Summerizing Your Hair

Frigid temps, dehydrating indoor heat, hair-squishing hats and cold-weather gear -- winter is tough on hair! Now, thankfully, it's all over. The calendar says its primetime for coaxing hair into great condition for the show-off summer season ahead.

The recipe for summerizing your hair: a generous amount of post-winter TLC, a dash of trend spotting and, to finish it off, diligent summer haircare. Here, my best winter-to-summer tips:

Spring Cleaning

A visit to your salon should definitely be on your seasonal to-do list. Ask your stylist to give your hair a fresh start for summer by, at the least, trimming away winter-weary and damaged ends. At best, consider an update to make hair fun and easy for the casual months to come. This season, I love side-swept bangs, layers to create that tousled look, and lots and lots of loose curls.

Summer Smoothies

Like skin, hair needs extra moisture and smoothing after a rough winter. Due care will also help it weather summer's own damaging challenges. Deep conditioning treatments help smooth damaged hair cuticles to fortify hair and restore its luster. I recommend selecting a deep conditioning treatment that features essential oils and rich conditioners. Or create a hair mask at home with natural hair enhancers like avocado, banana, honey, and almond and olive oils. For super deep conditioning results, leave the mask on hair overnight -- be sure to protect your bedding with a washable pillowcase cover first.

Smoke and Mirrors

So you don't have the time or the patience to deep condition, a cut is out of the question, and summer humidity and heat are at an all-time high. Don't panic -- a few style tricks can change your summer look from tragic to magic in minutes. I suggest:

Pretty pony: Part hair deep to one side. Pull hair straight back, and band it high to keep hair off neck. Use pomade or creme to hold ends together neatly. Cute buns: The up-do trend of the moment is for decidedly disheveled hair. Pull long hair into a ponytail, and secure ends around the tail with several bobby pins. Free some wisps of hair from front of hair, and from the bun to give it that on-trend tousle.

Summer S.O.S.

Winter isn't the only season that's hard on hair. Sun and chlorine are major culprits; both can dry and damage hair, and fade hair color. Protect hair all summer long with these ideas:

Sunscreens: Beach bums should stock up on products that feature sunscreens to protect hair. Hats: The surefire way to block out all UV rays, hats are cheap and easy, and can be a great style accessory. Think baseball cap casual, or a scarf or floppy hat for summer sophistication. Water therapy: Colored hair should avoid chlorine and salt water as much as possible. If you do indulge in a swim, rinse hair immediately afterward in the shower or carry a big bottle of bottled water for a quick rinse.