Hydrate your hair for the summer

Summer of Love. That’s what my hubby Patrick is calling it. We’ve been invited to eight weddings of friends and family. Eight. Love is in the air. But my poor hair, it’s not feeling the love. It’s feeling the hot sun, the dry summer air, the chlorinated pool water, and the salty ocean. And it’s looking a little tired. Try as I might, I can’t make it look good. I can afford a trip or two to the hair salon this summer to help liven up the mane, but not eight trips. That’s not happening. I need a little hair product and styling help for my summer hair blahs. I picked my hairstylist Stevie Meech’s brain. She works at Millicent and Company in La Mesa. “What are your go-to products,” I asked, “to keep my locks shining and styling throughout this summer party season?”

“I use a variety of products,” answered Meech, “but my favorites are Schwarzkopf, Neuma, Sudzz, and Moroccanoil. I use Schwarzkopf color, it holds well and is very rich and true to color. For shampoos, I love Neuma and Sudzz, and their shampoos and conditioners are also my top-selling shampoos and conditioners. The Moroccanoil product line as a whole is amazing. There isn’t anything I don’t like about them.” (Neuma Moisture Shampoo, $17.24 for 10 ounces at Amazon; Sudzz FX Cashmere Hydrating Shampoo, $34.39 for 33.8 ounces at Amazon; Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo for Hair Burdened by Buildup, $42.49 for 33.8 ounces at Amazon.)

What products do you like particularly for summer?

“Some of my favorite summer products are hair masks.” For the uninitiated, a hair mask is a moisturizing treatment for your locks. “There are a variety that I like, including Nuema and Moroccan Oil. But my favorites are the Schwarzkopf Repair Rescue Masque, Keratherapy Mask, and Moroccan Oil hair mask. All these hair masks help keep the hair hydrated and healthy during the hot months of being in the sun. They are also helpful for all those girls wanting to go blonde during the summer months.” (Schwarzkopf Repair Rescue Deep Nourishing Treatment, $24.59 for 6.8 ounces at Amazon; Keratherapy Deep Conditioning Mask, $10.50 for 8 ounces at Amazon; Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, $26.27 for 8.5 ounces at Amazon.)

More summer hair product Meech suggested: oils and smoothing creams. “Along with hair masks, oils and smoothing creams are also awesome for the summer months to help with frizz during humidity, and they help with hydration during dry weather as well. My favorite smoothing cream is by Neuma. I like it best when I add a little oil with it and apply to the hair wet. Hair masks should be used once a week, or once every other week depending on how dry and damaged the hair is. Simply apply the mask right before you get out of the shower. Apply them like a traditional conditioner. Do not rinse, wrap your hair up in a towel, and let the mask set for 30–45 minutes, and then rinse out.” (Neuma Smoothing Creme, $13.22 for 6.8 ounces on Amazon.)

Do you have a favorite summer hairstyle?

“Braids. Braids are amazing for summer because they keep your hair in control, help avoid frizz at the beach as well as keep the hair out of your face. They are also amazing for weddings. You can dress them up by adding scarves, twists, and clips. I do a French braid off to the side and loosen the hair after I’m finished to create a fun, soft messy braid for beach days and for everyday looks.

“This summer the ‘lob’ [long bob] is the cut. It is adorable. It creates a lot of movement and a look of thickness to the hair, but it is easy to style. You can do beachy waves, straight to get the more traditional a-line bob look, you can pull it back or even braid it.”