How to care for your hair during summer

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Summer is a wonderful time of the year. The weather is warm, the sun shines, the salty sea water is invitingly cool, and there’s nothing better than being outside. But all of this elemental exposure to sun, heat, salt or chlorine water can leave your tresses looking and feeling stressed out.

If your hair is suffering from some summer stress, here are some ways you can tame that mane back into a manageable condition and have your locks looking luscious in no time.

Ann-Maree Mason is a hair stylist and brand expert for 100% natural haircare brand Harper & Arlo. Ann-Maree has also worked with L’Oreal and GHD. Here are some of her top tips for keeping your hair in top-notch condition.

1. Protect

Prevention is always better than cure, so be proactive about protecting your hair from harsh salt water or chlorine pools. Look for a spray-in, leave-in conditioner product that protects your hair from UV rays, thermal damage and form a barrier between your hair and the elements.

Moroccan Oil All In One Leave-In Conditioner, $53, Sephora

A versatile, leave-in conditioner that you spray directly to wet hair to hydrate and detangle.

2. Go Natural

You don’t need to be a haircare expert to know that excessive heat styling with hair dryers, curling wands and straighteners can wreak havoc on your hair. Invest in some products that can tame curls or smooth frizz and let your hair air dry and go au natural.

Fudge Luminizer Moisture Boost Shampoo, $19.95, Oz hair & beauty

This shampoo creates instant illuminated and frizz-free hair for those wanting to tame flyaways.

Essano Conditioner Soothing Keratin Complex, $16, Woolworths

2. Treat For anyone with chemical or colour treated hair, or hair that lives a full-on life, it’s important to treat it to a mask once a week that can restore moisture and other vital nutrients. Pick up a mask that addresses your particular hair concerns, whether that be split ends or brittle hair.

Strengthen and smooth hair with this protective, indulgent formula. It's gentle enough even for coloured tresses!

3. Treat

For anyone with chemical or colour treated hair, or hair that lives a full-on life, it’s important to treat it to a mask once a week that can restore moisture and other vital nutrients. Pick up a mask that addresses your particular hair concerns, whether that be split ends or brittle hair.

Aveda Nutriplenish Masque Deep Moisture, $83, Adore Beauty

Is your hair starting to feel like steel wool? Reach for this intensely hydrating mask its perfect for medium to coarse hair types.

Christophe Robin Hydrating Melting Mask, $24, Sephora

Made with 95% natural-origin ingredients, this silky conditioning mask offers an ultra-light texture that melts into hair to enhance shine and reduce frizz.

4. Brush it right

Remove knots and stimulate blood flow to your scalp by giving your hair a good brush at least once a day. Avoid brushing hair too much when it’s wet, as this is when it’s most brittle.