Just because beachy hair is a go, doesn't mean you should completely let your hair get away from you for the entirety of the summer.
Translation: Thumbs-up for undone waves (not new information), but frazzled and frayed ends…not so much. So you ask, in the case of extreme heat or color-processed hair, how do you strike that balance between hydrated and healthy and relaxed and carefree? Well, for super-healthy summer strands like Blake Lively and other healthy-headed celebs, you have to take dry ends into you own hands.
Here's how to keep dry ends from happening to you.
Make Friends With Some New Products: Dry ends happen to the best of us and even if you're conditioning regularly, you could still fall victim to unwanted dry ends during the sweltering summer months. There are a few products that you can work into your routine, but for an immediate assist, add some kind of oil-based styling product into your get-ready routine. "If you wake up with extra-dry ends, an immediate fix is to use argan oil," shared celeb hairstylist Marc Mena. It's best on dry strands though, since the spritz-on product is 100 percent pure and a little goes a long way.
Go Easy On the Product: True, adding moisture back into your hair will instanly calm frizzy strands, but where you put the product is almost more important than what you use. "Rub a little bit onto your hands to break it up and start at shaft, working your way down to the ends," urged the pro. The takeaway? Use hair oils as often as you need but don't go overboard. If you have fine hair, you may also want to stay away from the roots so that your style doesn't wind up looking flat or greasy.
Put a Hair Mask on Before You Shower: If you're looking for a deeply nourishing solution, one of the easiest, most effective ways to give your parched hair a longer-lasting dose of TLC is to enlist the help of a hair mask, but not in the way that you think. Before you hop in the shower, take a generous-sized dollop of your favorite hair mask and smear it on just the ends. Let it sit for as long as you like (five minutes is perfect) then hop in the shower and shampoo as usual. Again, just be sure to only address ends, not the roots or midsection.
Incorporate a Leave-in-Conditioner: When you're right out of the shower and while your hair is still wet, try spritizing a little leave-in-conditioner into strands. Depending on how dry your hair feels, you can do this every day or as needed. It will instantly rehydrate locks, and bonus: Your blow-dry will be extra-smooth and frizz-free.
Leave Ends Out When Heat Styling: Finally: heat styling. We know you're not going to put away your curling wands and flat irons for good this summer but try laying off, even if it's just once or twice a week. And for those times when absolutely want to add a curl into your hair? Leave the ends out and away from heat. In return, you'll achieve a loosely-polished curl (the ideal summer style), but, at the same time, you won't be frying your ends.
Warren Tricomi Argan Oil, $22; Ouai Treatment Mask, $32; It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin, $20