How are your locks holding up this season? At this time of year, tresses exposed to sun, salt water, chlorine and humidity need extra-special attention, both to improve their appearance and to repair any damage. Three new products target a range of summer woes, including frizzy, fried and fly-away manes. Talk about hair-raising.
The frizz fighter
Can't control your curls? Are your waves less slick than split?
Pantene's ADVANCED+ KERATIN REPAIR KERAGLOSS OIL MIST gives hair a smooth finish without weighing it down. The lightweight formula contains a blend of argan, jojoba, safflower, olive and sesame oils, creating a protective layer that imparts shine while keeping even the unruliest of locks in their place. $13.99 at drugstores across Canada.
For those in the swim
A detergent-free shampoo that gently cleans hair parched by sun, salt and chlorine, PURELY PERFECT CLEANSING CREME contains aloe vera and essential oils; the milk-like formula leaves hair silky after just one application. Don't stop there, however: According to its makers, repeated use will protect hair from ongoing damage. $48 at Delination in Toronto (www.delineation.ca), House of Tin in Edmonton (http://www.delineation.ca) and Fish Hair Salon in Victoria (www.fishhairsalon.com).
Après-sun repair
KHAIRPEP TRANSFORM MASQUE SERUM is a restorative leave-in treatment that gives damaged hair a healthy lustre and makes it soft to the touch. The key ingredient is a peptide originally created in a lab to repair the fibres in ancient tapestries. When applied to hair, the protein chain penetrates deeply, restoring hair to 85 per cent of its original strength. $55 through www.khairpep.com and at select salons in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan (B.C. and Quebec to follow in the fall).