic blonde shade that seems rife for emulation.

But perhaps our favorite dramatic reveals arrived courtesy of Jennifer Hudson—whose ultra-short style only enhances her striking, pronounced features—and Greta Gerwig, who traded her shoulder-sweeping waves for a chin-length crop that she continued to braid, straighten, and slick back to transformative effect. Above, five summertime hair moments to inspire a seasonal reimagining of the mane.

Taking Care of Your Hair You Should Kknow

Your relaxed hair needs lots of extra attention if you want to maintain its health. Because relaxed hair is robbed of much needed moisture, you must make every effort to both replace lost moisture and to retain what moisture your hair does have. Many women with relaxed hair use heat styling methods to help preserve the straightness of the hair. Heat added directly to the hair may give the hair the appearance of health, but actually works to further promote damage to the hair.

1. Wash your hair with shampoos and conditioners that are designed to moisturize and strengthen relaxed hair. These products are available at drug stores and many other retailers. Like finding healthy foods for your family, you will have to read the labels of the hair products to find the best ones.strengthen the hair.

2. Wrap your hair at night with a silk scarf or hair wrap. As you move throughout the night, the silk will glide across your hair, not pulling as any other fabric does. Weakened, relaxed hair breaks easily, so simply turning your head against a regular pillow at night can cause you to lose hair.

3. When using a curling iron to style your hair, do not allow the barrel cover to clamp down on your hair. Hold the barrel cover slightly open and allow the hair to move over the curling iron barrel without the tugging and pulling caused by pressure from the barrel cover.

4. Never use hair oil on relaxed hair. Oil was designed for natural hair, and the usage of hair oils on relaxed hair is the major reason African American hair breaks off at such an alarming rate. If your hair is well conditioned you won’t need any oil at all. If you choose to use hair oil, rub a very, very small amount in the palms and spread lightly through the hair.

5. Moisturize frequently. Relaxed hair is naturally dry, so it’s important to moisturize daily, even if it’s only dipping your fingers in water and then running them through your hair. It’s a good idea to comb a moisturizer thoroughly through your hair every few days, starting from the roots then combing down. Also, when going to bed, wear a head scarf or cap to keep the moisture in at night (these scarves are also a good way to keep a hairstyle looking fresh!)