Your summer hair survival guide: the best ways to combat everything from frizz and fading to split ends and limp locks

Shape, August, 2008 by Erin Flaherty

You probably think you've heard every piece of summer hair advice before: Avoid chlorine, wear a hat at the beach, up your conditioning regimen, you name it. But in talking to top stylists, we tracked down little known advice that can dramatically improve your hair's health. If you want shiny, strong strands this season--and all year long--start reading now.

if your hair FRIZZES WHEN IT'S HUMID

* Why this happens When it's steamy outside, hair absorbs water from the air, swells, and looks fuzzy, says Erin Anderson, co-owner of the Woodley & Bunny salon in New York City.

* The easy fix Before heading out the door, log on to salonselectives.com and click on the "Hairometer," a tool that tells you the humidity level in your area. If it's above 70 percent, use a styling product with silicone or a leave-in conditioner (but not both or you'll end up with limp locks). This helps seal your strands' cuticles (the outer layers), minimizing water absorption, says Anderson. Some to try: silicone-rich John Frieda Weather Works by Frizz-Ease Weather-Proofing Creme ($6; at drugstores) or VOS Total Hair Recovery Weekly Intense Conditioning Treatment ($5; at drugstores), which can be used as a leave-in conditioner. If humidity is an everyday issue, wash and condition with frizz fighters like Dove Frizz Control Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner ($4 each; at drugstores), which contain both light conditioners and silicone.

if your strands LOOK AND FEEL LIKE STRAW

* Why this happens Hair has a protective layer on the outside of each strand called the hydrolipidic film, which can be broken down by coloring, heat-styling UV rays, and chlorine. Once the film's gone, it's gone for good, leaving you with chronically dry hair.

* The easy fix "Use a heavy-duty moisturizing shampoo and conditioner each time you wash, and deep-condition monthly to add a hydrating coat to your strands--a stand- in for the destroyed hydrolipidic film," says Anderson. Best bets: Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner ($24 and $26; aveda.com), which give your mane a major moisture boost. "Laying off the heat-styling tools also helps because heat destroys the protective layer," says Anderson. Air-dry (or blow-dry on cool) whenever possible and experiment with mesh rollers instead of hot ones.

if your 'do GOES LIMP ON STEAMY DAYS

* Why this happens Moisture in the air coats fine tresses and weighs them down. Plus, humidity ups your scalp's oil production, which makes hair fall flat.

* The easy fix Hands off! "If you constantly run your fingers through your hair, you add oil and exacerbate the limpness," says Gretchen Monahan, owner of the Grettacole Salon in Boston. Product-wise, Monahan recommends choosing a shampoo and conditioner designed to deep-clean an oily scalp without drying out hair (parched hair absorbs more moisture from the air than hydrated tresses). Charles Worthington London Well Balanced Shampoo and Conditioner ($6 each; at drugstores) remove oily buildup but won't dehydrate your ends. Then use a volumizing styler, like Dove Body &: Lift Volumizing Mousse ($4; at drugstores), on the roots of damp hair and blow-dry upside down to maximize hair's height. If your strands still wither, spray roots with a product like Klorane Dry Shampoo ($16; dermstore.com), which temporarily thickens hair and lifts it off the scalp.

if your color CHANGES IN THE SUN

* Why this happens

Nothing wreaks havoc on a dye job faster than UV rays. They penetrate the hair shaft and break down hair color molecules. The outcome? An uneven, and often unflattering, shade.

* The easy fix "The best way to slow color fading is to wear a hat," says Sharon Dorram-Krause, a celebrity stylist. But since that's not realistic all the time, being careful about which styling products you use is just as important. "Hair gels, cremes, and even leave-in conditioners protect hair, while oil-based products, like pomade, attract the sun and accelerate fading," says Brad Johns, color director of the Red Door Salon and Spa in New York City. A UV protector we love: Biolage Sunsorials Protective Sun Gel ($14; matrix.com for salons). To evenly distribute, run it through strands with a wide tooth comb like the Sally Beauty Plugged in Wet Look Wide Tooth Comb ($1; sally beauty.com).

if your ends ARE FULL OF SPLITS

* Why this happens Over-brushing, coloring, and too-tight hair accessories can all cause hair to divide in two. Factor in the effects of the sun and you're virtually guaranteed damaged tips.

* The easy fix While trimming split ends is the only way to get rid of them, visiting the salon every six to eight weeks is the best way to keep them from returning, says Anthony Campbell, a Redken stylist in New York City. If you can't make it to the salon right away, keep damage from traveling up the hair shaft with a product like Alterna Hemp Split Ends Reconstructor ($15; beauty.com), which can be used to temporarily "glue" ragged ends together with silicone. "Hot tools like blow-dryers and flat irons can make matters worse," says Campbell. "So use them on their lowest heat setting and always prep your hair with a heat-protectant spray." One the pros use: Nexxus Heat Protexx Heat Protecting Styling Spray ($13; at drugstores).