Healing End-of-Summer Hair

Sep 4, 2013

Now that the summer has unofficially passed me by, my sun-drenched and chlorine-exposed locks are looking dull and dry.  Reviving my tresses in time for the chilly days of fall won’t be easy, but unless I want my head to be covered in more straw than a Halloween scarecrow, I need to mount a rescue operation.  Here’s how to breathe life back into dry, damaged hair.

Step One: Trim your split ends.  Cutting out the dead weight doesn’t need to involve a trip to the salon.  The blogger over at Ring Finger Tan Line has a helpful tutorial that explains the most effective method for trimming your own split ends.  My only alteration would be to strongly advise against using kitchen or craft scissors to cut your hair.  Instead, try a pair of inexpensive shears or, my favorite, eyebrow scissors.  (The tinier scissors greatly lessen the risk of over trimming.)

Step Two: Deep Condition.  Recently, I tried Living Proof’s Restore Mask, and I love the way it brought my lifeless locks back into bloom.  It’s not heavy or greasy, and it’s the kind of conditioner you could use on your ends every day without weighing them down.  Need a drugstore alternative?  Aussie 3-Minute-Miracle is still the best under-$10 conditioner around.

Step Three: Cut Out the Shampoo.  When your hair is losing its luster, shampoo is the enemy.  So either take a break from shampooing entirely (updos and a light spritz of dry shampoo on the roots), or switch to a baby shampoo or a conditioning rinse like Wen.  I like to take a week or so off from shampooing when my hair goes down hill.

Step Four: Leave-In Conditioner. If you must use heat on your hair, you need to protect it.  Spritz a little leave-in conditioner or apply a bit of argan oil to the ends (I prefer the light Moroccan Oil) to keep all of your work from being undone.

Step Five: Cover it Up.  When my hair is seriously fried from highlighting, I like to go to the salon for a toner to help take out the brassiness and give my color some richness.  Then, I become a big fan of updos.  Pinterest is a great place to find tutorials, or if you’re clueless about updos, try a styling tool like the Sarah Potempa Wrap-Up that helps even the most clueless stylist make a lovely bun or twist.

Hairstyles

share this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. L says:

    Belle, when you use the Wen conditioning rinse, does your hair go through a ‘transition’ period where it’s greasy? I’ve contemplated using it, but I can’t stand having greasy hair for any amount of time.

    • Belle says:

      I don’t use the Wen, but I know some people like it. I usually use baby shampoo or sulfate free shampoo.

    • Ashley says:

      I’ve used Wen and I like it, but my hair does go through a transition period in which I have greasy hair. In my experience, it usually takes my hair a week to get used to Wen (my hair is short and fine and very prone to “greasiness”). But once it does, it’s great.

      • Ellen says:

        I use Wen most of the time but I only get greasy AFTER using it a while. Once a week, or every other week, depending how often I’m washing my hair, I take a break from Wen and use a clarifying shampoo and conditioner. Even with rinsing it as much as they tell you, you still need to take a break from it.

  2. H. says:

    Tangetially related, but do you have any product recommendations for smooth, frizz- and flyaway-free hair, especially for someone who doesn’t blow-dry regularly? (I prefer to let my hair air dry.) While I have ever-so-slightly wavy hair, the texture of which I generally like, it always seems kind of flyaway-covered unless I straighten it.

Join The List

Stay up to date on the latest from Capitol Hill Style!

sUBSCRIBE

Ask Me Anything: March 2024

It’s almost the end of March, so let’s get to some of the reader questions that came in through Instagram last night. Time for Ask Me Anything.

4

READ MORE 

Recent Posts

The Find: A Cute Spring Dress

Need a cute dress for a spring event? Something simple and easy to wear, something you can dress up or down? This is the dress for you.

2

READ MORE 

Beauty Review: Bondi Boost

As I age, I notice many changes in my body. Most are fine. Some are frustrating. Like many women, I lost a lot of hair in my postpartum phase. Being anemic for more than a year after, it didn’t grow back in to its former glory. So I’ve tried any number of shampoos, pills and […]

2

READ MORE 

VIEW ALL POSTS

Ask the Edit, Style, Top Posts | March 28, 2024

Ask Me Anything: March 2024

It’s almost the end of March, so let’s get to some of the reader questions that came in through Instagram last night. Time for Ask Me Anything.

4

READ MORE 

Fantastic Finds, Posts, Style | March 28, 2024

The Find: A Cute Spring Dress

Need a cute dress for a spring event? Something simple and easy to wear, something you can dress up or down? This is the dress for you.

2

READ MORE 

Beauty, Posts | March 27, 2024

Beauty Review: Bondi Boost

As I age, I notice many changes in my body. Most are fine. Some are frustrating. Like many women, I lost a lot of hair in my postpartum phase. Being anemic for more than a year after, it didn’t grow back in to its former glory. So I’ve tried any number of shampoos, pills and […]

2

READ MORE 

Fantastic Finds, Posts, Style | March 27, 2024

The Find: Shirts That Don’t Gape

I remember when Rochelle Behrens launched The Shirt — a button-down blouse with anti-gape technology (a patented internal button that keeps the look smooth). The idea seemed brilliant, but at the time, my bust didn’t require an extra button. One baby later, I understand the need for some extra security.

6

READ MORE 

RECENT POSTS

©2023 CAPITOL HILL STYLE | SITE BY LEIGH THE STUDIO