Summer can be a stressful time of your life– for your hair! Heat and humidity are notoriously not hair-friendly, but there are a ton of other environmental factors that can wreak havoc on your hair in the summer. Wind, sun, saltwater and chlorine can leave your hair dull, dry, and damaged. Add styling to that: blow-drying, curling and straight ironing and you have a recipe for hair disaster. I also start every summer off with lightened locks so I have to be really careful to prevent damage.

For starters, I like to spray on a leave-in conditioner with sunscreen. I like Nexxus Phyto Organics Luxxtress – Leave In Hair Moisturizer. To tame frizz, I like the entire line of John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Collection. It’s good for straight styles too, so not to worry if you have naturally straight hair.

Air-drying can take a long time, but you can still get sleek volume by letting your hair dry naturally. I have medium-length straight hair, and I get great summer volume with finger-twirling damp hair or pinning it up still damp before I go to bed. A styling cream will do the job to hold the curl.

Of course there are lots of options for medium length to long hair. I like the updated ponytail with a poof or a twist in the front. The added volume around your face is softer than a regular ponytail. You can just pin it back, or you can give some extra interest with a twist. Headbands and combs also add instant interest. One of my favorite styles is to braid or twist back a section in the front (think Jennifer Aniston’s Oscar night hair).

I also love Frederick Fekkai’s Beach Waves. It adds texture (think of that great volume you get after you’ve been in the saltwater) while locking in moisture. It also offers UV protection which is great to keep in mind.

For curly gals, I suggest working with your natural curl using a curl cream or serum to cut down on the frizz. Trust me, us straight-haired ladies are super jealous of your hair! You’ll find that pin curls and finger-twirling will also work well for your natural waves. Try to keep blow drying to a minimum and remember that you can also work great accessories like headbands to make your summer look low maintenance.

Lastly, remember moisture is key. Make sure to condition your hair often.