Sun, hot dry air, chlorine and salty water…we sure do torture our hair throughout the summer months. It’s no wonder we complain about split ends, oily scalps and dull, lifeless locks. However, with the help of a few essentials, you have a good shot at keeping your hair healthy all summer long.

Trim Your Tresses. Summer seems like the most hassle-free time to grow your hair as you find yourself in messy buns and braids as opposed to a coifed up-do or a sleek blow-out. Yet, it is essential to cut the split ends before they become worse. Desert heat dries everything out – including the shaft of our hair. As hair grows, it continues to split up the shaft causing more damage and the inevitable need to lop off even more than you initially wanted. Book yourself an appointment now, and dust your ends.

Cover Your Coconut. Your hair is like any other part of your body…it needs protection from damaging UV rays. Also, it is a misconception that our hair will protect our scalp from sun damage. To protect your scalp and keep your hair shielded from becoming burnt (yep, that’s actually a real thing), use coconut oil. Coconut oil is not only an antioxidant keeping the harmful rays at bay; it also has natural SPF as well. You can lather the oil onto damp hair as a deep conditioner, repairing your hair and protecting your dome, all while lounging in the pool. After all, why not multi-task? Get your pool time in and let the sun’s heat work its magic.

Just Say No to Daily Shampooing. Unless you are washing the coconut out, washing your hair daily is really not recommended. Although seemingly counterintuitive, frequent washing actually increases oil production leading to an even greasier scalp and dry brittle hair – not a good look at all.

Instead go for a dry shampoo which helps to reduce scalp oil without drying out your luscious locks. For the adventurous souls, try this DIY treatment to control oil secretion:

Mix 2-3 tbsp of coconut water with the juice of a lemon. Apply the mixture to your scalp and massage it for 5 minutes before rinsing it with cold water. For best results, do this as a weekly treatment.

Water Thyself. Like all living things, we need water to exist. It cannot be overstated how imperative it is to drink copious amounts of water, especially during triple-digit mercury readings. The proper amount of water each person needs is different; however, newer research indicates that eight 8-ounce glasses a day are really not enough for proper hydration. A good rule of thumb is to drink enough water to produce nearly colorless urine. Feel good as you get your sip on, knowing water is our #1 defense against lifeless locks.

Regardless of how you tame your mane, the most important factor in achieving healthy summer hair is spending your days thinking happy thoughts, creating a sense of calm and peace within, and inspiring others to do the same.

Cheers to happy, healthy hair!