'Summer Hair' Is Back: Show Us Your 'Beachy Waves'

If you read a lot of women's magazines like I do, there are probably things you've come to love and hate about them. Often excellent writing from seasoned writers? Love. So many ads that it's hard to find that writing? Not ideal. The fact that Lucky keeps me from having to shop for myself? Really love. Airbrushing? Problematic in too many ways to discuss here.

I have to confess that I have a very specific pet peeve when it comes to lady mags, one I encounter only at this time of year. Every year, it's all over the newsstands:

I am so confused by this. What, exactly, is Summer Hair? What makes it different from Winter Hair? And why, in the spreads on how to get it, is every hairstyle one that cannot be constructed without the use of multiple products or survive outside a well-air-conditioned salon?

Based on my research, the holy grail of summer hair is the Beachy Wave. You know, that straight-out-of-the-surf, tousled, sun-bleached look that happens when a model gets styled for two hours, then is deposited on a beach to have the end result photographed by Steven Klein.

I don't know about you, but I come out of the water looking less "Birth of Venus" and more Tangled Pale Person. When a pool is involved, there's a greenish tint to the tangles. And you know what? That's fine. I get a lot more out of my beach and pool time when I'm not worrying about how I look. I bet you do, too.

So, in an effort to balance out all that aspirational Summer Hair (see below) -- which actually enjoying your summer probably makes impossible to achieve -- we'd like to see your real summer hair. Send a photo of your "beachy waves" -- what you look like after a swim -- to [e-mail]. It would be great if you could also share what you remember about the place where it was taken and what you loved about being there. I'm guessing Summer Hair was the last thing on your mind.

LOOK: Lucky's Version of Summer Hair

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• 'Supreme Shine'

  Won't the hairspray wash out the minute she gets in the pool?

• The 'Undone Updo'

  You do it up with the goal of making it look undone? Instead of sleeping late and reading "Summer Sisters" for the 16th time?

• The 'Softest, Sexiest Curl'

  It takes five products to achieve. How is this easy breezy?

• The 'Bouncy Ponytail'

  She's not even dressed for the beach.

 

Follow Margaret Wheeler Johnson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mwjohnso

Comments

[Darris]

01:43 PM on 07/12/2012

The older I've gotten the less I'm concerned about looking polished especially when I'm outdoors. For crying out loud, women need a break from all the fuss and muss about their looks! I live on the coast and walk the beach nearly everyday. I do have long blonde naturally wavy hair and the coastal weather and wind add to my tousled look when I leave my locks untethered but typically I don't. First off, sun burns your hair like it burns your skin. Second, who wants hair whipping in your face while you're hiking, swimming, or kayaking? I often wear a braid and sometimes a ball cap.

Either way I agree with your sentiment Margaret ~ have fun and quit fussing already!

[April Pells]

07:26 PM on 06/03/2012

Being a Floridian, my hair is always in a state of "beachy-ness" because our humidity gives you permanent waviness.

[isisreptiles]

09:13 PM on 06/02/2012

Re the "undone updo"--my hair doesn't look that bad when I first get up in the morning. What a sorry looking mess.

[jf12]

10:18 PM on 06/01/2012

Why not just cover it up, with a kerchief or whatever?

[traceymarie]

07:02 PM on 06/01/2012

My hair naturally looks wavy, beachy an tousle, who knew I was fashionable, I just thought I ha curly hair