Top Hair Styling Products for Summer Hair Trends, Tested by Editors

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The dog days of summer don’t have to put a damper on a great hair day. All it takes is a refresh of your cache of hair styling tools and products that cater best to humid days — and a new set of styling inspiration that align with 2025’s top hair trends of the season. 

In recent fashion runway shows and this past award season’s red carpets, we’ve seen trendsetters and beauty tastemakers opt for effortless-looking hair styles that appear less fussy and slightly undone — think mermaidcore beach waves that veer towards bedhead vs. pristine ringlets. That doesn’t mean a polished hairdo is off the table: For 2025, the bouncy blowout has gotten bigger, with stars like Kaia Gerber and Sabrina Carpenter regularly donning bombshell styles that channel an oh-so-90s take on Old Hollywood hair. On TikTok, this has led to a “Topanga hair” trend, referencing Danielle Fishel’s fictional character in “Boy Meets World.” Thanks to innovative hair styling tools, from thermal brushes to do-it-all styling systems, achieving that next-level volume is easier than ever when paired with balms and sprays that deliver a silky, smooth sheen to your strands.

While these top trending summer hair styles favor those who like to feel the wind in their hair on a balmy day, high temperatures give way to slicked back styles that keep your strands perfectly in place, free from frizz, and create a dramatic effect to highlight your facial features. This summer, that’s taken form in wet hair looks (an excellent option, in particular, for women who’ve sprung for a bob, à la Sofia Richie Grainge). Though we’ve seen dramatic wet hair looks on designer catwalks over the past decades, new formulas for frizz-fighting serums and multi-use hair oils have turned the high fashion look into an attainable at-home hair style that remains striking for far longer than a 10-minute runway strut. (Just make sure to keep some touch-up taming products in your purse for special occasions.)

All of these trendy hair styles are only possible with the right arsenal of hair care and styling goods, which is why our editors — starting with nourishing shampoos and conditioners for a healthy scalp and strands — tested out these cool-girl looks to help you find the perfect hair product combos to style out your locks this summer. We’re not talking about stocking your vanity’s precious real estate with products you’ll only use once in a blue moon, or ones that deliver lackluster results. In fact, each of the tools and hair products earned a spot on WWD’s list of the Greatest Hair Products of All Time, as voted on by nearly 700 beauty insiders.  

Below, give your summer hair routine a makeover with our tips on achieving the hottest hair looks of the moment. For more inspiration, shop our Amazon storefront full of editor-loved essentials.

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Beach Waves Hair Trend

The breeziest way to wear your hair this summer? Beach waves that look better the messier they get, especially when paired with relaxed boho fashions. For less tumbleweed, more stylishly tousled, we recommend Aussie’s 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner, a product that ups hydration and decreases breakage — and works wonders across all hair textures. From there, either air dry your hair or opt for a dryer, like L’Oreal’s AirLight Pro, that creates a similar effect. Then, to create messy waves, clamp a flat iron on a small chunk of hair at the root, then position it at a 45-degree angle away from your face as you run it through the ends. Repeat, mist texturizing spray near the mid lengths of your hair, then rake your fingers from roots to ends. 

The Wet Hair Look Trend

Slicked-back buns (or sloppy ponytails) aren’t the only way to keep your hair out of your face on a hot summer day. Our editors recommend the wet hair look, a trend we’ve kept our eyes on for well over a year, instead. Friendly for any type of hair texture, the key here is to go big on moisture. We recommend misting dry hair with water, then working a nutrient-rich hair oil — Mielle’s Rosemary Oil promotes a healthy scalp and fuller hair — from the ends of your hair up to the root. Repeat as needed until you’ve reached your desired level of glossiness. 

To set the look, tuck your hair behind your ears, then affix creaseless clips just above them before using a taming wand or hair gel and a fine-tooth comb to smooth out pieces around your face.

’90s Blowout Hair Trend

If you want your hair to look fresh out of a Pantene ad, then your best bet is starting with the real stuff. For a voluminous, bouncy, ‘90s-inspired blowout, we recommend starting with the brand’s Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner, which add luster to dull strands courtesy of its hydrating ingredients. 

With this healthy hair foundation, a great ‘90s blowout only requires a few styling products, namely a leave-in conditioner or blowout balm to further boost shine and a strong-hold hairspray to lock down the lift you create. A powerful hair dryer with a concentrator is key here (particularly for frizz-prone hair types). Once you’ve smoothed out the lengths of your hair, focus your attention on face-framing pieces: Bring them forward in front of your face, twist a round brush under them, and hit them with a hair dryer with a concentrator attachment. Repeat the same motion on the ends of your hair to create flippy curls, then seal it all in with hair spray.

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Meet the Authors

Claire Sullivan is a contributing commerce editor for WWD and Footwear News, where she writes and edits beauty, fashion, and lifestyle stories. She has over eight years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She’s tested hundreds of products during her time as an editor, so she’s well-versed in selecting the products that make a meaningful difference in your hair styling routine. 

Adam Mansuroglu is the Director of Commerce for Footwear News and WWD, overseeing strategy for shopping content on both brands, along with writing and editing shopping guides, product reviews, and shopping trend stories across fashion, beauty, home and lifestyle product categories for men and women. Prior to his current role, Mansuroglu was a fashion editor and stylist at Cosmopolitan Magazine, Style Editor at BestProducts.com, and Senior Style and Gear Editor at Men’s Health Magazine. Mansuroglu has been tapped as a shopping expert for editorial websites such as Wirecutter, and his writing has also appeared in Out Magazine, Esquire and other publications.