While we’re loath to admit summer is closing in on fall, that’s a good thing for those of us whose hair has absorbed the not-so-fabulous effects of sun, pool, and surf.
Say it with us: This year we are NOT waiting until September to give our scorched, stressed strands the TLC they deserve.
Here are 10 post-summer rescue and recovery treatments that can turn it all around AND prevent further damage. Scroll to find the cause of — and possible solution to — your hair angst.
DAMAGED HAIR (FINE) – Oli G Atomic Repair Leave-In Treatment
Wispy-haired folk usually have to tread lightly around repair products and avoid those with dense, slow-to-absorb, protein-packed formulas that weigh hair down.
This new treatment avoids all that via oligopeptides, the line’s hero ingredient that mimics Type II keratin. It boosts the natural production of hair proteins, providing all the structural repair without heaviness.
DAMAGED HAIR (THICK) – isima Súperbomba Triple Repair Peptide Mask
Shakira’s new hair-care line is formulated for those with hair like hers: heavy, textured, and prone to dryness.
The formula for this peptide-packed mask was created to repair the specific damage from heat styling, chemical treatments, extensions, and all the other other trials that the Grammy-winning musician has put her own hair through. All we have to say is: gracias chica, nos encanta.
DAMAGED HAIR (HEAT): K18 Heat Bounce
Leave it to K18 to change the game on heat protectants. Its new leave-in conditioner/ thermal shield spray contains the brand’s patented ResiliCore technology, which mimics natural proteins known for their ability to withstand extreme temps.
HeatBounce doesn’t sit on the surface of the hair, but deeply penetrates the outer cortex to protect up to 450°F throughout the hair fiber.
DAMAGED HAIR (UV, SALT, CHLORINE): PHYTO PLAGE Protective Oil
When you’ve already noticed the effects of sun and swim but still have plenty of it left this year – here's the lightweight leave-in you should’ve been using all along.
Better late than never to slather the tresses in this antioxidant-rich formula containing calendula extract, karanja oil, and a UV filter, to keep further sun damage OUT.
DISCOLORED BLONDE, GREY, SILVER HAIR — Innersense Bright Balance Hairbath
All purple toning shampoos are not alike, and we especially like this one for end-of-summer as it’s light but deeeeeply hydrating.
It doesn’t turn hair purple over time, brightens dingy silvers and grays, and it's not necessary to use it exclusively. Go ahead and rotate it in with other hair care; the effects are the same. Bonus: it has a yummy, delicate jasmine-apple aroma.
DRIED-OUT, BRITTLE HAIR (FINE) – Schwarzkopf Professional FIBRE CLINIX Hydrate Line
For those with fine hair, having to choose between moisture or volume is no longer a thing. Case in point: this line’s electrolyte-loaded formulas, which are super quenching for even the thirstiest hair without a heavy or greasy after-feel.
It also contains the brand’s proprietary bonding technology for repair.
DRIED-OUT, BRITTLE HAIR (THICK) – Oyin Handmade What the Hemp Deep Moisture Mask
Organic hempseed oil, raw shea butter, and honey provide the foundation for this deeply hydrating hair treatment that revives curls, bounce, and shine.
It’s thick enough to penetrate even the densest hair while rinsing clean and smelling fabulous, turning coarse strands supple.
FRIZZ: IGK Antisocial Midnight Silk Bond-Building Dry Mask
Oh, so you need to stave off frizz right now and zap the damage that caused it to begin with? IGK’s got you with this limited-edition version of its bestselling Overnight Bond-Building Dry Mask.
This time-release, bond-building leave-in is both a styling product and a treatment, and keeps hair feeling silky through the worst tests of frizz: high humidity, workouts, and sunny days by the water.
OILY/ LIMP – Tara Detox Charcoal + Salicylic Exfoliating Shampoo
Buildup, gone. Grease and oil, neutralized. Scalp, balanced. Sometimes you have to bring in the big guns to really get on top of greasy hair, and this is one of them but with a twist: it doesn’t dry out hair.
You already know salicylic acid from your favorite acne treatment, and it’s used here for the same purpose: to dissolve oil, exfoliate the skin, and reduce scaling that causes dandruff.
SCALP ITCH/ IRRITATION – Nutrire S.1 Calm Shampoo
Summer can put a ton of stress on scalps, what with sweat-triggering oil production, flaking, and sunburned part lines. S.1 Calm shampoo from this scalp-centered care line was formulated to soothe while cleansing and balancing the scalp.
Its main hero ingredient: “peach calm,” an active found in peaches that reduces scalp sensitivity while smoothing the hair cuticle.