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What’s Hot This Summer – The Trends You Need to Know

As the sun shines brighter and the days get longer, it's time to freshen up your beauty game. From nails to hair to skincare, here are the summer trends you’ll be seeing everywhere – and maybe even trying yourself.

Japanese Gels Are Taking Over

Move over traditional gel manicures – Japanese Gels are the latest must-have in nail artistry. Known for their unique formulation and delicate finish, these gels offer a softer, more natural appearance while still being incredibly durable.

According to renowned nail artist Yukie Natori in a recent InStyle interview, Japanese Gel nails stand out for three key reasons: they use different products, different techniques, and have a distinctive style. Not only do they last up to a month without chipping, but they also adhere more closely to the nail and are easier to remove – meaning less damage to the nail bed.

While the Russian Manicure is still the gold standard for precision, Japanese Gels are quickly earning their place as a fan favourite for those who love detailed nail art with a little more flexibility.

The Sabrina Carpenter Effect: Buttery Blonde Is In

Sabrina Carpenter isn’t just heating up the charts – her signature buttery blonde locks are setting the tone for summer hair trends too. Bright, soft, and dimensional, her golden hue is a refreshing alternative to icy platinum shades.

As Redken’s first ever Global Ambassador, Sabrina’s iconic colour is more accessible than ever. Her colourist Laurie Heaps has shared the secret formula: Redken Shades EQ 09N (Café au Lait), 09G (Vanilla Crème), and 010GI (Tahitian Sand). The result? A rich, luminous tone with an iridescent finish that flatters every skin tone.

Sabrina Carpenter with heat-styled curly blonde hair
Image credit: @sabrinacarpenter

A Makeup-Free Summer

With rising temps and higher humidity, the idea of wearing a full face of makeup can feel overwhelming. That’s why more and more people – including celebs like Shōgun star Anna Sawai and singer Ciara – are leaning into the makeup-free look.

But this trend doesn’t mean giving up on beauty altogether. Instead, it's all about skincare that enhances your natural glow. Inspired by K-beauty movements like glass skin and dewy skin, today's consumers are savvy about their serums and moisturisers, layering active ingredients that give them confidence to go bare-faced.

Think less cover-up, more glow-up.

Anna Sawai and Ciara with dewy, glass skin
Image credits: @ciara @annasawai

Tan-touring: Sculpt with a Sun-Kissed Glow

Contouring isn’t just for bronzer anymore – now, self-tanner is the go-to tool for enhancing your natural bone structure. Dubbed “tan-touring,” this TikTok-fueled trend has creators and beauty lovers applying self-tanner to specific areas of the face and body to achieve a subtly sculpted effect.

Lisa Stone, Educator for Salon System, explains why this technique is worth mastering:

“Highlighting areas your client loves and helping to disguise others, you can create the illusion of slimmer or more toned areas and sculpt the body in a really flattering way,” says Lisa.

It’s contouring with staying power – perfect for summer days when makeup just won’t cut it.

Stay Ahead of the Trends

Ready to refresh your look this season? For more summer beauty inspiration, read the Capital Cut today.