Hair's the Scoop

Jackson Lee/Splash News

We're always told to protect our skin during the warm summer months, but what about that other age-telling element— our hair?

To keep our tresses in top form this season, I've asked celebrity colorist Rita Hazan for her expert advice:

Create a Shield
To keep hair shiny and your color vibrant, use products containing SPF. My favorite product is Phyto Plage Protective Sun Veil, it’s a great SPF for the hair and helps preserve your color, without being greasy.

Think Outside the Box
I always keep a mask with me in my beach bag. Every time I go in/out of the ocean or pool I always put the mask in my hair— it offers two-fold protection: 1) The sun acts as heat, which allows the mask to really penetrate the hair, giving me a treatment all day 2) It keeps my hair from getting frizzy on the beach. Any mask will do the trick!

Condition Regularly
Be sure to use a conditioning treatment to keep hair healthy, at least once a week, and use a shampoo and conditioner for color treated or damaged hair to pump up the moisture and protect your color from fading.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Thanks to stars like Nicole Richie and Faith Hill, braided updos have become a summer staple for women of all ages. During the day, they're playful and fuss-free. And in the evening, they're the epitome of boho chic.

To help us achieve the ultimate, "effortless" braided updo at-home, I've enlisted the expertise of Teddi Cranford of Bumble & bumble Downtown in NYC (the wonderfully talented and charming stylist who created my Nicole-inspired hairstyle, above):

Step One: Put Some Back Into It

Begin by applying Bumble and bumble Surf Spray to damp hair, focusing at the root. Rough dry the hair using your fingers to bring out natural wave and texture. Tip: direct hair at the root upwards for extra volume. Create a messy center part with your fingers (don’t worry too much about perfection).

Create a large round section at the crown of your head (the top of the section should be about half way between the crown and the hairline). Tease hair underneath with a comb and secure section with a large clip or pin, keeping it separate from the rest of the style.

Step Two: Divide & Conquer

French braid the remaining hair on either side of the part, and secure with an elastic at the bottom of each side.

Release the center section from your pin, and break down some of the teasing so it isn’t so bouffant-y. Beginning at the bottom of the round section, loosely French braid hair to the ends and secure with an elastic.

Wrap the three French braids around each other (again, don’t focus on perfection) and begin pinning them to the head. Start by pinning to one side, then wrapping the length to the other side and pinning there, repeating until all the hair is pinned into an oval-ish shape. If you need to, secure the ends underneath with a final pin to hide them.

To mesh the center section with the French braids at either side, use small pins to connect at a few places until you see the parts blending into a unified style.

Step Three: Set Your Style

Finally, take your hands and rub the look to mess it up a bit so it isn’t so fussy – A few flyaways will provide a softer finish. Apply Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode all over for hold that maintains the texture and allows for movement with memory.

Alexander Tamargo/WireImage, Alexandra Wyman/WireImage, Eric Charbonneau/Le Studio/Wireimage

To keep our locks looking their best, I've asked Marc Mena of Warren-Tricomi Salon in NYC— who counts the likes of Molly Sims, Rachael Ray, and Anna Paquin as clients— to share his secrets for "summer-proofing" hair:

Get Your Beauty Sleep
Prolong a blowout, or any hairstyle, during the summer by sleeping with silk pillowcases in a well air-conditioned room.

Invest in Silicone
No, not that kind. Use a silicone shampoo to coat and seal the cuticle to prevent humidity from getting into hair. Also, for extra protection, go over hair with cool air once you've finished drying it.

Repair & Protect
be sure to use a weekly conditioning treatment to fight summer dry and unmanageable hair. To get "green" and save a little money, create a simple mask from olive oil, egg yolks and mayonnaise. Mix all together or use separately, and apply directly in to hair. After applying, put a shower cap or plastic bag over the hair to seal in the body’s natural temperature to help activate. Then, rinse out and shampoo.

Seal the Deal
Use anti-humidity hairspray when styling hair. The hairspray helps to shield the hair from humidity. In a hurry? Pull hair into a tight pony tail or bun for a sleek and smooth stylist look.

& If You're a Curly Girl...
After shampooing, apply styling product to each curl, distribute evenly, and be sure to follow your natural twists (never go against the curl). And most importantly—Don't touch hair until it is 100% dry. Once your curls are dry you can separate them and have fun with your hair.

Jamie McCarthy/WireImage

To help us rid of frizz, I've asked Ryan Cotton of Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon— stylist to the likes of Taylor Momsen and Kristen Wiig— to share his top tips:

All Hair Types: Load Up
For everyday de-frizzing, load your hair with serum in the shower while it's super wet (right after you've conditioned).

Coarse Hair: Get Gel'n
For super thick, rebellious hair, a serum combined with a gel is a great idea as the gel provides control, and the serum softens the gel so the finish isn't as stiff. Try mixing John Frieda Thermal Serum with their Luxurious Volume Gel-Crème.

Curly Hair: Don't Blow
Blow drying in the summer heat is not the answer for thick curly hair: it must air dry or be washed in the evening before bed, and dried overnight with product. Twin buns on either side of the head, and using a comb in the shower to work product through, can also be quite helpful as the product needs to get everywhere to be effective.

Do you have any frizz-fighting tips of your own? Do share!

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic, Soul Brother/FilmMagic, Araya Diaz/WireImage

Bangs can be a major pain to maintain during the summer months, so I've asked celebrity stylist David Babaii for his top tips on how to keep fringe looking fabulous:

Styling aids:

- Use a hydrating shampoo and conditioner to keep hair in proper moisture balance during the hot weather

- Before styling, apply a lightweight hair polish to keep locks looking luminous (plus, it will retard humidity)

- Let your bang grow a bit longer to sweep to one side and clip with a hair accessory

- To achieve a great bang, blow dry with a round brush until the hair is completely straight, then use your hands to style into place

- For a piecey bang, use a molding paste to create separation. If necessary, spray with an extra light styling spray

- To create a sleek, humidity-proof bang, use a wet-to-dry flat iron then finish with hair polish

Trimming tips:

- For coarse/thick hair, have your stylist texturize your fringe by removing bulk and softening the ends to create a light airy finish

- For fine hair, a blunt cut is the best to give the appearance of fullness

- The ”heavy bang” compliments most face shapes and provides a young fresh look that women of any age can experiment with

- Be sure to trim your fringe every 3-4 weeks to keep your style in top form

Conditioning treatments— whether homemade or store-bought— are a must for healthy-looking, lustrous hair. So to help us get the most out of every mask, serum, and oil out there, I've enlisted the expertise of Avon Global Stylist Advisor and 2007 North American Hairdresser of the Year, Allen Ruiz.

Allen's advice:

Squeeze It Out
“To get the most out of your treatment, make sure to squeeze excess water out of hair prior to applying,” explains Ruiz. “If hair is completely saturated with water, the treatment can’t effectively penetrate hair.”

Shock Your Locks
“After applying your treatment, rinse hair with cooler water to help seal the cuticle and lock the treatment benefits into hair,” says Ruiz.

Mix It Up
“It’s critical to mix up your treatment routine,” Ruiz says. “I recommend that all of my clients use an Instant Recharge Treatment at least once a week— it really makes a difference in the look and feel of your hair.”

Have any tips/tricks of your own? Do share!

Conditioning treatments— whether homemade or store-bought— are a must for healthy-looking, lustrous hair. So, to help us get the most out of every mask, serum, and oil out there, I've enlisted the expertise of Avon Global Stylist Advisor and 2007 North American Hairdresser of the Year, Allen Ruiz.

Allen's advice:

Squeeze It Out
“To get the most out of your treatment, make sure to squeeze excess water out of hair prior to applying,” explains Ruiz. “If hair is completely saturated with water, the treatment can’t effectively penetrate hair.”

Shock Your Locks
“After applying your treatment, rinse hair with cooler water to help seal the cuticle and lock the treatment benefits into hair,” says Ruiz.

Mix It Up
“It’s critical to mix up your treatment routine,” Ruiz says. “I recommend that all of my clients use an Instant Recharge Treatment at least once a week— it really makes a difference in the look and feel of your hair.”

Have any tips/tricks of your own? Do share!

Conditioning treatments— whether homemade or store-bought— are a must for healthy-looking, lustrous hair. So, to help us get the most out of every mask, serum, and oil out there, I've enlisted the expertise of Avon Global Stylist Advisor and 2007 North American Hairdresser of the Year, Allen Ruiz.

Allen's advice:

Squeeze It Out
“To get the most out of your treatment, make sure to squeeze excess water out of hair prior to applying,” explains Ruiz. “If hair is completely saturated with water, the treatment can’t effectively penetrate hair.”

Shock Your Locks
“After applying your treatment, rinse hair with cooler water to help seal the cuticle and lock the treatment benefits into hair,” says Ruiz.

Mix It Up
“It’s critical to mix up your treatment routine,” Ruiz says. “I recommend that all of my clients use an Instant Recharge Treatment at least once a week— it really makes a difference in the look and feel of your hair.”

Have any tips/tricks of your own? Do share!

Pixland/Jupiter

Healthy-looking, vibrant locks rely on a vital balance of moisture. So to ensure you're making the most of your conditioning routine, I've gathered the following tips and tricks from Hollywood's hottest hairstylists:

Cool Your Conditioner
"Leave conditioner in the fridge to keep it cool. This way, it will instantly seal the cuticle because it's already at a low temperature."
—Tippi Shorter

Butter Up Brittle Strands
"To moisturize dry hair, apply organic almond butter to the parched areas. Let the butter soak in for 30 minutes, then shampoo and rinse well."
—David Babaii

For those who prefer to use a conventional product, try Phyto Phytonectar Oil. "I love it! You put it on dry hair and leave it for 30 minutes, or even overnight."
—Rita Hazan

Condition With Care
"The scalp's natural oils condition, so keep conditioner away from your roots when washing to avoid weighing down your locks. To be safe, start applying it at least three or four inches away from your scalp."
—Mark Townsend

Let It Soak
If your hair is in desperate need of TLC, skip your next blow-out and simply "apply a leave-in conditioner all over damp hair and pull it into a loose bun while it dries." Do this before bed and you'll wake up a smooth, frizz-free style that looks as good as it feels.
—Nathaniel Hawkins

Travel Smart
When traveling, "make sure to pack a good [shampoo and] conditioner and avoid the complimentary ones found in hotels, they're usually way too harsh."
—Adir Abergel

Have any favorite tips or products of your own? Do share!

Goodshoot/Jupiter

Fringe may be the season's hottest accessory, but it requires regular maintenance to look this good.

Ideally, you should see your stylist for a trim every few weeks, but salon visits can be both costly and time consuming. So to help get the most "bang" for your buck, I've enlisted the guidance of celebrity stylist Kevin Mancuso:

Making the Cut

First, prep your tresses:

- Wet hair tends to shrink as it dries, so you should only trim your bangs when hair is completely dry.

- Use the fine-toothed end of a styling comb to separate the front section of hair that you want to trim and pull it to a point in the center of your face. Use a jaw clip to hold excess hair aside.

- Twist the gathered hair several times (3-4 times). The twisting will offer more forgiving results and help to hide imperfections.

Next, trim your locks:

- Holding scissors at an angle, “point trim” tips until you have reached the desired length.

- To prevent over trimming, only cut a small amount of length off at a time.

Style & Maintenance

Start by prepping your hair:

- Shampoo and condition hair with high-performance, moisture-rich products.

- Help prevent split ends and prolong the life of your bangs by applying a leave-in conditioner, such as Nexxus Humectress Luxe, to the tips of hair.

- Pull bangs aside and style rest of hair as normal.

Next, style your fringe:

- Blow-dry bangs using a large round brush. Always apply a heat styler before using thermal styling tools to protect locks from damage and extend the time in-between salon appointments.

- For wispy bangs, apply small amount of a medium-hold texture lotion, such as Nexxus VersaStyler, to the palms of hands. Rub hands together and then gently run fingers through bangs for added definition.

- For blunt bangs, apply a smoothing crème. Use a flat iron on fringe to enhance the sleekness of the style.

- Finish either style with a misting of a light-weight hairspray to help prevent flyaways and static.