The official start of summer has people relishing warm sun, hot temperatures, and beach vacations. Little thought goes to how these summer pleasures might wreak havoc on our hair and skin. Correcting hair and skin damage from the sun and maintaining healthy hair into the fall doesn’t happen overnight; it takes some preparation to keep hair looking shiny and strong.

Below are a few tips from NYC/Miami Hair Stylist, Lucy Garcia Planck, on how to suppress summer hair damage and keep it looking shiny and healthy as we move into fall:

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1.    Mend Hair Damage with Split End Sealer: It’s important to keep your hair as moist as possible. Air-conditioned spaces are a sure way to zap the moisture out of your hair.  One of the things I love to help combat this is coconut oil for split ends. Use about a teaspoon and start at the ends working your way up to the root; leave in for about an hour and shampoo. The coconut oil will help keep hair hydrated, silky and shiny.

2.    Biotin Supplements: Biotin is a natural supplement that many people don’t get enough of and that could be a contributing factor to dry, brittle hair. I always tell my clients to take biotin year round to maintain a strong, healthy glow to their hair and it also helps with split ends. I love using and always recommend Vitafusion Gorgeous Hair, Skin and Nails is a great-tasting gummy multivitamin containing 12 key nutrients, including Biotin and Vitamins C and E to help nourish beautiful hair, skin, and nails from the inside out.

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3.    Cold Water Rinse:  After shampooing, use a cold-water rinse, which closes up the cuticle and keeps your hair shiny. Not only does it feel good after a long day out at the beach, but the cold water really helps keeping your hair healthy.

4.    Tame Frizz with Coconut Milk Leave-in Conditioner: The natural oils inside of the coconut are what keeps frizz in check. All of the vitamins and minerals that are in the coconut keep the frizz tamed. The leave in conditioner also protects the hair from the blow dryer and other styling tools. As with the oils, I would advise not to use a leave-in conditioner if you have fine hair, as it will make it greasy. For those with fine hair, I would suggest using a mousse instead. Use a dime-sized amount of leave in conditioner and work throughout your hair, paying special attention to the ends.

5.    Softening Dry Hair with an Avocado Mask: Avocado has fatty acids that make hair soft. It’s great to make a paste with avocado and coconut oil. Put in 2 teaspoons of avocado (mashed) or in a blender and 1 tsp of coconut oil. Blend the two together for a few seconds or until smooth. You can even warm up the paste a little bit and leave it in your hair for approximately 30-60 minutes. Start at the top of your roots and work your way down. You can also use aloe vera from a real plant. Using the same ratio of above, mixing the aloe vera with the coconut oil. Both are excellent hydrators for your hair. These “masks” leave hair very shiny and silky. Anyone can make these at home.