Disclosure: This post was written in collaboration with Cheryl Locke for Madison Reed and contains affiliate links.

Bright and warm days are ahead (unless you’re in Arizona. Then bright and hot days are here!)

Summer hair should be effortless in theory, but in actuality, you’re battling major beauty bummers like frizz, brassiness, dullness, and sunburn (not to mention chlorine if you are swimming in the pool.)

But don’t worry, we’ve rounded up the best defenses – some as simple as just adding water.

Get out, enjoy, and have some summer fun in the sun! Here are some tips to beat the heat beautifully.

1. Wet hair.

It’s simple and effective. Before taking a dip in the pool, drench hair in fresh water. Like a sponge, your strands will soak up water, preventing chlorine and chemicals from penetrating cuticles.

2. Lock in moisture.

Before you take a swim, work in a hair oil; it seals hair from chlorine and the drying effects of the sun. Plus, oil provides a bit of weight to prevent flyaways and frizzing.

3. Wear a cap.

We’re confident you can pull off this look. If you take frequent dips, you’ll want to embrace a hair cap’s retro charm. The additional barrier does wonders on keeping chlorine out.

4. Rinse off immediately.

After pool-time, prevent chemical build-up (and green hair) with a quick rinse. Brownie points if you use a clarifying shampoo followed by an extra-emollient conditioner to bring hair back to its original shine and bounce.

5. Deep condition.

A shea-butter-rich treatment is your best anti-frizz secret. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention. It keeps hair more manageable and less tangled even in salty-windy beach conditions.

6. Use an SPF.

Most of us dutifully slather sunblock all over our face and body, but we often forget our hair and scalp. Don’t make that newbie blunder. UV rays not only fade hair color, they also dry out hair, cause split ends, and weaken hair’s elasticity.

Spritz on a liquid SPF (or DIY by combining 2 teaspoons of SPF lotion with one cup of water). For additional protection, summerize products with UV-fortified formulas. (Psst: Madison Reed’s
come with UV-shielding lupine flower.)

7. Keep hats on.

A floppy brim is not just the it-accessory of the season, it offers protection against the color-fading effects of sun.

8. Skip the blow dryer.

For natural curls and waves, just go with it. Work with, not against curls; straight styles that require flat irons and blow-drying will fry ends, deplete moisture, and end up giving you more pouf than sleekness.

9. Pull it back.

Your best line of defense against the pouf is often a sleek bun or topknot.

10. Don’t touch your hair.

Except for occasional flirty hair flips, excessive handling of your hair only causes frizz.

Madison Reed offers salon quality,
delivered to your door on your schedule!

Clear instructions, all the extras you may need and fabulous results really set Madison Reed apart from other home hair color options! You can see my
from Madison Reed and see what is included in your hair care kit.

What hair color would you choose? (PS: I’m thinking of experimenting with a dark color…)