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Summer Hair 101: Your Burning Summer Hair Questions Answered

From beachy waves for fine hair, to tips on how to banish brassiness, we've answered your burning summer hair questions. Photo: Getty Images

How can I keep my bleached hair from going frizzy when I air-dry? Bree, 26

"Oils are great at reducing frizz, plus they add moisture, speed-up styling and keep colour looking healthy," says L’Oréal Professionnel colourist Danielle Solier. Work a few drops of Dove Pure Care Dry Oil, $19.99, through damp hair.

I need to get my hair off my neck, but I want something more than the standard pony. Any ideas? Fleur, 38

Pull your hair into a low ponytail and add loads of dry shampoo to the tail. "Back comb and twist tail loosely around the band and secure with a few pins – it’s a quick, easy, high-fashion-looking textured bun," suggests Remington Schulz, a stylist at Edwards and Co.

How can I get beachy waves on my very straight, fine hair? Jasmine, 29

"The only way to get some wave or curl in straight hair is to prep with mousse," says Schulz. Work a dollop of mousse (like Alterna Bamboo Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse (3), $36) through damp hair and blow-dry, then take a large or medium curling tong and "curl the hair away from the face in sizeable sections, and let it set for at least 10 minutes before running your fingers through to break up the curls". Finish with a mist of TRESemmé Salon Finish Hairspray Extra Hold (4), $7.99.

The kit: Bamboo Volume Weightless Whipped Mousse and TRESemmé Salon Finish Hairspray Extra Hold.

My cowlick gets worse in the humidity – help! Rachel, 28

"You need to blow-dry your hair fast – the minute it starts to air-dry and curl, you’re in trouble," warns Schulz. Start with mousse on damp hair, then blow-dry using no lift (position the brush over the hair, not under, and pull down), and set with Oribe Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray, $49.

I spend a lot of time in the water over summer (beach and pool); how can I protect my hair colour? Lydia, 30

"Salt, sun, chlorine and pollution impact the health and quality of hair, making colour look dull and leaving strands dry and damaged," says Solier. Step up your at-home routine: use a UV spray and leave-in treatments during the day (try L'Oréal Paris Elvive Colour- Protect Protecting Conditioning Spray (1), $6.95) and for extra nourishment, mix a little hair oil into a colour-protecting mask, like Wella Professionals Brilliance Treatment for Colored Hair (2), $27.

My hair gets very oily, very fast, over summer. Any tips? Emma, 27

"The key is not to wash too often, just every second or third day," says Schulz. "Too much shampooing can lead to a stripped scalp, which will produce more oil to compensate." On non-wash days, use a dry shampoo, like VO5 Refresh Me Quick Dry Shampoo, $7.99.

The sunshine always makes me realise just how dull my brunette hair is … what can I do? Anya, 33

"Ask your colourist for an ammonia-free, high-glossing salon service, which achieves a healthy, lustrous finish without the heavy colour result," advises Solier. Between services, maintain your colour at home with John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss, $16.99.

The kit: L'Oréal Paris Elvive Colour- Protect Protecting Conditioning Spray and Wella Professionals Brilliance Treatment for Colored Hair.

What are some tips for air-drying? Josline, 36

"Messy, beachy looks are still trending, and are easy to achieve," says Schulz. Prep towel-dried hair with Bumble and bumble Don’t Blow It (H)air Styler, $43, then grab a few sections around the hairline, from ear to ear, and twist away from the face and pin. Wait 40 minutes before taking them out and then shake strands to break up the sections for a looser, effortless finish.

I leave the house looking good, but by the time I get on the train, my blow-dry falls flat – what can I do? Annie, 42

Keeping hair loosely pinned up on the commute to work helps, says Schulz, "as does a good mid-afternoon shake in the bathroom with some hairspray".

I love the way sea salt and texturising sprays make my hair look, but not how it feels. Samira, 25

Schulz recommends applying Evo Love Perpetua Shine Drops, $26.95, to the mid-lengths and ends as a final step to soften the texture.

I wash my hair more often in summer, which means my hair colour fades faster. How can I slow this down? Renee, 26

Sulfate-free cleansers, like Matrix Biolage Cleansing Conditioner (3), $39.95, "gently purify the hair and scalp while also hydrating strands, which helps reduce colour fading", explains Solier.

How can I keep my fringe looking clean and fresh? Kathy, 34

"Absolutely no conditioner and don’t touch it throughout the day – your hands get sweaty so keep them well away from your fringe," says Schulz, who suggests keeping a comb and dry shampoo nearby.

The kit: John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss, Bumble and bumble Don’t Blow It (H)air Styler and Matrix Biolage Cleansing Conditioner.

BANISH BRASSINESS:

Tips to keep your blonde beautiful from L’Oréal Professionnel colourist Danielle Solier

1. Start with a haircare regimen that neutralises warmth while maintaining the condition of your hair. Try Charles Worthington Colour Enhancer Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner, $15.99 each.*
2. For a more targeted treatment, the concentrated, blue-toned L’Oréal Professionnel Color Corrector Blondes (6), $26, helps remove that yellow tinge.
3. UV hair sprays are not a marketing ploy, swears Solier: "We live in a harsh climate and products with UV filters and protectors help minimise fading." Try Kérastase Soleil Micro-Voile Protecteur, $45.

The kit: Charles Worthington Colour Enhancer Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner, Kérastase Soleil Micro- Voile Protecteur and L’Oréal Professionnel Color Corrector Blondes.

THE FRIZZ FACTOR:

It is your most common query – so here are three ways to fight the frizz

1. Post-straightening, apply an oil, like R+Co Tinsel Smoothing Oil, $36, all over, and again the next day on dry ends.
2. Wet-look hair is a runway trend (and frizz-proof); for a real-world version, “mix strong gel with a blow-dry cream to create a more workable styling aid and prevent the gel turning rock hard”, advises Schulz. Try Joico Power Gel, $25.95, and Redken Satinwear 02 Prepping Blow-Dry Lotion, $30.95.
3. To keep curly hair polished, scale back on washing and use a styling product that also hydrates, like Kevin.Murphy Killer.Curls, $49.95.

The kit: Redken Satinwear 02 Prepping Blow-Dry Lotion, Joico Power Gel, Kevin.Murphy Killer.Curls and R+Co Tinsel Smoothing Oil.

*Available in April 2015