Easy summer days can be surprisingly stressful on your hair, affecting everything from its moisture level to its hue. Ahead, our expert Summer Hair Advisors—Aveda Artists Janell Geason, Ricardo Dinis, Bea Carmichael and Ian Michael Black—are answering all of your warm weather hair care questions, plus providing their Aveda product recommendations for summertime styling.

Q: WHY DOES MY HAIR DRY OUT IN THE SUMMER? HOW DO I TREAT DRY HAIR?

A: Whether you’re beachfront or poolside, soaking up every last drop of summer can leave hair parched. Ricardo Dinis, Global Artistic Director of Hair Cutting, explains, “Just as the sun damages your skin, it can damage your hair, too.” He explains that UV rays actually dry out and rough up the outer layer of the hair shaft—the cuticle—resulting in locks that look and feel dry.

In order to remedy dry or damaged hair, our Summer Hair Advisors suggest tweaking your hair care routine to include more hydration. Janell Geason, Global Artistic Director of Makeup, turns to the ultra-hydrating formulas in our nutriplenish™ collection, which nourish hair with potent superfoods like pomegranate oil, organic coconut oil and mango butter. For the ultimate dry hair treatment, Ian Michael Black, Global Artistic Director of Hair Color, recommends nutriplenish™ deep moisture conditioner.

In fact, our nutriplenish™ collection contains two different formulas, nutriplenish™ light and deep moisture, so you can choose the right level of hydration your dry hair needs.

Q: WHY IS MY HAIR SO FRIZZY? HOW CAN I REDUCE FRIZZ?

A: Bea Carmichael, Global Educator of Styling explains, “Humidity can make your hair frizzy and fluffy, as it adds moisture to your hair.” This causes the hair shaft to swell, leading to breaks in the cuticle. Instead of reducing frizz with hot styling tools, she recommends going with the flow. “Wear your hair in its natural texture and if you can’t manage without a blow dry, use frizzy hair products that repel moisture and humidity. Heat often brings the natural movement back to your hair,” she says, “so if you encourage that movement, it will be less frizzy.”

Bea also recommends a hands-off approach to styling; when it comes to frizz control, the less manipulation, the better. Seconding that opinion, Ricardo suggests gently blotting wet hair dry with a towel instead of rubbing vigorously in order to reduce hair breakage. Both agree our smooth infusion™ style-prep smoother™ is the perfect product to fend off frizz, protecting hair against humidity for up to 12 hours.

Q: MY HAIR IS SO OILY IN THE SUMMER. WHY? SHOULD I WASH IT MORE?

A: Ian puts it succinctly, “If you’re spending time outdoors, in the sun, the extra heat can stimulate the scalp and produce more oil.” This oil—technically called sebum—can leave hair feeling greasy and looking flat, leading to more wash days.

A: While over-washing hair can be a concern, Ian advises to wash “as often as you need,” with oily types washing daily, if necessary. Ricardo chimes in, “The idea is to keep the scalp clean without stripping the hair of natural oils that keep it healthy, soft, and beautiful.”

Q: DO I NEED TO CUT MY LONG HAIR IN THE SUMMER?

A: As the temperature rises, you may be tempted to go shorter, as long hair can feel unmanageable in the heat. Instead of reaching for the scissors, Janell recommends getting creative with long tresses when summer hits. “There are so many fun hairstyles that work beautifully for long hair,” she says. “Pull it up or put it in a braid to get it off your neck.” If long hair is still weighing you down, Ricardo recommends adding some layers to the front of your cut, to help style your hair off your face.

Q: I WANT TO SWIM IN THE OCEAN AND POOL—BUT DON’T WANT TO DAMAGE MY HAIR. WHAT CAN I DO?

A: Several Advisors recommended thoroughly wetting hair before entering the pool or ocean. This helps to make hair less absorbent, so it takes in less chlorine and saltwater. Bea also suggested swimming with a swim cap, if possible. Post-swim, she recommends “washing and conditioning your hair with products that gently remove salt and chlorine”, like our sun care hair and body cleanser. If hair feels damaged, Ian recommends investing in a weekly treatment like our botanical repair™ intensive strengthening masques to deeply strengthen and repair dry hair instantly.

Q: HOW DOES THE SUN AFFECT MY HAIR COLOR? SHOULD I AVOID COLORING MY HAIR IN THE SUMMER?

A: Ricardo notes that the ultraviolet rays of the sun can damage and dry out hair. “The damage is most obvious when we see color-treated hair becoming faded, bleached and brassy.”

Despite this, color devotees can continue their usual regimens—but with some seasonal precautions. Ian explains, “You can color your hair in the summer, but take extra care to protect your beautiful new color from harsh sun by using products with UV defense, or wearing a hat to combat fading.” Start with the plant-powered UV filter in our nutriplenish™ leave-in conditioner or daily moisturizing treatment, which protects hair from the drying effects of the sun.

Q: DO I NEED TO CHANGE MY STYLING ROUTINE IN THE SUMMER? WHAT ARE SOME SUMMER STYLING ESSENTIALS?

A: Our Summer Hair Advisors noted that although each person needs a tailored hair care routine, there are a few products everyone should consider when the weather heats up.

Nourishing hair treatments