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Our debut edition of Get Right For Summer featured our favorite summer hair styles, and this week we're talking about the products that will keep your locks in check. We've tackled three main issues: What to do in case of humidity, how to alleviate excess oil, and what to do if things get dry, frizzy, or sun-damaged. After the jump, our editor-vetted summer hair product picks from dry shampoos to leave-in conditioners.
Humidity
Leslie Price, Racked National editor: "I let my hair air dry instead of blow drying it since I live in a crazy humid climate and my hair is naturally very wavy. The key is to use a really great conditioner—I like Rahua. A trick my hairstylist taught me is to use a dime-size portion of that same conditioner as a leave-in when your hair is still a little wet. You just scrunch it it and that's all the product you need."
Laura Gurfein, Racked New York associate editor:: "My hair is naturally wavy, and the humidity actually helps it keep its shape throughout the summer. Since I can't be bothered with heat styling in a tiny NYC apartment bathroom for the summer months, I typically spray in Garnier Fructis Curl Shaping Spray on damp hair and let it air-dry."
Ashley Brozic, Racked Miami editor:: "I used to OD on products, but I've realized the one thing that's worked for me in Miami's year-round humid weather is to just let go. The only product I do use is Moroccanoil, because I feel it does everything: Conditions, adds shine, decreases frizz, and helps style."
Caitlin Petreycik, Racked New York features writer:: "My bob turns into a triangle in the humidity, so I usually rub a bit of Klorane dry shampoo into the roots for lift, and scrunch some Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray into the ends to tamp them down and make them a bit less fluffy."
Oily
Tiffany Yannetta, Racked New York editor:: "My hair is naturally a little wavy (in all the wrong places) and oily at the scalp, so for me the summer is all about adding as much texture as possible and embracing the frizz. I've also found that, for my hair at least, it's better to blow dry it completely or not at all. When I don't plan on washing, I use Oribe Après Beach spray, Josie Maran Bohemian Waves mist, and sometimes good old fashioned baby powder. When I do wash, I trust Sebastian Professional Potion 9, L'Oreal Sleek It serum-spray, and/or Macadamia Natrual Oil Nourishing Leave-In Cream."
Nicola Fumo, Racked market editor: "My hair does an incredible thing where it's oily at the roots and frizzy the rest of the way down. I wash the roots (and the bangs I'm trying to grow out) after daily workouts, but find my mane is a lot easier to manage if I only wash the whole thing once or twice a week. I recently tried Unite Smoothing Shampoo and really liked it. When it comes time to manage any extra oil, Amika Perk Up dry shampoo has been my fav."
Izzy Ginspan, Racked editorial director:: "My hair is naturally straight and veers towards oiliness, but I think the most relevant fact about my haircare routine is that I have a baby and therefore have no time for blowouts or tricky styling or—let's be honest—regular showers. So I've been relying on the following products to look presentable: Evo's Salty Dog beach spray adds texture to my fine hair, smells divine, and is faster than blow drying; Klorane's dry shampoo with oat milk is the most effective, least-unnatural-smelling dry shampoo I've found; Sachajuan's volumizing powder makes even the flattest head of hair look like it belongs on Bridget Bardot; and Oribe's anti-humidity spray is pure magic on sticky days."
Dryness, Sun Damage, and Frizz Control
Natalie Alcala, Racked Los Angeles editor:: "An amazing natural trick for scoring a healthy, shiny mane this summer is to sleep in a virgin coconut oil hair mask. I try to do this at least once a week. Simply comb a teaspoon of melted organic virgin coconut oil (I get mine from Whole Foods) through hair, throw on a shower cap and hit the sack. Wash out with shampoo and conditioner in the morning and voilà: shiny, delicious-smelling hair.
If you're looking for a less DIY approach, for the last five years I've been a loyal fan of Aveda's Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair treatment. This organic quinoa-based potion works wonders for detangling and also helps protect hair from heat styling products."
Susie Kostaras, Racked Boston editor:: "A stylist once told me that oil and conditioner before swimming protect hair from drying salt and chlorine damage. My biggest hair concern in the summer actually isn't my hair, per se, it's preventing sunburns on my scalp! I'm excited to try out Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray."
Anna Caplan, Racked Dallas editor:: "There's seldom a day here when it's not super-humid so I've learned to not wash my thick hair as much as I used to. On days that I do, I use this argan oil which my hairdresser makes especially for his salon. It really seems to take the frizz out."
Nicola Fumo, Racked market editor:: "Before heat styling, I (try to remember to) spritz Blow Pro You Only Smoother spray through wet hair, using The Wet Brush to distribute the product, and I find it makes a huge difference for keeping my frizz in check. When I really need to call in the big guns, I comb Rodin by Recine hair oil through dry ends."
· Your Best Summer Hair: 32 Ideas From Our Editors [Racked]
· The Short Answer Regarding Ombré Hair: No [Racked]
· Here's the Secret to Frida Kahlo Braid Crown at Rebecca Minkoff [Racked]