This Spring/Summer season is a gift to beauty mavens better accomplished at booking blowouts than styling their own hair.

For the styling-inept, this season gifts you with options — namely, the option not to spend more than 20 minutes on your hair. For example, while we love a good braid (and both Marchesa and Jason Wu flaunted better than good on their runway for this season), for the novice, opting for something less intricate like the single braid seen on the Spring 2013 runway at Herve Leger by Max Azria (see below) will save on hours of frustration.

With trends ranging from loose tousled tresses, as seen recently on the runways of designers like Peter Som and more sophisticated looks like Givenchy‘s knot (a low ponytail that’s tucked or twisted into place or a higher sitting one that is effortlessly shaped into every women’s go-to messy bun) crowned this season’s official updo, you don’t have to be a professional hairstylist to stay on trend…but it helps to get style tips from one none the less.

And so, wanting to arm readers with the ammunition to tackle this season’s hair trends, we recruited celebrity hairstylist David Stanwell expertise. An Aussie-import, Stanwell moved to Los Angeles back in 2008, and had since joined the team at Exclusive Artists Management where he’s built a list of celebrity clientele that includes A-listers from film and music like Eva Mendes, Chris Pine, James Marsden, Hilary Duff, Jacob Artist and our personal fave, hipster trendsetter Juno Temple.

Like the season, Stanwell has beautiful simplicity on the mind. Below, his insider scoop on must-try hair trends and how-to nab the styles for your Spring/Summer-self.

With spring here, I am really getting a vibe for that ’70s effortless flower child look.

In fashion, long-sleeve dresses are coming back, and rather than wearing hair up for sleeves and styles like high necks, I suggest  going natural with hair down, styled very soft with maybe a few bends at the ends.

Headpieces with flowers that read ’60s hippy seem to be popping up in editorial shoots lately, and while it is a throwback, like with each era, we still want to tweak the trend and add a modern twist. (See Balenciaga updated take on a hair crown above.) So on that note, remember: unlike in the ’60s and ’70s, this season’s free-blowing hairstyles are done, but are made to look effortless, as apposed to actually not doing it like the “genuine” hippies before us.

I’m trying the “effortless look” on all my clients these days, for everything from shoots to talk shows.; right now, this is my style.

When it comes to haircuts this season, mid-length hair is so in.

I have actually cut quite a few clients hair to hit just below the shoulders, adding a long very soft layer so it keeps a heavy base line in the hair for the width — it almost gives the effect of a long bob. This length of hair is also good to play with when in want of party hair as you’ll see below.

Another cut that you can’t go wrong with (as Michelle Williams and Charlize Theron have proven as of late) is a boy crop. Short hair is always fun; you just have to try different parts and styles. Try it with a deep side part or messy and tousled or slick and chic — it all works with this cut.

This year’s red carpet season is all about side swept hair.

For women with long hair, whether straight or curly, this is the look you want for your next cocktail party or night out. Try it worn straight and simple via a good blow dry, and then just tucking one side behind the ear or pushed to sit on one shoulder. Just a little sweeping action can take a very simple look and amp it up for an evening event.

A simple and easy way to get a wavy version of this look is with Davines Nº14 Sea Salt Primer —  I love this spray. Once worked through hair, start by drying your locks thoroughly, then grab your curling iron and alternate directions, giving hair a subtle bend. Lastly, give hair a swing to loosen it up, sweep over to one side and you’re ready to go!

Tip: Try blowdrying sections of your hair rather than spending time trying to make the whole thing perfect. Let hair dry naturally first, then go back and fix spotlight areas. Don’t be afraid to leave some natural movement in your hair, it’s always a good look

Published May 23, 2013