The hair you want: if summer leaves you with frizz, brassy color or split ends, here's how to rejuvenate your locks for fall's elegant new looks

Shape, August, 2004 by Heidi Schiller

Summer may conjure up visions of windblown hair and sun-drenched highlights, but the reality is that the season's sun, heat, salt and chlorine can leave your hair damaged and dry--and looking anything but healthy and beautiful. With the right tips, cuts, tools and products, however, you can get the gorgeous hair you want--no matter how high the temperature soars--and have it in great shape come fall. With the help of some of the country's top hair-care experts, here's simple advice on keeping every hair type looking its best.

* problem Fragile hair, damaged by chemical processing

"Every time we do something to our hair--whether it's washing, coloring or even perspiring--we lose ceramides [the hair's bonds] that naturally give hair elasticity and suppleness," says New York City stylist Carmine Minardi of the Minardi Salon. "It's critical to take care of your hair, especially in summer's drying elements, so you aren't paying for it come September." Here, how to undo the damage and get healthier, stronger locks:

* Choose the right color. Ask your stylist to switch to a vegetable-based, ammonia-free hair color, recommends stylist Kim Vo, co-owner of the B2V Salon in West Hollywood, Calif. "This is a damage-free process that's less drying on strands." If you want to color hair yourself at home, see "5 Steps to Vibrant Color," page 84.

* Use shampoos and conditioners for color-treated hair. They're extra-gentle on hair and won't strip color. Best bets: Bain de Terre Kiwi Color Protecting Shampoo ($9; 800-242-WAVE), Jingles Color Therapie Shampoo and Conditioner ($19 and $14; 800-783-9969) and Wella Color Preserve Shampoo and Conditioner ($11 and $12; 800-843-2656).

* Incorporate nourishing oils into your weekly routine. Los Angeles-based celebrity hair colorist Jonathan Gale uses hydrating oils on his star clients (his favorite: Dr. Hauschka Neem Hair Oil, $23.50; drhauschka.com) before coloring to strengthen and protect the hair. The essential oils help make hair more lustrous and strong.

* Be label-conscious. Spend an extra minute reading product labels to ensure your hair is getting what it needs. Colored and/or processed hair needs moisture-drenching ingredients like jojoba oil, olive oil, lanolin, almond oil and shea butter, to help lock in moisture and prevent brittle strands (and split ends come fall). Other key ingredients: pro-vitamin [B.sub.5] (also known as panthenol), which prevents heat damage and makes hair stronger, and vitamin E, which acts as a hydrator. These ingredients help prevent brassiness or color degradation. Editor's favorite: L'Anza Magic Bullet Hair Healer ($16; lanza.com), which is packed with damage-repairing ingredients like algae extract, allantoin and ultraviolet (UV)-light protectants.

* Don't skimp on protection. "It's never too late in the season to start protecting your hair against the sun's damaging UV rays," says hairstylist and New York City salon owner Mark Garrison. "Like our skin, it needs screening against sun exposure. Sunscreen, scarves, hats--use whatever you want to avoid direct exposure." Best everyday protector: Kerastase Soleil Voile Protecteur ($29; 877-748-8357), an invisible, non-oily spray with UV filters that can be applied as frequently as desired. Also, before hitting the pool or ocean, which further dries out locks, apply a waterproof gel or leave-in conditioner with UV protection. Try Charles Worthington Take Aways Suntime Safe Sun Waterproof UV-Protection Hair Gel ($2; 800-519-8121).

* Be extra-gentle with strands. If you normally blow-dry your hair or use heated styling tools on a daily basis, give your hair a break for the month of August and let it air-dry. "The added heat from the dryer can open the cuticle (the protective layer of the hair shaft) and make it more vulnerable to sunlight, chlorine or salt water," explains Vo, who also recommends using an extra-gentle boar-bristle brush on weak strands (his favorite: the Marilyn New Yorker brush, $22.50-$27.75; themarilynbrush.com).

In-salon boost: The brand-new Alterna Caviar Rejuvenation Treatment gives colored hair more luster and shine ($50; 888-4ALTERNA for salon locations).

* problem Straight hair that gets flat, limp and flyaway

"The humidity in summer can really weigh down straight hair, leaving locks limp," Minardi explains. "But one way to counteract these effects: volumizing products, used now and year-round." To get your hair looking lustrous and full, rather than lifeless, try these expert tips:

* Know your shampoos and conditioners. "Straight hair needs powerful cleansing shampoos and light conditioners," Minardi says. "Unlike other hair types, straight hair doesn't need a lot of moisture because too much hydration can make hair even more flat." Try KMS Amp Volume Shampoo and Reconstructor ($9 and $10; kmshaircare.com) and Dove Extra Volume Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.69 each; at drugstores).

* Get used to mousse again. Mousses went out of fashion for a while, being replaced in many women's beauty arsenals by gels and other holding products. But mousse is back--in even lighter formulations. Internationally renowned stylist Frederic Fekkai recommends applying a teaspoon-sized amount of volumizing mousse (such as his Full Volume Mousse, $18.50; sephora.com; or Suave Professionals new Volumizing Foam, $2.29; at drugstores) to damp hair. Start at the crown of your head, then flip your head upside down and lift your hair at the roots with your fingers.