This Summer's Hottest Hair Trends & Secrets, Per The Celeb Stylists Of Mark Ryan Salon

Ever since my locks lost their color-treated virginity and I began testing out the theory of "blondes have more fun" some years ago, I've turned to the pros at Mark Ryan Salon to keep my highlights golden and my strands looking silky season after season. And, needless to say, they never disappoint.

After all, there's a reason that celebrities including Naomi Watts, Kelly Ripa, Emma Roberts, and Laura Dern continuously trust co-founders (and couple!) Mark DeBolt and Ryan Trygstad with their red carpet-ready hair. 

Since opening their sleek Manhattan location three years ago, Mark and Ryan, along with their team of expert staff, have earned a cult following of dedicated clients while fostering their own beauty community aiming to educate fellow stylists. Filled with the friendly buzz of chatter and blow dryers, their bright and sunny salon in the Flatiron district is always a welcoming escape.

So, just in time for my own personal spring/summer touch-up, I tapped the gurus themselves, Mark and Ryan, for all the latest hair news - from this season's trendiest styles to their go-to tips for maintaining that perfect blonde (even through days spent sunning and splashing in the Hamptons).

What services do you typically see leading into spring and summer?
1. Adding sunny highlights — a lot of the clients coming into Mark Ryan Salon are wanting to lighten their hair ahead of the summer.

2. Big chops — spring and summer bring about cravings for big changes to welcome the new season and have a refresh moment. Shorter, flippy cuts are in vogue. Our younger clients are asking for Clueless-inspired blow outs and asking for lessons on how to use a hot roller.

3. Keratin smoothing treatments are very popular. Keratin treatments reduce frizz, decrease blow dry time and make hair soft and shiny. These treatments combat summer’s humidity by taming the frizz. 

Have you seen any trending cuts or coloring techniques clients are loving? Any thoughts on the "Slob"?
Absolutely — Bubble shapes are in style. Straighter blowouts. The “Rachel” haircut (from Friends) is now the “C” cut. Younger clients are darkening their hair with single processes or with warmer glosses. Jewel-toned reds à la "My So Called Life" are also picking up. 

Love the “slob” — it is very short, blunt, and chic. At Mark Ryan, we call our version the crew bob — the shape ends between at bottom of ear (shortest) or jaw length (longest).

If someone doesn't want to make a major change, what's the simplest way to refresh their hair look?
In lieu of a big change, we like to focus on care and styling. Stepping into a new season is the perfect time to reevaluate your shampoo and conditioner regimen. Summer's heat can mean shampooing more regularly, so we recommend taking care to give back with overnight treatments, conditioning serums, or pre-wash treatments.

Let's talk maintaining that perfect blonde between appointments. What are your favorite products/ways to keep hair looking fresh and glossy through the season?
For anyone who spends time upstate or in the Hamptons, Malibu Blonde Wellness Crystals are a must! This gentle chelating treatment corrects discoloration from hard water or chlorine. It is vitamin-C based, so it is very gentle and can be used every other week as a gentle chelating treatment.

What's the biggest no-no when it comes to hair maintenance?
Tight, sharp hair ties are a big no-no for me. We all wear our hair up more in the summer as we are more active etc., but wearing very tight ponytails can cause breakage. I see this a lot with very active clients — the tight hair ties can create a horizontal line of breakage across the hair where the ponytail is too tight. Instead, try using softer hair ties like scrunchies, ribbon hair ties, Goody hair screws, or try clips or hair accessories to get the hair out of your face. Not having regular haircuts is also a no-no. It is so important to have trims to prevent split ends from continuing to split up the strand.

Do you have any fun updates from the salon since opening?
Last year we started hosting educational events at the salon for other hairdressers. The program is aptly named Mark Ryan Education. For us, it has become a great opportunity to feature the talent at Mark Ryan and give them a chance to share what they love with others. Education is how stylists keep their eyes fresh and their cups full. We want the salon to be a place for our team to grow together.

This June marks the 3rd year of the salon - congratulations! How has the salon evolved and what are your goals for the coming years?
Our “why” for opening the salon was to create beauty with a personal touch. We have seen amazing growth since we opened. We hope to continue to invest in our team by offering amazing benefits and opportunities for professional and personal growth. We want them to feel loved and that their experience at work is important to us. 

As we both have worked extensively in different, top-tier salon cultures, the main feeling we wanted to evoke in our salon culture was the intimate feeling and comfort of feeling good at home — we want the salon to feel good. We want clients to walk through the doors and feel as if they are working with and surrounded by people who are happy to be here. An innate friendliness is woven throughout our salon, from the front desk to the senior stylists and colorists. With both our clients and our team, we try to learn about what they want to achieve and help work with them to create it.

[Photo via Naomi Watts/photos courtesy Mark Ryan Salon]