Keep your hair looking hot, not haggard, this summer!

As of this coming Friday, it's officially summer. Not only does this mean shorter skirts and cute floppy hats, it also means pool parties, surf sessions, lakeside debauchery, and other water-activity fun. But before you jump (or get thrown) into that pool, make sure you've put your cell phone somewhere far, far away from the water (I speak from experience) and that you've insured your hair.

As our days become longer and much, much hotter, a quick dip in the ocean or the local hottie's pool sounds like a fabulous idea. After all, you need to show off your brand new retro-inspired swimsuit. But be aware: frolicking in the surf can totally trash your hair.  The ocean, while providing fabulous beach-blown hair, can suck the moisture out with its high salinity. And pools aren't much better: the chlorine will dull your hair color, zap its moisture content, and in some cases turn your lovely locks green. But have no fear: I've spent half my life in the water, and have learned a few tricks. Here they are:

Step #1: PROTECT
If you can stand it, get yourself a pre-season trim. This will instantly make your locks look lush, and it will prevent those split ends from getting out of control. After that, you should start applying a leave-in that is specially formulated to fight against the effects of chlorine, sun, and salt. Try Frederic Fekkai's SunShine Shield Spray, which is a "sunscreen for your hair." It's also a trifecta of treatmeant, providing a UV protection, preserving your hair color, and retaining your moisture all at once.

Another helpful hint: Before you get in the water, drench your hair in regular or purified drinking water. This works especially great on highly porous hair, since the hair will immediate soak it in. It creates an "invisible barrier" to ocean or pool water: said water can't saturate your hair as much because, well, it's already wet. Therefore, less chlorine and/or saline is absorbed.

Step #2: CLEANSE
As soon as you can after you get out of the water, wash your hair! If you're stuck at the beach or a shower just isn't plausible, a quick rinse with a bottle of water will suffice. A clarifying shampoo works best for after-swimming hair care. Paul Mitchell makes one called "Shampoo Three," specially formulated to remove chlorine and other impurities, like iron.  It's gentle enough to be used daily, and with wild orchid extract, leaves hair smelling like Hawaii. However, if your hair is completely wrecked, you might want to try something stronger. I recommend Rene Furterer's Repairing Shampoo for After-Sun. Use this a few times a week, alternating with your regular shampoo, to leave your locks silky soft and chlorine-free.

Step #3: TREAT
This is probably the most important step: conditioning! I am a conditioner junkie: I go through 2 bottles of conditioner for every bottle of shampoo. For our purposes, your regular conditioner should be just fine, but make sure to do a deep conditioning or hair masque once a week over the summer to restore its gloss, liven its lustre, and keep hair happy. Try Phyto Plage's After Sun Repair Mask with Rush Nut Oil - specially formulated to combat the effects of the sun, it also contains cellulose (also known as "fibers"), which is that dandy little ingredient a lot of mascaras are bragging about because of its superpowers to help absorb and lock in moisture at the speed of light. Well, maybe not the speed of light, but pretty darn fast.

If your hair is already really dry, I recommend seeing your hairdresser for a glossing and/or restorative treatment. And if, for some reason, you've already become victim to the "green hair syndrome," try this: Smash up a few aspirin, mix them into a clarifying shampoo until it becomes thick (but not a paste), then wash your hair. 

Do any of you fabulous Sparkle*Shelf readers have any other great tips for keeping hair luscious throughout the summer?