This year’s schizophrenic weather conditions – scorching heat one day, muggy and wet the next – have probably frazzled and weakened your hair. New York-based celebrity hair stylist Tommy Buckett, who has tamed the manes of Ashley Olsen and Emma Stone, talks us through a super simple summer hair care routine.

Cover up
You’ve been so focused on getting your body beach ready that you’ve neglected your hair. Too much chlorine, sea salt and exposure to the sunlight will cause your hair to look dull and damaged, explains Buckett. “It’s not just your skin that needs protecting. All these things can strip your color and dry out your hair. So if you want to enjoy the sunshine, you’ll have to protect your hair. Wear a hat or a scarf to cover your locks or use a UV protectant spray.”

Damage control
No matter how many times you pin or scrape wet hair back it ends up getting stuck to your clammy forehead. There’s no escaping the heat and humidity. It’s easier to damage wet, so avoid pulling it up until it’s dry. “Your hair is like a rubber band. It can only be pulled so much before it loses it’s elasticity and snaps. Over time, pulling it back too tight will cause it to snap where the elastic band is placed. Loosely tie your hair up or use little tortoiseshell clips if you want to avoid breaking it,” says Buckett.

The perfect beach wave
Some people (rather annoyingly) are born with natural loose waves. Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen is the poster girl for sexy beach hair. For those that aren’t, there’s a quick fix solution. “The perfect beach wave can be achieved by spraying sea salt spray and using a diffuser. While drying your hair (it’s fine to blow-dry your hair just as long as you make sure you’re using a heat protector) twist it in big chunks to create a perfect wave,” recommends the hairstylist. And if at the end of the day you want to wash out all the products, sand and waves that’s fine. Just remember to always use a conditioner. “Summer hair gets gets dirtier quicker, so use your best judgment and always use a conditioner. If you need to wash your hair daily to keep it looking clean and fresh, then that’s what you need to do,” he adds.

– Romina McGuinness