Style Hermosa: Keeping Hair Color in the Sun

Hermosa Beach hairstylist Cynthia "Cyndi" Smith talked to Patch about how to nourish color-treated hair that has been exposed to the sun and surf in the final installment of a two-part interview.

Hermosa Beach Patch: What are the best beach hair treatments for color? 

Cyndi Smith: If you feel as though your hair color is starting to look dull, brassy, or slightly grown out … ask your stylist for a glossing treatment. This will add shine to your hair, seal in your cuticles and assist with frizz (and) dryness.

For blondes, if you have highlights and if your hair is grown out, to avoid breakage ask your stylist for a retouch. An all over gloss or tone will remove brassiness that may come from the L.A. water. The enlightener-bleach will not overlap onto the already processed hair. The gloss is only processing on the new hair growth and will refresh your color, looking as though you just got a full set of highlights done.

For thicker hair that has frizz or curl to it, Keratin treatments or Brazilian Blowouts are great. Keratin protects the hair from heat, sun and chemicals. These harsh factors are broken down by the Keratin before reaching your hair. I would advise against these treatments if you have fine, straight hair as any volume you may have will be taken away.

Patch: What's the best way to prevent hair discolor from the sun?

Smith: If the sun fades your hair, use an after-sun hair masque or a water resistant mist to restore your natural color.

Patch: How often should we shampoo our hair?

Smith: To maintain color, shampoo every other day. If your hair tends to get greasy, avoid conditioning by the scalp and just apply a dime-size amount to the ends of your hair.

Patch: How can we avoid split ends?

Smith: Trim your hair every six to eight weeks. Even if you're trying to grow your hair long, trimming will help maintain a thicker, healthier look and actually assist in the growing process. By not trimming, your hair will not grow… split ends will continue to break off your hair.

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