Summer Haircuts for Men: Cooler Cuts for Ontario Heat

What Southern Ontario humidity does to your hair

Humidity makes hair absorb moisture from the air, which swells the strands and causes frizz, puffiness and styles that drop by lunchtime. From about June to August in Mississauga and the GTA, humid days are common, and a humid 30 degree afternoon on the patio will beat almost any hold product on a long top.

That is why summer is the season to go shorter. Less length means less hair to swell, faster drying after a swim or a sweaty commute, and a cut that looks the same at 6 PM as it did at 8 AM.

Cuts that stay tidy in the heat

These are the cuts clients most often switch to when the weather turns. All of them look good damp, which is half the battle in July.

• Buzz cut: the ultimate warm-weather cut, often with a fade on the sides for shape.
• Crew cut: short sides, enough length at the front to push up with a hand.
• Skin fade with a short textured crop: the most popular summer choice for straight and wavy hair.
• Short curly top with a low taper: let the curl sit naturally; humidity actually helps define it.
• High and tight: very cool on the sides and back, with a short strip on top.

Sunburned scalps and fresh skin fades

A fresh skin fade exposes skin that has spent months under hair, and it burns quickly. The same goes for anyone who takes a buzz cut short for the first time, and for the part line and crown on thinning hair. A burned scalp peels and flakes, which looks like dandruff and makes a new cut look worse.

Easy protection:

1. Book a skin fade a couple of days before a long day outside, not the morning of.
2. Apply a light, non-greasy sunscreen to the faded sides, neck and ears, and to any thin areas on top.
3. Wear a cap or hat for long stretches in direct sun at the beach, the cottage or a patio.
4. Reapply after swimming or heavy sweating.
5. If your scalp burns and blisters, see a doctor or pharmacist rather than picking at it.

Swimming, chlorine and lake water

Chlorine and repeated swimming dry the hair out and can leave light or grey hair with a greenish or brassy tint. Wetting your hair with clean water before getting in the pool means it soaks up less chlorinated water, and a proper rinse and wash afterwards removes most of the rest.

Shorter cuts make this easy, since there is less hair to dry out. Our guide on protecting hair from chlorine covers products and routines for regular swimmers.

Keeping a summer cut sharp

Short summer cuts show growth quickly, so plan on a cut every 2 to 3 weeks if you like your fade tight. A skin fade loses its crispness first; a taper grows out more gently and can stretch a little further if you are travelling.

Swap heavy products for a light matte paste or sea salt spray, or go without. Wash more often if you sweat a lot, using a gentle shampoo so the scalp does not dry out.

Beards in summer

Beards trap heat and sweat, so many men take them shorter for the summer instead of shaving. Taking a full beard down to 1 to 2 centimetres, with clean cheek and neck lines, keeps the shape and cuts down on itch. A Beard Only + Lineup between haircuts keeps it looking intentional.

Wash the beard daily in hot weather and use a light oil rather than a heavy balm, which can feel greasy on humid days.