Where are you spending most of your summer days and nights? Hanging at the pool at the Dream Hotel? Hitting the beach at Fire Island or the Hamptons? Getting your nature on at Tanglewood Preserve or flexing your outdoor-sporty self at Chelsea Piers? Or maybe just sipping cocktails on a series of rooftop bars?
Whatever your jam, enjoy!…but remember: What you do in your summertime downtime might have some serious repercussions on your hair. Heat, sun, salt and chlorine can do a number on your glorious crown—damage that will haunt you past Labor Day.
But never fear: Scott J. stylists are on-hand to keep your mane looking rad no matter what the heat index. Read on for our pro tips on keeping it lush through even the most brutal temps.
Keep Damage OUT
You know what they say about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure? It’s particularly relevant for hair exposed to salt, sun, heat and chlorine. In our salons in Manhattan and Brooklyn, during the summer we see a constant stream of guests coming in with related dryness, tangles, breakage, frizz, and brassiness or color fading.
As our Upper West Side stylist Michelle Calabrese notes, all these problems are better and easier prevented than fixed. “Every time you’re about to go into the pool, saturate the hair first with plain water and/or leave-in conditioner,” she says. “Wet hair is less absorbent, and this reduces your hair soaking up chlorine and other minerals.” Then, Michelle recommends donning a swim cap to further protect your hair from chlorine and tangles.
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But don’t worry—a swim cap doesn’t necessarily mean one of those painful, ugly rubber numbers. Retro swim caps are back and better than ever. Pair with some statement sunglasses for some serious vintage poolside glamour.
If you’re determined to bare your hair in the water, Michelle’s other protective style go-to is a simple braid or braids with leave-in conditioner. “Detangle and style with a little extra Cherry Almond Softening Leave-In Conditioner as you’re braiding, and when you let it down later, you’ll have soft, conditioned beach waves to die for, without all the damage,” she says.
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“On top of a good leave-in conditioner, mist on Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil,” Michelle recommends. “This contains UV protection for hair to minimize damage, dryness and color fading.” It’s like wearing a hat without the hat-head, and it’s good whether you’re poolside, at the beach, or just running around the city in the sunshine.
Post-Sun & Sand Solutions
Say you’ve already had that fun in the sun and walked away with a little bit of problem hair. Don’t fret; these products bring your hair back and protect it from further damage:
- Aveda Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser and After-Sun Hair Masque
These two are the perfect pair for sun recovery. The hair and body cleanser removes chlorine, salt, and sunscreen build-up from your skin and hair, while the after-sun masque nourishes your hair with tamanu, coconut oils and morikue protein. Bonus: This line smells citrusy and fresh, “like the epitome of summer!” Michelle says.
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- Smooth Infusion Style-Prep
Michelle says if she were stranded on a desert island and still wanted to maintain fabulous hair (spoken like a true stylist)…this is what she would have on-hand. “It combats frizz, makes the hair feel soft even when you don’t blow dry and prevents damage when you do!” Bonus: It defends against humidity for 12 hours, so you can prevent the kind of body you don’t want.
- Botanical Hair Therapy
An in-salon Aveda treatment performed at any of our award-winning Brooklyn and Manhattan salons, Botanical Therapy is perfect for hair in need of intense moisture or repair and is customized for your specific needs. For very damaged hair, we suggest booking in for a treatment once a month and following up with an at-home masque once a week.
We know you’re going to have fun in the sun—just follow these steps to keep your hair looking as glorious as the rest of you. Stop in any of our locations in Brooklyn or Manhattan to try any of Michelle’s recommended products or to give your hair some of that extra TLC it deserves.