Q: My weekend romps in the pool have left my hair green. Help!
A: You can reverse the effects of a chlorinated swim by hitting the bar! Make an at-home Bloody Mary for your hair with one part vodka to three parts tomato juice, says stylist Tim Rogers, and pour the mix over your head, massaging it throughout. The vodka acts as an astringent and the tomato juice kills the green tone, he notes.
To prevent your hair from going green in the first place, before you get in the pool rinse your dry locks with chlorine-filtered bottled water so the hair shaft is saturated and cant absorb the chemicals in the water, advises colorist Gerald Niederwieser of the Argyle Salon in West Hollywood, Calif. Postswim, wash hair with a clarifying shampoo like J.F. Lazartigue After-Swimming Salt Neutralizer Shampoo, $32, jflazartigue.com, to neutralize hard water and remove chlorine buildup.
Q: At the beach, I throw my wet hair up in a ponytail, but it snaps off when I take it down. Any suggestions?
A:Try loose braids secured with small holders on the ends. They wont damage your hair like a ponytail will, and theyll still keep it from sticking to your face on a hot, humid day. Plus, when you undo the plaits at night or the next day, youll be left with beautiful, natural waves!
Q: How can I prevent my natural blonde hair color from getting bleached out in the sun?
A: The suns heat has a tendency to open up the outer layer of the hair, making the inner, color-rich layer susceptible to losing its vibrancy, says hair expert Ouidad. If youre going to be out and about for an extended period, coat your hair in a deep-conditioning treatment like Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask, $7, drugstores. The sun activates the conditioner and intensifies its moisturizing and color-saving properties. Rinse it out at the end of the day.
Q: I know I need sunscreen for my face, but is SPF really necessary for my hair?
A: Believe it or not, yes, says Wilma Bergfeld, M.D., a Cleveland-based dermatologist. The scalp is easily sunburned, especially if your hair is light-colored or fine, she explains. Whatever your hair type, play it safe by treating your roots with a protective cream like Redken UV Rescue, $15, redken.com for stores, or by wearing a scarf or hat like the Cabanalife Reversible Sun Hat, cabanalife.com, $48, with full UV protection.
Q: After a long day at the beach, Im left with a knotty mess on my head. How can I get untangled without ripping half of my hair out?
A: Reverse your cleansing routine! Apply an intense conditioner (we like Marc Anthony Ultimate Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner, $8, ulta.com) first before you shampoo. After youve conditioned and shampooed (in that order), you should be able to gently comb out the tangles.
Q: How do I keep my dyed hair from fading?
A: The sun can fade dark hair quickly. Extend your dye jobs life by using a color-protecting shampoo like Matrix Shade Memory Rich Brunettes Shampoo, $14, matrix.com for stores its a restorative cleanser pumped with strengtheners like ceramide and vitamin E every other day. If you want to go the extra mile, ask your stylist for a glossing treatment once a month to redeposit pigment and revive your color.
Q: In summer my scalp stays super oily, and the ends get parched and frizzy. Whats the deal?
A: It may be sweat thats causing your oily scalp woes, while your fun in the sun is probably whats making your ends look fried, says hair expert Cozy Friedman. You might have to shampoo more often, but apply shampoo only from roots to midshaft, not all the way to the ends. Then use an ultra-moisturizing conditioner on the ends only.





