How to Get Healthy Coloured Summer Hair

There's a lot to love about the summer, but what it does to your hair usually isn't on the list. Along with sunny outings and romps on the beach can come dryness, tangles, and unpleasant changes in hair color. But not to worry -- your hair can be nothing short of gorgeous this season.

One of the most irritating summer-hair scenarios is when your brilliant color pulls a disappearing act. In its place: a dull and, especially for light-haired women, brassy hue. Why does this happen? Blame it on summer's stronger-than-usual UV light, which damages all hair types just as it does the skin.

"Just one hour in the sun makes hair rough to the touch because it breaks down your hair cuticle [the outer layer]," says Jeri Delgado, creative director of Maxine Salon in Chicago. Colored hair takes the hardest hit. "Once [it's damaged by the sun], it's bye-bye hair color."

You can limit your hair's exposure by using repairing shampoos, conditioners, and styling products with built-in sun protection. Look for ingredients such as heliogenol, derived from sunflowers, or Parsol SLX, a new sun protectant made specifically for the hair.

Protecting your locks doesn't mean walking around with greasy hair, either. Some products, such as reparative conditioners, can be washed out, while lightweight leave-in lotions help with heat styling.