Chris McMillan Shares 3 Looks Perfect for the Summer Weather

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]All right, summer is just around the corner, so it's the perfect time to get your hair ready for the heat. Here to show us three go-to styles is celebrity hair stylist Chris McMillan, founder of Chris McMillan Hair.

[00:00:11]>> Hi Chris.

[00:00:13]Okay, let's start with the slicked-back pony. This is a good time of year. We have our beautiful model Liv. You say this is a good time to kind of optimize, right?

[00:00:22]>> Well, what I like to do is I like to do say a slick-back. I called it a multi-masking because I'm using conditioner instead of product. I'm using conditioner as a product, so we can multitask that hair.

[00:00:36]>> So like if you're going to the beach or something.

[00:00:38]>> Yeah, yeah, just take whatever your favorite conditioner is, whatever your favorite mask is. Is that a mask right now?

[00:00:44]>> This is a conditioner that I took from my hotel. Okay. Yeah, like I'm literally you can use any conditioner you want and just put it through your hair.

[00:00:54]I've done it before as long as it's not water-based, otherwise it >> the trick to mine is I did it in three sections, so I prepped the hair by doing a ponytail in the back and then I add the sides so that you're not compromising the hairline all that weight.

[00:01:10]>> pulling it too tight.

[00:01:11]>> Yeah, all the weight.

[00:01:13]>> if it's on two different three different sides, it's not just straight back. Have you ever had that updo that hurt?

[00:01:18]>> Yes, and then all that weight is I'm putting pressure on that hairline.

[00:01:21]>> And you know what else? You from the front you still get the look without pulling the sides. It's good.

[00:01:26]>> Is a deep conditioner better, Chris? I mean, listen, the better the a mask obviously will give you the most hydration as possible. Okay. And then I always like to just twist it up. Mhm.

[00:01:38]And oh, excuse me. Uh-huh.

[00:01:41]>> [laughter] >> You know, it's funny. There'll be days where if I'm traveling and I don't have anything >> Excuse me. You do the same thing?

[00:01:48]>> Yeah, like I said, as long as it's not water-based. Not water-based.

[00:01:51]A little clip. You're ready for date night.

[00:01:54]>> elevate it with a little hair accessory.

[00:01:57]I not?

[00:01:57]>> that. We love that. I like this adds a little something something.

[00:02:02]>> you have plans tonight, Liv, do you?

[00:02:03]I'll find some. Okay.

[00:02:05]>> [laughter] >> There you go.

[00:02:06]>> Okay, you look beautiful.

[00:02:08]>> Thank you.

[00:02:08]>> Thank you, Liv. Okay, now we're moving on.

[00:02:12]>> to America. Okay.

[00:02:13]>> staffer, Maya. So And you're saying like obviously the summer's the perfect time to embrace the natural curl.

[00:02:19]>> And look at these beautiful curls. Maya just told me a week ago she started leaning into her natural hair.

[00:02:25]>> Good. Good. So I'll I always say like use mousses, use gels. Curly hair girls have a it's sort of a concoction. Find your concoction and really don't be afraid. Always start from the ends.

[00:02:38]>> Looks really moisturized.

[00:02:39]>> And this is these are her natural colors. Her natural curls.

[00:02:43]>> Yeah, they're beautiful.

[00:02:44]>> Do you like diffusers? I do like a diffuser to speed up the process. Do not touch the hair in the drying process.

[00:02:52]Okay. I repeat, do not Touch the hair in the drying process. It keeps their curls in shape. And then a diffuser helps distribute the heat evenly without compromising the hair.

[00:03:04][clears throat] So it keeps the frizz out.

[00:03:07]>> Beautiful. Your hair is perfect, Maya.

[00:03:09]Okay.

[00:03:09]>> And then do the same thing on this side.

[00:03:11]She has the product. You just pull it out.

[00:03:14]>> Perfect. Smells good, too.

[00:03:15]>> Yeah. Okay, let's move on to Andrea.

[00:03:18]Hi, Andrea. Hi. Andrea likes her summer blowouts.

[00:03:22]>> Yeah. And so >> keep them.

[00:03:24]>> And she wants to keep them. Yeah. So if you don't know how to do the salon blowout on your own, you say you can sustain its life by using a claw clip.

[00:03:31]100% and I always like like the the Oh, wait. This one won't move. Oh, there we go. And then I just take a claw clip and I lift it up off the neck. Mhm.

[00:03:43]Twist it like a French twist up the back.

[00:03:45]>> Okay. Take a claw clip, your favorite. I happen to love red right now, so I found this red one for Andrea. Okay. Andrea Mhm. And >> it hold like that.

[00:03:54]>> split it like that.

[00:03:55]>> a question, Chris. So let's say during the day at work she wants to put it up, but then let's say she's meeting her friends after the after the show. If she takes it out, will it come back to va-va-voom?

[00:04:03]>> It will come back to va-va-voom. Um I would say it's kind of like when I travel, you just sort of let it hang for a second, sort of zhuzh it back and forth, and >> But look how pretty I mean >> cute in and of itself.

[00:04:16]>> want to keep it up like that for a night.

[00:04:18]>> And I love like that sort of Kendall Jenner look at the Met Gala, the way that that looks. Yeah.

[00:04:24]So fun. So pretty, Chris.

[00:04:26]>> how Dennis is going to have all you guys go out. She's like, "When you go out tonight?"

[00:04:29]>> Well, when they look like that, they better go out. So that [laughter] effortless look, and it's just like it's so perfect for summer. Thank you so much, Chris. We love you.

[00:04:38]>> We like to elevate the conversation.

[00:04:40]>> in a little bit.

[00:04:41]You guys, thanks for watching.

[00:04:43]>> I know. Come join us for all the fun every weekday on NBC.

[00:04:46]>> Yeah, and don't forget to take us along when you're on the go.

[00:04:49]>> Follow the Today with Jenna and Sheinelle podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.