7 Easy Summer Holiday Hairstyles (For a Quick Glamour Fix, Despite Frizz and Salty Air!)

We all want to look our best on our summer holidays - we want to be living our best life!

Since I became a Mum of two girls, I've found it more stressful than it used to be packing, and I feel I have to be extra organised, and make sure I don't overpack. 

I have a tendency to want to bring all of my gorgeous summer holiday clothes and accessories, (I'm so excited about a pina colada by the pool!) but then when I factor in packing for my daughters too, it's just too much stuff.

So now I try and be very intentional, and I have found that Hair Accessories are brilliant for super-organised, streamlined packing. I can switch between a hair claw during the day, and a jewelled headband in the evening, and wear the same dress, yet feel that I'm in a totally different outfit. 

So not only do Hair Accessories - and other accessories like statement earrings - mean that you can pack lighter, they also come to the rescue when you need a very quick glamour fix once you're en situ. 

There's a very particular kind of holiday panic that happens somewhere between the beach and the bar. Your hair is salty, slightly sandy, and doing its own thing after a swim, and somehow you're still meant to look glowing and glamorous for cocktails in twenty minutes. Sound familiar?

The good news is that a beach-goddess look doesn't need to take an hour in the hotel room that you don't have spare. You want to be out there - living that best life you've been planning all year (and looking fabulous thanks very much while you're living it!)

With the simple addition of a colourful hair clip to a messy bun updo, or a rose gold hair clip added to a half up half down bun, your hairstyle will be elevated quicker than you can say "make that 2 Pina Coladas please, since it's happy hour!"

I've personally used Hair Accessories on holiday in more ways than I can count, but here is my Top 7 Hotlist of Great Summer Holiday Hairstyles to have up your sleeve...

Daytime: Beach and Poolside Styles

1. The Relaxed Half-Up Mini Bun

Half Up Half Down Hair is my go-to when I still want to enjoy the feel-good factor of wearing most of my hair down, but I want to keep the top part off my face because it's windy on the beach!

This is also a great style if your hair is fine, as it provides a cute volume boost at the crown. 

Take the top section of your hair in a ponytail (I used an elastic here to secure mine in place), twist it loosely, and secure it in a small mini bun with a small hair clip like our rose gold hair clip claw. 

The beauty of this style is how forgiving it is — a little frizz or flyaway only adds to the relaxed, just-been-swimming look. Small hair claws are brilliant for fine hair because they grip without needing a thick section to bite into, so the bun stays put through sun cream, sea air and everything else.

2. The Twisted, Folded Updo

There's another hairstyle that I frequently turn to when I want to create a quick updo, and that's where I create a chignon-type twist, secured with a hair claw.

This is a classic hairstyle that also creates pleasing volume at the crown, through the cute strands that peek out at the top of your hair claw.

To create this hairstyle, gather your hair at the base of your head, twist it upwards, then - if you have extra length -  fold the twist in half on itself before clamping it in place with a large hair clip like our crystal hair claw clip in black.  

You can see from the photo here, it creates a polished, yet relaxed look that oozes summer holiday glamour. 

3. The Jewelled Bun for Beach Glamour

Some days call for a bit of extra colour, to add that shot of holiday energy. That's where a colourful hair clip comes in.

To create this hairstyle, gather your hair into a low ponytail, and then twist it around into a bun. Secure the bun on the side with a colourful jewelled hair claw. Many of my John Lewis Pop Up Shop customers are surprised by how secure this style feels when I show it to them at my Pop Ups. 

I love reaching for my green hair claw clip  against a tan. It instantly elevates a plain bun into something that feels dressed up, without adding a single extra step. This photo was taken on a celebratory holiday in Barcelona. We were at a gorgeous beach bar, having lunch, and it felt like just the right shot of fun and colour to add to my outfit. The music was playing in the background, and I was in heaven!

4. The Braided Headband, Bun Still In

Windy beach days are where headbands enable you to step into that inner Beach Goddess!

You're a Greek Goddess in your Braided Headband - not only does this headband whisper boho vibes, but it also has the delightful benefit of keeping your hair in check when it's windy.

For a co-ordinated look, choose a headband that matches the colour of your hair claw (I've picked out the teal in my hair claw with my turquoise braided headband) — it's a small styling detail that makes the whole look feel considered rather than thrown together, even though it took seconds.

Evening: Quick Glamour for Dinner and Drinks

5. Asymmetrical Hair Swept Back with Hair Slides

For evenings when you want a low key look, this is the simplest option in the whole line-up. 

Sweep your hair back on one side and slide in a pair of hair slides for gentle sparkle that radiates easy summer vibes.  Here I'm wearing my star hair slides behind one ear, worn asymmetrically rather than matched on both sides.

It's relaxed, a little undone, and somehow reads as old Hollywood glamour despite taking about ten seconds. Perfect for when you're walking straight from the pool lounger to dinner.

6. The Jewelled Headband, Hair Down

For a more elevated evening look, leave your hair down and simply add a jewelled headband.  It's proof that you don't need an updo to look pulled together for a special dinner — the headband does all the work, catching the light and framing your face, while your hair keeps its natural holiday texture and movement.

This photo was taken at a special birthday dinner (my birthday!) and my outfit simply wouldn't have felt as special without the headband. It's one of my favourite holiday outfits, as it's very versatile and I can wear it during the day. Then I pop on a pearl headband like this 

7. The Emergency Chain Headband Updo

This last one is the style I'm proudest of, because it was born out of pure holiday chaos. My husband was hurrying me out of our hotel room for dinner, and I genuinely didn't have time to do anything with my hair — so I slipped a daisy chain headband into my clutch bag and finished the look at the restaurant table instead. No mirror, no fuss. My daughter filmed the whole thing on her phone as I twisted my hair up and slid the chain headband into place by feel alone. 

My hair was a mess two minutes earlier, but the second that headband went in, it looked entirely intentional. What do you think? (I'd love to know - comment below!) 

If you only pack one hair accessory for evenings away, make it a chain headband — it turns a full updo into something you can create anywhere, mirror or no mirror.

The Secret to Easy Holiday Hair

None of these styles require skill, patience, or a hotel mirror with good lighting, but all of them make you look glamorous while you're living your best life! That's the beauty of great hair accessories. 

What you do need is the right hair claws, headbands and hair slides packed alongside your swimsuits — small hair clips for fine hair, large hair clips for thick hair, a jewelled or chain headband for evenings, and a pair of sparkly hair clips for when even a bun feels like too much effort.

Pack a small edit of pieces in colours that work together, and you can move from sea to sunset without ever needing to disappear back to your room to "fix your hair." Sweaty, salty, wind-blown — it doesn't matter. With the right accessory, it all oozes Beach Goddess vibes!

Do email me any styling photos at amanda@queenmee.com, or tag me on Instagram @queenmee_accessories. I'd love to see how you wear your mini claw clips!

If you'd like to get more styling ideas, try my Free Easy Hairstyles Cheat Sheet. Just enter your details below!
With love and thanks, Amanda X

Looking for more hairstyle inspiration? Read my guide to 7 Claw Clip Hairstyles for Long Hair for styles using a range of my hair claws.