Does your hair need a summer intervention?
Summer can play havoc on the hair with prolonged exposure to the sun, seawater and chlorine as well as the inevitable perspiration and humidity that accompany the season.
“It’s important to always keep the hair hydrated; deep condition at least weekly,†says Marco Pelusi, owner of the namesake West Hollywood salon. He recommends using a leave-in conditioner to lock in moisture and guard against color fading, both in the pool and while lounging in the sun.
This summer, there’s a profusion of new products designed to make hair care easy and effective. Dry shampoos, mists and beer-infused products (great for volume) are sparking consumer interest. There are also new target-specific shampoos and conditioners — for instance, some formulated to eliminate dandruff and dry scalp, and some that can coat hair with an extra layer of protection to guard against sun damage.
And anything labeled “natural†or “organic†is getting attention too.
“The focus is most definitely on natural products,†says Caroline Brooks, president of Leonor Greyl U.S.A., a French producer of luxury organic hair care. “Even more so for high-end silicone-free products. Silicone weighs down the hair and forms a barrier against any form of nourishment. Hair becomes lifeless and color becomes dull.â€
Here are some picks from the crop of new offerings, which can be found at the manufacturers’ websites or beauty retailers:
Dry shampoo
Although these have been around since the 1970s, they’ve had a bad rap because of the chalky, powdery residue they leave behind. But now in new colors and formulations, they are showing up in beach, pool and gym totes.
Green Rootine from Jonathan, at left above, a talc-based product, comes in two shades and has a brush-on applicator to dab on just where it’s needed ($19).
GG Gatsby’s Ultimate Lift dry shampoo powder, at right, has oatmeal and micro mineral crystals that work on all hair colors. Squeeze a puff of it onto the hair and brush out ( $16.99).
PowderPower from Giovanni Eco Chic Cosmetics is a two-in-one shampoo and instant volumizer that uses corn starch, oat kernel flour and vitamin B5 to cleanse hair without water ($9.99).
Salon Grafix’s Invisible Dry spray shampoo spritzes on and brushes out without any residue ($7.99).
Alterna Bamboo Style Cleanse Extend translucent dry shampoo is practically undetectable, even on the darkest hair ($22). And Lush uses corn flour, talc, lemon and lime oils in its No Drought dry shampoo ($12.95).
There are also new dry conditioners, including one from got2b Rockin’ It, which offers its Encore Finish dry conditioner as a complement to its bestselling dry shampoo, for $5.99.
And Michael O’Rourke’s Rock Your Hair Bombshell Big Hair powder promises to give an instant backcombed lift to hair. The talc- and mica-based formulation liquifies on the hair so there’s no awkward clumping ($17).
Mists
These newer, lighter versions of hair sprays are an innovation, especially when they feature oils that don’t leave that slick residue.
Giovanni Cosmetics’ 2chic Brazilian Keratin & Moroccan Argan Oil Blow Out styling mist contains plant-based proteins and detangles so hair becomes easy to style ($8.99). The company also makes, for the same price, a Flat Iron styling mist designed to be used before putting that particular implement to the hair, smoothing out each strand.
Alterna’s Bamboo Smooth Kendi dry oil mist battles frizz and repairs dried and damage hair ($24).
The got2b Oil-Licious dry oil hair taming mist controls flyaway hair and gives extra shine ($5.99).
New from Aveda is its Pure Abundance Style-Prep, a spray made from passion fruit, rice and acacia, scented with jasmine and peppermint ($24).
Targeted treatments
Regular special hair treatments are like facials for the hair — crucial to maintaining the overall appearance and health of hair. A number of new products are designed for specific issues such as hair loss and dry scalp.
Leonor Greyl’s Huile de Palme ($49), made from organic palm oil, has something of a cult following for the way it restores hair exposed to sun, wind, salt and straightening treatments. (Blogger Megan O’Brien, of Megsmakeup.com, once accidentally smashed the bottle, crouched down and let her hair soak it all up, shattered glass notwithstanding, rather than let a drop go to waste.)
New from H2PRO is the Next 1 Minute Hair Treatment, containing jojoba extract, acai oil and shea butter, for those who have overdone it with chemical treatments and styling tools ($18).
Biologique Recherche’s Lotion Keractive is a leave-in treatment to fortify hair fiber and make it easier to comb and style dry or fragile hair ($52).
Garnier Fructis’ Fall Fight is a three-step system for breaking and falling hair. The company promises that use of the shampoo, conditioner and anti-breakage spray can save up to 1,500 strands a month ($3.99 to $5.99).
Using conventional soap-based shampoos can lead to dry or irritated scalp, something that the new Sebamed Everyday shampoo and Hair Repair conditioner are out to rectify, using a combination of vitamin B5, avocado oil and silk protein ($12.99 each).
From the Black 15-in-1 line comes a set of Twice a Week shampoo, conditioner and Miracle Hair treatment, loaded with sunflower seed extract, keratin, argan oil and other ingredients to strengthen the hair shaft, lock in moisture and protect against sun damage ($20 to $22 for a kit containing all three products).
Caffeine and capsaicin are at the heart of ThermaScalp, a caffeinated hot pepper anti-itch dandruff spray that also guards against UV damage. Other ingredients include saw palmetto, pygeum and olive leaf ($14.99).
Keranique’s fortifying mousse protects hair against the damaging effects of the sun and provides thermal protection from curling irons and blow dryers. It also adds body and helps detangle and prevent breakage ($20). The brand’s Volumizing lifting spray also provides sun protection while it lifts and holds thinning hair ($20).
The 1-Minute Nourishing Repairing Mask from Yves Rocher is part of its new organic line. The product uses organic oat milk, shea butter and ylang-ylang to restore body and vitality, bringing hair back to life in 60 seconds ($10.95).
Bio Supplements offers treatment-oriented products to guard against UV damage, frizz and dandruff. Their Mocha Cappuccino shampoo, conditioner and Hair Masque use rich cocoa extracts to restore dehydrated and damaged hair ($18 to $26).
Beer-Infusions
Rinsing hair with flat beer once was a popular do-it-yourself way to boost hair volume. Now the beverage is back in a more sophisticated way.
From Lush comes Cynthia Sylvia Stout shampoo, at right, which uses organic vegan stout beer to pile on the protein for that full-hair look ($9.95 to $29.95, depending on size).
The hops in beer are used in Blind Barber’s 90 Proof hair pomade ($22) for thickening and styling. The brand also has a 60 Proof Hair Wax ($22) for a light hold — run a dollop through hair for a bit of polish.
