Frizzy on the coasts, parched on the Prairies and lifeless or haywire in Central Canadayour hair can drive you crazy when the temperature soars. Here's how to make it look its healthy best all season:
| Problem 1: Chlorinated water Blond and silver locks look more green than natural. | |
| Fix | A clarifying shampoo such as Pantene Pro-V Purity Clarifying Shampoo, 400 mL/$7, removes excess buildup. To counteract brassiness in lightened hair, try a violet-tinted colour-enhancing shampoo or rinse with UV-protector products such as KMS Color Vitality Blonde Treatment, 150 mL/$13. |
| Quick trick | Take a cool shower before diving in. Your hair shaft soaks up the water, seals the cuticle and blocks salt or chlorine from filling in dry porous strands. Rinse immediately after your dip and wash with Ultra Swim Shampoo and Conditioner, 235 mL/$6 each. |
| Hot products | Love swimming but not the ugly bathing cap? Apply Redken sun shape swim cream protective hair cream, 150 mL/$17, on damp or dry hair before sun exposure and swimming. It will protect your hair and prevent it from absorbing minerals. |
| Avoid | A vibrant platinum colour or chunky highlights aren't your best bets if you love pools. Finer highlights will be easier to protect and maintain. |
| Problem 2: Humidity Curls go haywire and straight hair turns limp and stringy. | |
| Fix | Curls: L'Oreal Professionnel liss extreme moisturizing smoothing shampoo, 250 mL/$12, and a curl definer such as OSiS Twist curl activator, 150 mL/$14, help smooth frizzies and shape curls. Fine locks: if they go lifeless, try Alberto Europeen Amplifying Mousse, 150 g/$4, and Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid, 100 mL/$29 to add shine. |
| Quick trick | Fight limp hair by sleeping with your locks in a ponytail at the top of your head. In the morning, flip your head upside down and spritz in Clairol Herbal Essences Natural Volume Root Volumizer, 177 mL/$4. |
| Hot products | Sea salt adds texture to make hair easier to style. To mimic that day-at-the-beach look, try John Frieda Beach Blonde Ocean Waves Sea Spray Texturizing Styler, 177 mL/$10. |
| Avoid | Humidity reactivates your styling products so use them sparingly. A clarifying shampoo such as Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Shampoo, 300 mL/$14, strips away product buildup and mineral residue, but use it no more than once a week as coloured hair may fade more quickly. |
| Problem 3: Hot air Hair loses shine and ends up with fried flyaways. | |
| Fix | Use a moisturizing shampoo such as Dove Intense Moisture Shampoo, 300 mL/$4, and condition faithfully. Twice-weekly treatments with Garnier Fructis Fortifying Cream Conditioner, 300 mL/$4, help save stressed locks. |
| Quick trick | Heavy gel or spray weighs down dry hair. Make your own styling lotion by mixing equal amounts of your favourite gel and conditioner in your palms for instant control and shine. |
| Hot products | John Frieda Frizz-Ease Emergency Treatment Leave-In Conditioning Spray, 89 mL/$7, defrizzes naturally curly hair. Matrix GlowTRIX luminous creme smoother, 110 mL/$20, adds body to fine hair. |
| Avoid | Cut back on the use of heated styling appliances. A plastic-bristle brush may give your hair an electric charge, so use a brush with natural bristles instead. |
| Problem 4: Blazing sun Colour fades, ends split and hair looks lacklustre. | |
| Fix | UV filters in conditioners and stylers act like an invisible hat to help prevent sun damage. Applied before a day at the beach, Clairol Daily Defense Fortifying Leave-In Conditioner 227 mL/$3, gives you a slicked-back wet look. Spritz Phytoplage Protective Sun Veil, 100 mL/$28, onto dry hair to give it a grease-free invisible shield. |
| Quick trick | Split ends? Smoothing a serum such as Phyto Phytolisse Ultra Shine Smoothing Serum, 30 mL/$35, into ragged ends helps hold them together until your next trim. |
| Hot products | Available in five tones, Matrix Biolage Earth Tones Color Refreshing Conditioners, 150 mL/$20, add colour and gloss to sun-dried natural or coloured hair. |
| Avoid | Bleaching hair by baking it in the sun or with lemon juice will make it dry and brassy. If you love that sun-kissed look, try KMS Color Vitality Solar Power Highlighter, 150 mL/$17, or colour your hair with a gentle low-ammonia formula such as L'Oreal Paris Open Vibrantly Natural Colour Gel, $11. |
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