Tress defense

Protecting hair from the summer elements

by Leslie Robarge

We've all learned that sun is bad for your skin. But according to Camille Mochi, co-owner of Liquid Hair Studio on Tremont Street, most people still don't consider how brutal summer elements can be on your hair.

What kind of bad things can happen? "You name it," Mochi says. "But the worst thing you can do is ignore it."

These days most hair-care products contain sun block to protect hair from UV rays, which can bleach out blond hair and dull red highlights. If you're worried about protecting your scalp as well, try a sunscreen spray like Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Protector (SPF 15; $6.99). But for hair, the sun isn't the biggest threat: between the salt at the beach and the chlorine from swimming pools, says Mochi, "you can really do a job on your hair."

What to do? A little prevention doesn't hurt. Mochi suggests rinsing your hair with fresh water after swimming in the ocean or the pool. Then try using a leave-in conditioner like Bumble and Bumble's Tonic spray ($13 for 8 ounces). Non-spray leave-in conditioners like Zero Frizz ($4.99 for 12 ounces) can also be an inexpensive way to prevent damage.

If your hair is dried out from the sun, one quick solution is a spray-in shine product, such as Rusk's Shining ($10 for 6 ounces) or Citré Shine's Shine Mist ($3.99 for 3 ounces). For the whole shebang in a bag, both Redken and Joico ($24.95) sell a "summertime package" -- a set of specialized shampoos and conditioners that refresh chlorinated and sun-dried hair.

Mochi points out that humidity is also bad for hair -- not for the reason you'd think, but because people tend to use more products to tame the summer frizziness. If you're going to use a straightener, try something light yet powerful, like TIGI Bed Head Control Freak ($16 for 9 ounces). But Mochi warns that too much of anything can make hair limp and greasy from all the build-up.

Most important, Mochi says, is using a wide-toothed comb or hair pick to brush your hair out. Any instrument with fine teeth can break or damage wet hair. And finally, if you're looking for a build-up remover and aren't ready to spend $10 or upward, Mochi says to look to your kitchen.

"A mixture of baking soda and water does the trick," she says.

Where to find it:

* Joico summertime package, Rusk Shining, Bumble and Bumble Tonic: Liquid Hair Studio, 640 Tremont Street (South End), Boston; (617) 425-4848.
* Redken summertime package, TIGI Bed Head Control Freak: Salon Xenofon, 228 Newbury Street (Back Bay), Boston; (617) 262-7131.
* Citré Shine's Shine Mist, Zero Frizz: CVS, locations around Greater Boston.