When summer happens, it often hits suddenly and with a good deal of humidity. Here in Chicago, this year is typical. In a matter of days, we’ve climbed 25 degrees; the storms haven’t totally cleared, so we’re left dripping wet-hot instead of wet-cold. I can hear the collective screech across the Midwest: “Get this hair off my neck!”

With only two ways in your bag of tricks to separate hair from neck, you can show your clients some really cute short cuts or the latest clip-up and tie-back fashions. Let’s take the updos first, where there seems to be a lot of variety lately. I’m seeing shapes ranging from low on the nape to relatively high piling. A loose strand can fall to one side or both sides. And with the help of trendy hair pieces, even your shortish-mid-length clients can carry off a substantial messy knot or tidy twist.

But, really, early summer is the best time for clients to get a dramatic haircut, because this is when they’re the most sick of their hair, plus by fall they’ll have growth again. Today’s popular heavy fringe means that even with a pixie women can feel as if they have hair to play with. Or maybe your long-bob clients will go short-bob for the season. Goodbye sweaty heaviness; hello summer sports! Plus, short hair dries soon after you leave the house with no assistance. I hope a lot of your clients go for it!

Photo: photo by Mark Mann; hair by Don Wyatt for Rusk.