How to Revive Your Hair If You Scorched It This Summer

By Lindsay Cohn, Reader's Digest

Heat, chlorine, sun and seawater can wreak havoc on your locks, leaving them in need of some serious R&R. Here, expert tips and product picks to repair summer-ravaged hair.
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Trim your tresses

And not just because your hair actually grows 10 to 15 percent faster during the summer months—just one of the weird facts about your hair. “If you have sun-damaged hair that feels dry and has a straw-like texture, it’s time for a trim,” says Sandrine Bucarelli, advanced stylist at Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa. Waiting too long can cause split ends to creep upwards and cause further damage. Trying to grow your locks? Not to worry, you don’t have to chop your coif to reap the benefits of a trim. One inch or less is enough to create shape and get rid of the split ends. “A good solid trim is a great jump-start to really caring for your hair,” says Stefani Padilla, stylist and founder of La Tierra Sagrada. After the trim, follow up with a product regimen for sun-damaged hair, including a moisturizing shampoo, conditioner, and styling products.

Use moisturizing shampoo and conditioner

Sun-damaged hair is desperate for hydration. To help replace moisture, Padilla suggest a shampoo and conditioner—just make sure you’re using it right—with nourishing oils like coconut, jojoba, and argan. “Try to find products without the added sulfates and parabens. These toxic ingredients tend to strip the hair. The key is to protect natural oil and add more nutrient-rich, hydrating ingredients.” Try: La Tierra Sagrada Shampoo and Conditioner or Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Hydrate Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner. These are hair washing mistakes you didn’t realize you’re making.
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Go for a gloss

Sun exposure and salt can make hair look brassy. The solution? If committing to a full color revamp is too much, Padilla suggests an in-salon hair gloss. “This is a semi-permanent color that counteracts business, replenishes shine, seals the ends, and makes the hair smooth again.” Try these stylist-approved tricks for the shiniest hair ever. (Hint: A gloss is one of them.)

Try a treatment mask

After a summer of harmful sun, chlorine, and salt-water damage, it’s important to re-hydrate the scalp and strands. You could try an at-home avocado hair treatment, or do what Padilla recommends: A nutrient-rich treatment mask with protective oils, butters, and extracts to replenish sun-damaged hair and dry, frizzy locks. Try La Tierra Sagrada Hair Treatment or R+Co Palm Springs Pre-Shampoo Treatment Mask. Here’s how to repair damaged hair with items that are already in your home.
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Take a break from heat styling

You already know that heat styling can cause major damage. (Here are ways to limit the damage to your hair from heat styling.) And if you already have sun-damaged hair, it’s that much more susceptible. It’s best to give your hair a break for a few weeks. There are tons of no-heat styles that’ll leave your strands looking great. Marjan recommends braids with a leave-in conditioner (Try: It’s a 10 Potion 10 Miracle Instant Repair Leave In or Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Leave In Conditioner). “You can sleep in them and take them out in the morning for natural looking waves.” Be sure brush up on the pro-approved ways to air-dry tresses so they still look awesome.

Switch to a silk pillowcase

“Cotton pillowcases are absorbent and can actually draw moisture out of your hair and skin while you’re sleeping,” explains Marjan. Silk won’t, leaving your hair silky smooth (pun intended). Added bonus: It also reduces knots and extends your blowout. Try: The Hollywood Silk Solution Silk Pillowcase or Spasilk 100% Pure Silk Pillowcase. Try these other tricks to make your blowout last for days.
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Rebalance your scalp

Itchy scalp? Here are 21 explanations as to why your scalp itches—or it could need exfoliation and hydration, just like the rest of your skin. Bucarelli recommends using Julien Farel Hydrate Restore one a week (in lieu of shampoo and conditioner) to cleanse, moisturize, and balance pH. An exfoliating scalp scrub, like R+Co Crown Scalp Scrub, is another great way to detox and rebalance.

Massage your scalp regularly

Pros agree that regular scalp massage is a must. “Tension in the scalp can cause hair to grow in weaker, slower, and more fragile,” explains Marjan. He recommends taking a few minutes every day to massage your scalp in a circular motion to stimulate circulation. And once a week incorporate a nourishing oil into your ritual. Try: Rahua Elixir Daily Hair Drops.
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Consider a supplement

What you eat impacts your skin and strands. Damaged strands need extra TLC. Marjan suggests adding a supplement to your daily routine to promote thick, shiny, and healthy hair from the inside, out. Try these healthy, shiny hair tips, and then check out HUM Red Carpet or OLLY Undeniable Beauty. Learn how diet affects hair and scalp health.

See more at: Reader's Digest