Summer is obviously one of my favorite seasons because Chicago becomes unfrozen and it’s the season we all live here for. It’s a time to relax, let loose, and have fun. And as a kid, we can all remember that summer vacations are literally the time of your life. It’s also a time that I let Zelda have extra fun when it comes to her hair. After all, there’s only so much you can get away with in traditional school settings (other than Crazy Hair Day).
Zelda of Glitter and Bubbles wears her hair in a braid with yellow sunglasses.
We all know that Zelda likes to make a statement and let her energetic personality come through in her style, and her summer hair is nothing different. She’s been growing it out lately and hasn’t wanted to cut it short yet, so we have lots of options in terms of what we do with it. Actually, most of my struggle with doing her hair is keeping it out of her face and manageable. Especially as she’s running around being a kid and the summer heat comes into play.
Zelda of Glitter and Bubbles wears vacation braids and a swimsuit cover up.
But here are the products and ideas that I swear by for creating cool hairstyles and keeping things easy over summer. Zelda approved!

1. Color

Without school rules in place, summer is the ideal time to let your kids’ personality show by way of hair color. And before anyone rolls their eyes, can we all go back in time to when we were using Sun-in? I’m pretty sure my hair was green at some point from it, and not a cool green. Instead, I like to color Zelda’s hair in a controlled environment that gives amazing results – all while making her beyond excited. You might have remembered the pink color we used earlier this year, which was by Arctic Fox. We went to a salon, but you could definitely use the dye at home on your child. Arctic Fox is vegan, it washes out easily and it’s literally no big deal – it’s not harmful at all. Zelda has been asking for purple locks recently, so that’s next on our list.
Kids summer hairstyles by Glitter and Bubbles including pink hair.

2. Glitz

Glitter is such a vibrant way to add some glitz to child’s summer hair because who doesn’t like to sparkle? We love the Unicorn Snot Glitter which you’ve probably heard of before. It’s super easy to use, too. When your child’s hair is wet, just tap the glitter up their part or around the back of their head and it’ll set. Unicorn Snot is more understated, but if you want to go majorly glittery, then you’ll love the Chunky Hair Glitter, which needs to adhere to something wet – or I like using the Elf Hair Glue for an adhesive, too. You can even mix the two together for a really cool combo, like we did last year for Zelchella (Zelda’s birthday). Believe me, your kid will love the glittery look for a carnival or someone’s birthday party for a fun hint of glitz and glam.
A toddler's magical birthday party at the Swissotel in Chicago with Anagram Balloons.

3. Poolside

If there’s one thing not great about summer and hair, it’s chlorine. Not only can it leave your child’s hair damaged and brittle, but we all know the tangle struggle is real. There’s nothing like chasing your kid around the pool with a brush, right? Zelda will literally wail and act like I’m ripping her hair out if I don’t use the products I’m about to tell you about. They’re life-changing if your kid swims…or if they have hair in general. I include the following things in my “poolside hair survival kit”: So Cozy Leave-In Conditioner, Goody Hair Brush, and Ouchless Rubber Bands. You can thank me later for this one.
Zelda of Glitter and Bubbles stands near the water in Punta Cana.BloHaute styles Zelda's hair on vacation in Punta Cana.A little girl with braids in her hair sits in a pool float.

4. Braids

Braids seem to be incorporated into the majority of our hairstyles over summer. I find that they successfully keep hair out of Zelda’s face, they hold up while wet, and they even act as a cool second-day hairstyle. I looked through literally every hairstyle round-up on the Internet, and this one is by far the best. Lots of cute ideas for braids. Some are a bit cheesy for what Zelda and I like to do – but that doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t love them. Definitely worth checking out.
Zelda shows off braids on vacation in Punta Cana.A toddler stands on the beach in Punta Cana wearing a top knot.

5. Headbands

Let’s face it, there’s kinda nothing cuter than a mommy-and-me matching hair moment, right? Zelda and I love to do this once in a while, as it makes for a good Instagram and it’s a fun way to bond. When we’re wanting to match, we’re all about that headband life. These stretchy headbands are great for all ages and are really easy for days when you’re both having a bad hair day. Plus, they’re stretchy so your kid will actually leave them on (probably). To take things full matchy-matchy, put on jeans and a white t-shirt and then smile for the Instagram!
Alright, that should give you a handful of fun ways to experiment with your kids’ summer hair. You’ll seriously be the coolest mom around, and your child will love the creative independence these hairstyles provide. For all the products and more ideas from Zelda’s own hair, scroll down.

Six summer hair essentials for kids by Glitter and Bubbles.

Goody Ouchless Hair Brush

So Cozy Detangler

Goody Ouchless Hair Elastics

Karizma Chunky Hair Glitter

Mommy & Me Knot Headbands

Unicorn Snot Glitter Gel

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