Summer Hair Help

(New York - WABC, July 1, 2007) (WABC) -- Carefree summer is not so carefree. Whether it's the heat, humidity, or the sun blazing your scalp, your hair doesn't know whether to frizz up, lay down, or play dead.

Julee Wilson from Real Simple magazine is here to the rescue with four easy tricks to fix different bad hair days and even better ways to prevent them from happening in the first place.

HAIR WOE NUMBER ONE: Your hair is flat, stringy, and lifeless

How it happens: Fine or straight hair can become limp when exposed to humidity. Instead of penetrating your hair, the moisture sits on the surface and weighs it down.

How to fix it: Volumize your roots with an antihumidity spray. Divide the top layer of hair into four sections. Lift each section at the roots and spritz the underside. Give the spray a minute to dry, then gently back-comb each section.

Prop: V05 Max! Hold Fast Drying Spray, $3.50 at drugstores

How to prevent it next time: Lay off the styling products! Too many can cause buildup at the roots and actually work against the goal of volume by flattening your hair. Instead, use products that are rich in protein. This gives your hair natural body and helps it hold up in humidity. A great way to get protein and not over-product your hair is to use shampoo and conditioners that are rich in protein.

Prop: Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo and Conditioner, $20 each at www.aveda.com

HAIR WOE NUMBER TWO: Your hair looks soppy and greasy

How it happens: The heat makes you sweat - and it does the same to your scalp. The oils from your scalp spread to the rest of your hair, making it greasy and yes, sweaty. Most styling products are water soluble, so your sweat breaks them down and renders them ineffective - you lose any style you tried to create.

How to fix it: Sprinkle hair powder on your scalp to absorb the excess oil. Apply a small amount to the roots, leave in for one minute, and then comb through or shake hair gently to remove excess powder. You can finish it off with a shot of hairspray, which will boost shine and not weigh your hair down.

Prop: Hair Fix, $20, www.myhairfix.com and hairspray

How to prevent it next time: Wash your hair less often. This sounds counterproductive, but washing it too much actually forces your scalp to create more oil in order to replace the oil you washed away. And when you wash, don't overdo it. Don't scrub your scalp harshly (like we experience at a salon) because this will cause the scalp to produce more oil. Allow shampoo to sit on your hair and scalp approximately one minute before rinsing. Apply conditioner to your ends - stay away from your roots and your scalp.

HAIR WOE NUMBER THREE: Your hair feels fried and dull as driftwood

How it happens: For you beach bums- chlorine and salt water soak up whatever moisture is left from your already dry hair and damage the hair shaft connected to your scalp - giving it that dull look. Overusing products (which we tend to do in an effort to create healthy hair or shine) can also leave your hair with no luster and feeling coarse.

How to fix it: Use a heated iron - flat if your hair is straight, curling if you like waves or curls. The heat seals in the cuticles and lets your hair reflect more light. The common mistake: don't overdo it. You should really only use 2 -3 times a week or else you will dry your hair out even more.

Prop: Curling iron and flatiron.

How to prevent it: Use a clarifying shampoo to rinse away product buildup and any residue left by chlorine from the pool or salt water from the beach. Also, glaze your hair. Whether it's in the salon or at home, glazes protect all hair types from sun damage and also work to seal in moisture. They combine mild dye (you are not dying your hair though) with shine enhancers that leave your hair smooth and glossy. You can do this daily or once a week.

Props: Kenra Clarifying Shampoo, $10, www.kenra.com and John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze Clear Shine, $10 at drugstores.

HAIR WOE NUMBER FOUR: Your hair resembles a steel-wool pad: puffy and frizzy

How it happens: Curly, coarse, or color treated hair tends to be moisture deprived, leaving the cuticles on each strand more raised and porous. Then it absorbs moisture from the air and makes the hair shafts swell up, leaving hair large and in charge.

How to fix it: Fight frizz with a moisture-blocking styling cream or serum. Be on the lookout for products with silicone or oil to smooth and slightly weigh down the hair. Rub a quarter-sized dollop between your hands and work it through the strands.

Prop: Arrojo Defrizz Serum, $14, www.arrojo.com

How to prevent it: Get the right haircut. Layers are designed to boost volume, so in the summer ask for a blunter cut to hold down ends and reduce fluff. Make sure your stylist cuts with scissors and not a razor, which thins out hair, making it prone to frizz. Also, keep your hair hydrated. Use an oil treatment to seal cuticles so hair doesn't absorb moisture. Apply from roots to ends, leave in for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

Prop: Molton Brown Hair Treatment Oil, $30, www.moltonbrown.com

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