1. Start off with a good foundation using Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner. This will deliver moisture to the hair before styling.

2. Before blow drying, apply a small amount of Suave Professionals Healthy Curls Mousse to towel dried hair. This will help shape the curls and hold them in place.

3. Next, spray Suave Freeze Hold Hairspray onto small sections of hair before wrapping the section around a 2 inch barrel curling iron. For loose, voluminous waves, don’t close the tongue of the curling iron!

4.Finish off the look with the Suave Professionals Volumizing Finishing Spray. The lightweight formula will keep your curls intact without weighing them down.

How can you avoid scalp/part burns?
Try to avoid parts in your hair all together! Use a fashionable headband or scarf to slick hair back. But if you must part your hair, use a sun specific product with a UV protectant.

What’s the best way to deal with summer dryness?
Summer sun and heat can cause major dryness to hair. The key is to moisturize! Put tons of moisture in your hair. Use moisturizing shampoos, deep conditioners, leave-in conditioners – anything that will maximize moisture.

If you plan to hit the beach or pool, apply oil or a product with SPF to the hair. This will create a “seal” that will protect and prevent salt water, chlorine or sun to penetrate and cause damage.

What’s a great tip for dealing with summer frizzies?
Find a product that will help combat frizziness and smooth and seal the hair cuticle.

The best way to control curls during the summer?
The best way to control natural curls is to use products that moisturize. Use a moisturizer, like leave-in conditioner, to produce long, flowing curls, and heavy product, like gel, to produce tighter curls.

Photo: StyleTips101

I went for a run this morning and it was very apparent summer is here! Well, at least in Miami anyway. Humidity is in full force, there is no doubt about that. On the topic of summer, we had the chance to talk with Marcy Cona, Clairol’s Global Creative Director for Color and Style. She gave us some great tips on how to maintain your hair color in the summer. Read on!

PGH: What are some tips/products to help make color last?

MC: The key to long lasting beautiful hair color is first to start with the right hair color product, if you desire a lighter shade with beautiful dimensional results, I would recommend a Nice ‘n Easy shade because it is permanent. If you would like to stay close to your natural hair color with a hint of shimmer or tone I would recommend Natural Instincts.

Another tip for keeping your hair color fresh is to promise to use weekly the in box conditioners found in each of the Clairol kits. These conditioners are designed to condition, refresh and renew your shade until you are ready to color again!

PGH: Is it still a trend or more so a “beauty rule” to go light in the summer, dark in the winter?

MC: Going “Lighter” is always on trend for summer; the new trend for this summer is the combination of going lighter and mixing it up with a new tone and dimension.

PGH: What are some hot colors/shades for this Summer?

MC: My favorite shades for Blondes:

Nice ‘n Easy 102G – Natural Light Golden Blonde

Natural Instincts 03G- Rich Light Golden Blonde

My favorite shades for Brunettes:

Nice ‘n Easy 116 Natural Light Caramel Brown

Natural Instincts 21 Rich Medium Brown

My favorite shades for Redheads:

Nice ‘n Easy 107 Natural Strawberry Blonde

Natural Instincts 22 Medium Auburn Brown

PGH: After dying, how many days should you wait before getting in the pool/going to the beach?

MC: I recommend that if possible you wait 24 hours, and if you need to be out in the sun right away, keep your hair covered with a great looking hat or scarf.

PGH: What are you recommendations to get rid of the freshly-dyed scent? Sometimes it can be very overbearing!

MC: Rinse, Rinse, Rinse, and condition! The reason for lingering odor of color is due to the porosity in your hair, the best way to get rid or minimize the odor is to rinse, use your ColorSeal Conditioner and Rinse again!

PGH: Any other tips related to color in the Summer?

MC: Tip 1#- Enjoy the Summer, but remember your hair needs some attention! The summer rules are the three C’s- Color, Cut, and Condition every 8 weeks!

Tip 2#- For your beach and outside activities, make sure you have a few hair accessories to keep your looking good, while adding protection. Hat, headband, ponytails, fun hair clip, mini water bottle to mist your hair while keeping it protected.

Tip 3#- Use your ColorSeal Conditioner in and out of the shower, take your conditioner to the beach or pool for an additional layer of protection- add a small amount (dime size) to your dry hair, next use a wide tooth comb remove tangles, place in a ponytail, headband or leave natural.

1. Rinse with cold water. As much as you love your steamy showers, super hot temps can fry your hair. Cold water seals in the moisture you need.

2. Let loose while sleeping. Remove all elastics, clips, bobby pins, etc. Let your curls be free!

3. Take a break from heat tools. Give your hair a day off every now and then from the curling iron, blow dryer and flat iron.

4. Deep condition. This is no joke – deep condition as much as possible. You will truly see a difference in your hair’s health factor.

5. Work with second day hair. I admit, sometimes I wish I could wash my hair everyday. But doing this will really dry out your curls. Instead, discover how to work with second day hair. Maybe it’s wearing a headband. What about half-up, half-down? Or perhaps using a curl revitalizing spray. Figure out what works for you, on a night when you don’t have a hot date, and you’ll be much happier with your curls. Personally, a few spritzes of leave-in conditioner and some Pantene Pro-V Mousse for Curly Hair usually does the trick…but not always!

Instead, aim for beach-worthy waves. Our friends at NaturallyCurly.com sent us some simple tips for achieving the most popular look this summer. Read on!

The least invasive and probably easiest method to create beach curls is simple braiding. Start with damp or wet hair, and braid into a single braid or several chunky braids. Let hair completely dry – typically overnight – and undo the braid. Voila! – instant beach waves. Smooth flyaways with oil, butter or moisturizing crème.

For shorter curls, try pincurls or knots to achieve a similar braid-effect.

Use large rollers at the ends to achieve a more voluptuous wave.

For a looser curl, try a Keratin treatment (a smoothing, not straightening process). Though hair will appear straighter at first, simply add your usual styling product and blow dry with a diffuser while scrunching hair.

Pravana offers a new Beach Wave process that provides long-lasting, soft, natural, undulating waves. This process uses Cysteamine, a natural amino acid that realigns the hair’s internal bonds to create a soft, sensuous wave.

For more information on these techniques and more, check out one of our favorite sites, NaturallyCurly.com

1. Pick a light-colored nail polish for your manicure—not only does it dry faster, but if it chips before the big night, it’s less noticeable. Try and do your nails the day before so wet nails won’t be an issue on event night. (I always abide by this. Nothing worse than bright red chipped nail polish.)

2. Skip the false lashes and try a great lengthening mascara like CoverGirl LashBlast Length.

3. Choose a long lasting lip color—only one application and it lasts the whole night, all you need is a glossy touch up! (I’ve been wanting to try a lip tint…heard it stays on all day)

4. Make sure your roots are kept at bay – for busy gals like myself, try coloring your hair at-home with Nice ‘n Easy the week of the event to brighten your look and ensure shiny color.

5. EAT! On event day, choose something light but filling so you’ll still feel like your fabulous self when you get into your evening attire.

Photo: Glamour

My boyfriend and I hosted a BBQ yesterday and the rain was no fun. Not only was I forced to block the food from getting soaked…but also my hair! Celebs at the Golden Globes last night must have felt my pain. Keeping your hair lookin’ good in the rain is a challenge…especially if you have PGH. Lucky for us, celeb hairstylist Philip Pelusi sent us some tips on weathering the storm during a special event. I will use these next time so that I don’t have to choose which to save…food or hair.

• Check the weather report a few days in advance so you can plan to wear your hair up or down. If rain is in the forecast, plan ahead to wear your hair either all up or half up and half down.
• Pulling hair into an updo or half upsweep is the best strategy to stay looking good in rainy conditions because hair is already curled, pinned and sprayed in place. If it gets rained on a bit, hair can simply air dry in place, and it is also easier to keep an updo dry under an umbrella.
• If you wear your hair down and are caught by surprise, make sure to bring a small emergency kit in your purse to a special event with a few hair pins, a ponytail holder and a small purse size hair spray. If hair gets wet, go for a quick style change. Pull hair back into the ponytail and wrap hair around the ponytail holder and secure into place with the hair pins. Mist with spray.

* Use a volumizing conditioner and shampoo: Volumizing products (such as the P2 InCrease Volumizze Shampoo and Conditioner) are formulated not to weigh hair down. Be careful to apply conditioner only to ends.

* Give Your Roots a Boost: Apply a root lifter before blowdrying, from midshaft to root (try Mod di Phy Define Root Lift Volumize Spray)

* Blow dry for “oomph”: Lift sections of hair toward the sky as you blow-dry, directing hot air toward your scalpl.

* Don’t blow-dry upside-down: To keep volume moderized, do not flip your head over

* Back-brush instead of tease: Instead of teasing your tresses with a comb, use a flat-backed brush, which will damage your hair less

* Mist hairspray – Heavy hairspray is more likely to weigh hair down instead of give it volume. Spritz hairspray in to the air and walk through it (try Mod di Phy Fluid Shaping & Finishing Spray)

Now, for your holiday hair tip from this hair guru!

To go from work to a party, it is best to always have a hair tie and bobby pins with you. (I never leave home without a hairtie!) For an easy style, women can twist hair up in the back and secure with bobby pins. Be sure to leave some pieces of hair down by the sides for a sexier look. Another option is to put hair in a messy ponytail with pieces left down to frame the face.

As the weather gets colder and dryer (everywhere else besides Miami!), you need to make sure your locks stay healthy. Here are some tips to make sure your hair stays lovely even in cold temps!

1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! We can’t say this enough. Use a hydrating conditioner if you wash your hair daily (which we don’t suggest) and a deep conditioner at least once a week.

2. Which brings us to our next tip – don’t wash your hair everyday. Harsh shampoo strips your natural oils leaving your hair dry and brittle. For better second day hair, leave your hair loose while sleeping and refresh your strands in the morning with a curl refreshing spray. For straight hair, use a drop or two of  a silicone-based serum to tame frizz.

3.  Avoid alcohol-based products. For a great everyday hairspray, try Aveda Air Control. It’s my fav!

4. Watch your hat. While hats are great in the winter for covering up a bad hair day, they can also cause limpy, greasy locks. Just plan accordingly.

5. Easy on the up-dos. We know you’ll be going to a lot of holiday parties, just take it easy on your hair. Bobby pins and tight elastics can cause major breakage. A glitzy hair piece may be a better option, like this L. Erickson. Leaf barrette. It is loaded with glistening crystals like frozen dew drops on a wintry day!