10 Tips: Manageable Summer Hair

Don't let summer's heat, humidity, sun, and wind wreak havoc on your hair! Fight back with these tips:

1. Condition, condition, condition! Almost everyone's hair gets dry in the summer sun. Beat the problem by using a rich conditioner every time you wet your hair.
2. Seal out humidity (especially if you have natural waves or curls). Style with gels formulated to resist humidity, such as those by Curl Friends or Ouidad.
3. Spray on sunscreen. The sun can tinker with hair color, making it fade or turn brassy. Before you head outside, spritz on a leave-in conditioner with sunscreen to protect your tint.
4. Choose safe accessories. Most of us like to experiment with fun hair accessories in the summer. Pick ones that won't tear or break hair: Pony holders without metal closures, barrettes with smooth edges and clasps, fabric headbands that move with your hair.
5. Use the sun to your advantage. Before a day at the beach or pool, dampen hair with tap water. Comb a thick hair mask throughout strands, then sweep back into a loose bun. The heat of the sun will help the mask penetrate your hair, making it silky and soft by the end of the day.
6. Shampoo as needed. If summer temperatures make your scalp oily, suds up once a day with a mild product. Otherwise, skip a day between shampoos to allow hair's own oils to act as natural moisturizers.
7. Rinse away salt and chlorine. If left on the hair, salt and chlorine can make it dry and brittle. After swimming, remove chemicals with tap water.
8. Try hair cream. A tiny dab applied to dried hair can zap frizz, calm flyaways, and add shine to weather-beaten locks.
9. Give your blowdryer a break. Instead, air dry hair whenever possible -- even better, ask your stylist to update your cut so it looks best when not blown dry.
10. Reinvent the headscarf. When the weather is especially windy, tie a colorful scarf over your hair. It protects strands from breakage and knotting (and has a preppy feel that's in style right now!).