Fashion notes: the mane event is changing your hair this summer

The lightened locks of Rita Ora. Eamonn McCormack / WireImage

When Kim Kardashian emerged at Paris Fashion Week this past March donning short, slicked-back, ­platinum-blonde hair, it caused a media uproar – and an inundation of beauty-­salon bookings.

While some slammed the new hairdo, comparing her to the child villain Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter movies, others marvelled at her risk-­taking and dialled their local hair stylist for an appointment. With spring transitioning into summer, it was time for a mane makeover.

A hair transformation can really be a much-needed pick-me-up, be it a cut, colour or just a new style. I myself am no stranger to hair experimentations – my hair has gone through its fair share of ­phases.

In 2009, I chopped off my long locks in favour of a Rihanna-­inspired bob, and a few years before that, I had dyed my hair a violet base with bright-red highlights.

But in the past five or so years, it has remained ­medium-long and jet-black, ­because I’d been maintaining the colour and length for my big day as a bride, and then afterwards, just grew too comfortable with it.

You’ve probably seen photos of girls who have had their hair dyed ombré (and now “sombré” or “soft ombré”, which apparently is the new thing in hair), and may have discarded the idea, thinking it has become cliché and can look tacky when done wrong – I’m with you. But then just last month, I too jumped on to the ombré bandwagon, and I have no regrets with the refreshing change – I may even go a shade or two lighter when it starts to grow out.

If you’re quite happy with your current cut and colour, and are adamant on keeping it unchanged, save for occasional trims, there are still ways you can temporarily transform your look – namely, with braids.

They’ve been trending for quite some time now, from simple fishtail styles to more complex ones, such as five-strand braids, double Dutch braids and braided topknot buns. If you have the aforementioned ombré dyed look going on, braids are a great way to show off the spectrum of colour, too.

Once deemed a nerdy schoolgirl hairstyle, braided dos are now gracing the red carpets, and they were all the rage at this year’s Cannes Film ­Festival.

With her draped tea-pink gown, Eva Longoria’s tresses were swept into a romantic side-part and one-sided rope braid – an effortless style that can be easily copied at home.

Sienna Miller opted for a look that was more severe but still swoon-worthy – a tightly twisted woven crown, giving a playful touch to her high lace collar and maroon lips.

For the sake of chucking in a throwback to last year’s Cannes celeb styles, let’s not forget Blake Lively’s 2014 sleek high ponytail braid, which looked great with her Gucci gown, and could be equally stunning at the beach or poolside this summer.

So if you’re looking for a change, there’s no need to rush into an impulsive Kim-like chop. Her dramatic hair phase only lasted a few weeks, but not all of us have the privilege or desire to torture our tresses with constant dying and extension weaves.

Think carefully before you take a hair plunge – growing it out from a bob to your previous waist-length can be a painstakingly slow process. And if all you want for summer are ­mermaid-like waves, just invest in a quality curler.