Repair Your Summer-Damaged Hair

by Deborah Dunham (Subscribe to Deborah Dunham's posts)
Posted Aug 25th 2010 at 12:00AM

Photo: Getty Images

With as much humidity as our hair endures over the summer, you wouldn't think it would end up dry and brittle, would you?

Yet many women -- us included -- are currently walking around with damaged hair that's screaming for a little TLC. Sam Brocato of Sam Brocato Salon in New York says it's not necessarily the humid air that wreaks havoc on our lovely locks -- it's our time spent outside enjoying the weather.

"The number one problem is sun exposure," Brocato tells StyleList. "Chlorine and salt water also have a major effect on hair."

Signs of summer-damaged hair include dull, lifeless strands that won't hold a style or overly frizzy locks that seem fried. Your tresses may be dry on the ends or oilier than usual at the scalp. Or your color may have faded, changed or become brassy. All of these conditions are signs that the days of summer fun have taken their toll.

Watch the video for pro tips on preventing frizz

But don't worry your pretty head. Brocato gave StyleList some simple remedies to help repair your tattered tresses, no matter what shape they are in:

Dry hair: Shampoo with a moisturizing treatment, such as Infusium Moisture Replenisher Shampoo. Add a drop of the gentle shampoo, rinse and reapply treatment until hair is noticeably soft. In order to lock in the moisture, leave hair wrapped in a shower cap overnight and wake up to silky smooth hair.

Frizzy hair: In order to tame frizzy hair, it's necessary to reapply a leave-in-conditioner at least three to five times a day for two days. Maintaining consistency with this treatment will help re-balance hair and control frizz. To keep hair frizz-free and stylish, gently work a finishing cream -- like Living Proof No Frizz Straight Styling Cream -- into damp or dry locks.

Brassy hair: It's best to use a shampoo specifically for color-treated hair that contains natural pigments to match hair. Look for one with a blue/violet booster added to cut brass, like Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR PRO TIPS TO VOLUMIZE LIMP HAIR

Green or chlorine damaged blonde: Chelating shampoos can cut the green color (try Brocato Peppermint Scrub Purifying Shampoo). Chlorine damages hair, therefore it needs extra protein and a moisture balancing treatment. Slather a conditioner like John Frieda Sheer Blonde Color Renew Tone-Restoring Conditioner on to the hair; for better absorption, cover it with a shower cap and blast your head with a hairdryer for five minutes. Rinse and repeat this treatment two more times for best results.

Limp, lifeless locks: Cleanse hair and scalp well, apply a strong, protein-based shampoo such as Nexxus Diametress Luscious Volumizing Shampoo. The protein will increase tensile strength and give hair added shine and luster.

Breakage from too many tight ponytails or braids: Be nice to your hair! Cool it with the too-tight ponytails (especially while sleeping -- wear hair in a loose ponytail at the nap of the neck in bed, and click through the below gallery for the right way to create a ponytail), cut your dead ends off and be sure to fortify your strands with a moisturizing, protein-packed hair treatment. Try Biosilk Silk Therapy or Brocato Constructor Deep Repair Treatment.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR PRO TIPS ON CREATING PONYTAILS

If you want a good home-made remedy for your tired tresses, Brocato recommends avocados!

First, take ripe (not black) avocados, mix them with sweet almond oil and a little hair conditioner. Smear this on clean damp hair. Cover and allow to soak in for at least 30 minutes. Rinse for three minutes with the coldest water you can tolerate and comb out tangles with a large tooth comb and towel dry. Then, apply a scalp tonic such as Brocato Peppermint Scrub Fresh Hair & Scalp Leave-In Tonic to invigorate the scalp. Let the hair dry naturally and there you have it – fresh vibrant hair!

When all else fails, sometimes a good pair of scissors is the best treatment for damaged hair that's beyond repair. "When your hair will not shine or glow and it refuses to hold a style," Brocato says, "in spite of your best efforts to treat and condition, sometimes you simply have to cut and run!"

When you're done giving your hair some much-needed TLC, be sure to check out these simple hairstyles for those end-of-the-summer outdoor parties!

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Filed under: Hair Care, Hair
Tags: brittle hair, BrittleHair, chlorine, damaged hair, DamagedHair, dry hair, DryHair, hair basics, hair repair, HairBasics, HairRepair, humidty, sam brocato, SamBrocato, summer damaged hair, summer hair, summer hair repair, SummerDamagedHair, SummerHair, SummerHairRepair, sun

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READER COMMENTS

(27)Add A Comment

trishmartin45, 8-25-2010, 2:39PM

sigh....I guess that fashion and beauty magazines, print and web based, are all tooooo busy to check the facts. Putting avocado on your hair does NOTHING to recondition it. Yes, it may LOOK better for a short time because the oils in the avocado have put a sheen on the hair strands. Hair is comprised of 97% protein - if you want to recondition those fried locks, you MUST use a conditioner that has HYDROLYZED PROTEIN as one of the first three ingredients. Depending on food products to do the job is an exercise in futility! SIGNED, FORMER TEACHER OF COSMETOLOGY

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Angie, 10-27-2010, 11:41PM

Can you recommend some brand names that have HYDROLYZED PROTEIN as one of the first three ingredients?

PIXY, 8-25-2010, 2:50PM

Through the years i have used 2 different things for my hair and it does seem to work real well
1.beer
2mayo
great conditioners
after being sick a few years i was forced to put in a weave so i may have the long beautiful hair i had been trying to grow for years and i still use the 2 above beer and mayo ......

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lennikinz, 8-25-2010, 5:16PM

you put beer and mayo in your hair?

iris, 8-25-2010, 3:07PM

Um yeah, this was a waste of time. Sure people with straight hair get frizzy, but what about the real problem? what about curly hair? When us people with curly hair walk outside, it looks like we have a freaking jerry curl from the 80's! its horrible! how do you solve that problem without straightening everyday or adding enough products to make the cat that sleeps near you run away having an asthma attack? Answer those questions then i'll be impressed.

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maxine price, 8-25-2010, 7:46PM

I hear ya honey. My curly hair has always been my curse. My suggestion, get a really good haircut--good luck with that-someone who can cut hair the old fashioned way. Using a scissor and no tricks like that razor edge cut they're using as if they are trimming a shrub. Tell the hairdresser to give you long layers and use lots good conditioner and hair gel at home, not mouse. You will have to have to try a lot of products to find the ones that work right. Something that makes your hair crunchy not too soft.Then just let it go! Let the humidity do it's work. Don't over wash it either. I just did this because I got so fed up destroying my hair and people are always commenting on how great my hair is now. So I'm enjoying the hassle free style for the summer. Try it and good luck! If you dry it with a hair dryer use your fingers to make it high on top by scrunching your fingers around the hair as you try to form the natural curls.

hairtherapywrap, 8-25-2010, 3:32PM

I use the www.hairtherapywrap.com cordless THERMAL turban HEATWRAP for deep conditioning once a week. No need to leave conditioners on all night! Heats in just 90 seconds in the microwave! Stays hot up to 20 minutes. Use over and over again! Only 20.00 www.hairtherapywrap.com

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Mary, 8-25-2010, 3:32PM

With winter rearing it's ugly head, does anyone have a solution for flyaway hair?

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Margie, 8-25-2010, 4:46PM

I heard if you a rub dryer sheet to your hair it prevents static and fly away hair.

hairtherapywrap, 8-25-2010, 3:35PM

Hi
Use the ThERMAL CORDLESS HEAT WRAP WEEKLY IT WILL OPEN UP YOUR HAIR FOLLICLES TO ALLOW DEEPER PENETRATION OF YOU CONDITIONERS! Thousands are already using the www.hairtherapywrap.com Also, check out one of my retailers at: www.naturallycurly.com to buy some really great products for curly hair! But, use it with the www.hairtherapywrap.com which you can also buy at www.naturallycurly.com
Guaranteed or your money back!

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Margaret Tomlinson, 8-25-2010, 4:22PM

I am 74 years old and my hair is very fine and I am losing more and more hair every
week. What can I do to stop the loss

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BJ, 8-26-2010, 8:34AM

You can stop hair loss by eating a healthy diet of fruits and raw veggies and whole grains and not eat processed foods if you can help it and no junk food. I was having the same problem plus I had the worst joint aches every morning. I went to a chiropractor for my joints and in helping my joints with the above diet I also noticed my hair growing back in and even some of my gray hair was being replaced with my natural brown hair and on top of that I was over a two year deep depression, it was amazing. If you are interested try to find a chiropractor that is in with Maximized Living program, you can google that and find if there is one near you. Then please listen to him because I did and I feel 20 years younger and my joint ache is gone and my hair is great again and I lost 25 lbs. My husband goes to him for adjustments just as I do but won't listen to him about the diet and is still very overweight and has still has aching joints and is depressed. Good Luck!

Par, 8-25-2010, 7:33PM

Margaret Take Biotin once a day, its usually in the vitamin area near B12. Take 1000 mg one time a day and then after 30 days take a 5000 mg pill once a day. Don't use a hair dryer and never a brush.

Maria Campos-Diaz, 8-25-2010, 8:18PM

you can also, put mayonaise for at least on your hair for damage hair. it really works but you have to do it atleast one's weekly. good luck!

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trishmartin45, 8-25-2010, 6:42PM

The same thing I said in my earlier post about avocados applies to beer, mayonnaise, and any other food product. They do nothing but gloss over the hair with the oils and sugars they contain. To really condition hair, you MUST use a conditioner that contains HYDROLYZED PROTEIN to FEED the hair. All of these foods people recommend that your use for conditioning the hair is like painting a board that has termites. The board might LOOK better, but you still have the problem of the termites. Mayo and avocado and whatever other food groups you would like to mention MIGHT make the hair LOOK better for a SHORT time, but you still have hair that is crying for PROTEIN to replenish its natural state!!! If a baby cries for milk and you give him water, he will stop crying for a short time...until his system realizes that the water just filled his tummy but didn't nourish him. The same holds true with the hair. If you coat it with the oils and sugars in mayo, avocado, beer and other food items, it will look better for a short time...until your system realizes that you didn't NOURISH the hair with PROTEIN. But I guess as long as you listen to the "beauty experts" in magazines and here on AOL, you will keep cosmetologists (in other words - hairdressers ) in business!

jess, 8-25-2010, 4:26PM

Another great way to improve hair, skin and nails (as well as lose weight) is FLAX! Flax is loaded with Omega 3's so it not only helps with weight loss, it is great for your skin, hair and overall health.

After all the crazy diets and programs, what finally worked for me in losing weight and keeping it off and feeling overall healthier was eating FitFlax hTtp://www.fitflax.com I also follow a high fiber/lean protein diet. A great breakfast that's filling, low cal and delicious is Greek yogurt, berries and fitflax. I love this flax seed blend as it's got a toasted nutty taste that doesn't need to be ground and it's loaded with Omega 3's. At lunch or dinner, I'll add it to salads. I saw the code fit10 for 10% percent off on a health board.

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star, 8-25-2010, 5:52PM

Margaret,
you can try a great shaklee product for hair loss.
they have a shampoo and spray which worked so good i needed to stop using it since it made my hair too thick.

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Mary, 8-25-2010, 6:54PM

Come on people it's 2010 get a brain. Hair is dead cells like fingernails. The only thing that helps hair damaged look better is oil. Its the only thing that helps in all comditioners, shampoos, restorers etc. Sure they add other crap to change the smell, color texture and to make you think its special like adding avocado but its the oil that helps nothing else.

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trishmartin45, 9-21-2010, 12:45AM

itkonlyyou252, lockfashion, JM, jianmianlaad, Mary,

Please do yourselves the favor of getting educated about the structure of hair, its composition and care. OIL does nothing but coat hair, making it...well, oily and stringy and limp. Mary, IF oil was a conditioner, NO ONE would ever have damaged hair - the hair's natural oils would do the trick. Yes JM, hair is essentially dead from the moment it emerges from the scalp, but it CAN and SHOULD be repaired with hydrolyzed protein applications when it becomes damaged. The protein MUST be hydrolyzed - the process of using extremely high water pressure to break the molecules of protein down into small enough particles to penetrate the tiny hair shaft. If you replace what has been depleted by sun, chemicals, hair coloring, blow dryers, etc. with what the hair is made of - PROTEIN, the hair can be returned to a condition almost like that of virgin hair - hair that has just emerged from the scalp.

Don't depend on hair commercials and retailers to tell you how to keep hair healthy and how to repair the damage. They are trying to sell their products, not necessarily tell the whole truth. Get a good reference book on the anatomy of hair - look at what a hair is made of - educate yourselves about the subject so you can speak knowledgeably on the subject instead of spouting old wives tales and urban myths.

Kaitlynne, 8-25-2010, 6:59PM

The only time I ever have these problems with my hair is when it's shorter than my shoulders [which is a rare occurance]. My hair grows fast and generally looks pretty [or so I'm told] but it's too heavy to do anything. I could use a whole can of hairspray after curling my hair and ten minutes later it will be back to straight. Basically, I can't do anything with my hair :( Using any of these treatments will probably just make my hair look gross. haha XD I just realized how useless my post is turning out to be.

At Miss Margaret,
Hair loss is a natural part of aging, in my opinion you shouldn't do anything about it. Maybe this is coming from a biased opinion because I have thick hair, but aging is a beautiful thing and, in my opinion, the women who do it most gracefully are the ones that embrace nature.

At Miss Maria,
my parents use to put mayo in my hair for lice treatment. They were always irritated when it was my turn for the 'treatment' because it usually took a full jar to cover my hair. Unfortunatly for me, when I was little, lice loved my hair. Everytime we'd catch them from school, mayo was put in our hair and we were shower-capped to let it set for the night. So the thought of putting mayo in my hair disgusts me, but it does make hair look healtier.

What I find keeps my hair looking it's best is switching shampoos. I'll by a bottle of Suave and when I'm done I switch to something different. I dunno if it's scientific, but it works for me. :D

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