Wondering how to style your short hair this summer? Matrix Artistic Directors Michael Albor and Daniel Roldan have you covered! Here are their favorite short to medium-length hairstyles for every summer occasion, along with their pro hair tips and how-tos!

• 1. Loose and Textured Hairstyle for Short to Medium Hair
• 2. Messy Bun for Short to Medium Hair
• 3. Expanded Braid for Short to Medium Hair
• 4. Polished and Sleek Hairstyle for Short to Medium Hair

1. Loose and Textured Hairstyle for Short to Medium Hair

Great for: Work, weekends, casual evenings.

You’ll need:

• Blow out cream
• Volumizing mousse
• 1-inch barrel curling iron
• Texturizing hairspray
• Creamy hair wax
• Salt-infused spray

Do this:

• Apply blow-out cream to damp hair.
• Blow dry in horizontal sections with a round brush.
• Apply volumizing mousse and comb through until dry.
• Wind sections of hair around the curling iron, away from the face, while holding the ends. Allow each curl to gently drop.
• Work up the back and through the sides in this manner.
• When hair is curled and cool, tip your head to the side and comb through from underneath to loosen the waves.
• Mist with texturizing hairspray.
• Apply creamy hair wax to the ends with fingers while separating strands.
• Create a side part and mist and scrunch the ends with salt spray.

2. Messy Bun for Short to Medium Hair

Great for: Weddings, summer parties

You’ll need:

• Hair finishing spray

Do this:

• Create three sections--a triangular section at the fringe area and another parting around the crown. The third section is created by directing the sides back into a ponytail at the nape and securing with an elastic. Spray with hairspray.
•  Create a horizontal subsection above the ponytail. Backbrush to create a cushion and smooth the section.
• Work up the head using horizontal subsections, backbrushing for hair volume, smoothing and unifying sections until reaching the fringe section.
• Sweep the right side of the top section towards the left side of the ponytail. Pin it in place above the elastic.
• Sweep the left side of the section towards the right, create a fold and secure with a pin.
• Using hair from the ponytail and the top section, separate into sections.
• Starting on the left; fold, roll and knot each section to create a casual, low bun. Anchor with pins.
• At the fringe section, create a side part, gently backbrush, drape over ears, direct the section back and pin into bun. Spray with hairspray.

3. Expanded Braid for Short to Medium Hair

Great for: Anything from a festival to a fancy-dress affair!

You’ll need:

• Hair smoothing cream
• Hair finishing spray

Do this:

• Create a parting on the right side. Separate out three strands and apply smoothing cream.
• Begin creating an inverted braid along the front hairline. Separate out pie-shaped subsections from the top of the head and feed them underneath the center strand.
• Work along the top of the head.
• When you reach the ear, begin taking sections from top and bottom. Continue to the center back and secure with elastic.
• Repeat on the other side.
• Criss-cross the two braids and pin to secure.
• Mist with hairspray and loosen the braids.

4. Polished and Sleek Hairstyle for Short to Medium Hair

Great for: Dinner dates, the club or anywhere fashion-with-an-edge is required.

You’ll need:

• Thermal Protection Spray
• Hair finishing spray
• Flat bristle brush

Do this:

• Separate out a triangular section at the top.
• At the back and through the sides, spray individual diagonal subsections with thermal protection spray, and flat iron all sections on a diagonal, which allows the iron to get closer to the scalp.
• In the triangle section, create a ¼-inch horizontal subsection along the front hairline. Spray with thermal protection spray and flat iron.
• Move to the next subsection and crimp it from the scalp to 1 ½ inch down the strand. Flat iron the remainder of the section.
• Continue working back through the section, alternating flat-ironed hair subsections with crimped/flat ironed subsections.
• Spray the hair with hairspray.
• Create a vertical subsection behind the ear, spray with hairspray at the base, brush back with a flat bristle brush in sections. Use narrow subsections to ensure saturation of the hairspray.
• Work towards the front hairline and clip to hold.
• Repeat on the other side.
• When complete, direct both sides to the back, twist, knot together and pin in place.
• Move to the back of the triangle section at the top.
• Working in horizontal subsections, backbrush the base to create a cushion.
• Gently smooth the surface of each section to mask the backbrushing.
• Work to the front hairline, forming the backbrushed subsections into a modern pompadour.
• Smooth the hair with a styling brush, maintaining hair volume, and spray with hairspray.