The Basic Summer Hairstyle Rosie HW Swears By

There's something about the arrival of summer that always gets me in the mood for a little hair experimentation, particularly when it comes to my hairstyles. Usually I'm a slightly wavy, hair-down kind of girl, but heatwaves and soaring temperatures have had me veering away from classic hairstyles and into updo territory more frequently.

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So when Rosie Huntington-Whiteley—the queen of great hair—promised a tutorial for a "simple, sleek and super chic" hairstyle on her Instagram recently, I was all ears. Turns out that this easy style might just become my summer go-to.

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(Image credit: GETTY IMAGES)

While Rosie's hair-up style of choice is usually a basic bun, this summer she's embracing an even more simple and more elegant hairstyle—the ponytail. Described by Rosie as an "off-duty, low, loose" style, she took to Rose Inc. to share the full step-by-step on how she creates it at home. Good news: There are only three steps to this hairstyle.

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(Image credit: GETTY IMAGES)

Keep scrolling to re-create Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's summer ponytail at home and to shop all of the products that you'll need.

Step 1: Volume and Shine

To get a sleek ponytail just like Rosie, you want to use products that will smooth the surface of your hair to add shine without comprising on volume. Rosie uses a small amount of mousse worked through damp hair, followed by a spritz of leave-in conditioner. This combination means that your ponytail will look full, bouncy and glossy. Next, use a round hairbrush to blow-dry your hair to add movement at the roots and to help close your hair's cuticles to add extra shine.

Related: I'm Sceptical of Expensive Hair Dryers, But Dyson's Might Actually Be Worth It

Step 2: Hold and Secure

Next up, after the blow-dry, mist your hair all over with hair spray to set your hard work in place and then brush your hair into a low ponytail. Secure your strands in place at the base of your neck using clear hair ties and mist the sides of your hair to keep the ponytail in place. Pull the hair ties close to your head if you want a precise ponytail or loosen them for a more laid-back cool-girl look.

Step 3: Curl and Decorate

Finally, split your ponytail into sections, and use a curling wand to add soft waves through the lengths. Work your way through and brush out the waves using a hairbrush. This gives the effect of a relaxed, lived-in ponytail rather than full-on corkscrew curls. You're looking for a soft S-shape. Rosie likes to finish her look with a chic hair cuff or ponytail hair accessory for extra fashion points.

Related: 9 Hair Tools that Celebs, Fashion Girls and Beauty Editors Swear By

Next up, Jen An has given us 25 years of great hair looks—these are her best.

Mica Ricketts

Mica Ricketts is a freelance beauty editor, copywriter and regular contributor to Who What Wear UK. She also writes for titles including Marie Claire Refinery 29 and Cosmopolitan, and previously worked at Who What Wear UK as Beauty Editor. With experience in both editorial and content management, she also works with beauty brands and small businesses on brand messaging and content strategy. As a busy mum of two, she is passionate about finding efficacious beauty products that can disguise all signs of tiredness with minimal effort.