Yes, You Can Reverse Summer-Induced Hair Damage Before Fall—You Just Need This Expert-Approved Game Plan

My hair is damaged, and I don't just mean I see a few split ends here and there. I mean I see split ends everywhere, plus rough texture, dullness, and breakage. It's the result of summer itself. After months of swimming, sweating, and staying out in direct sunlight, my hair needs some serious help.

According to Elidona Pjetraj, Lead hairstylist at Suite Reyad, summer-induced hair damage is common. "Sun exposure, humidity, pool water, and salt water from the ocean can all be damaging, especially when the hair is not rinsed afterward," she says. "I always say the end of August to the beginning of September is my biggest month in the salon because everyone is coming back from summer telling me, 'Eli, please get rid of my dry ends and all of this summer damage!'"

Leslie Shores, master colorist at Eric Marshall Salon in Nashville, Tennessee, agrees. "Summer can definitely be harsh on the hair depending on what you are doing," she says. "A lot of the elements come into effect, such as sun, wind, water, and heat. The heat alone can wreak havoc on the hair, not to mention chlorine, pulling the hair up in elastics, and not using any sun protectants that act as sunscreen for the hair. Depending on where you live, the humidity and hard water can also affect the hair." Luckily, they both agree damage reversal *is* possible. You just need to follow the expert-approved steps. Ahead, see the exact game plan.

Signs of Hair Damage

Pjetraj says the most obvious signs of summer damage include dry ends and a change in texture. "Humidity is a big reason why hair can feel dry and rough. It can lose elasticity, which is such an important part of healthy hair. For my color clients, I also see a change in color. Sun exposure, sea water, and chlorine can affect the tone. Brunettes can look duller, while blondes can become brassier," she explains.

Shores agrees: "Breakage, frizz, split ends, brassiness from the sun all point to summer-induced hair damage. On blondes, we see discoloration from chlorine. If they get in a pool, they could turn green, and then we have to correct not only the color but [also] the damage from the chlorine."

It's worth noting that damage prevention is the best path. "I'm adamant about pretreating the hair and avoiding the damage before it happens," Shores says. Since it's a lot harder to reverse damage than prevent it, she focuses on educating clients about the dos and don'ts of haircare. "The best I can do is to inform them and try to provide them with the tools and information they need," she says. "A good hair colorist should always be on top of helping to prevent damage before it happens and not contributing to it."

But what can you do if damage has already happened? It's simple. Incorporate the right restorative products into your haircare routine. "Depending on how damaged the hair is, in my experience, routine and consistency combined with good products can definitely make the hair look and feel better," Pjetraj says. "It takes time and care to get your hair feeling healthy again. But remember, you can't do one treatment and expect the damage to disappear. It's about continuing the routine until you see and feel a noticeable difference in the overall condition of the hair."

The Expert-Approved Game Plan

Step 1: Get a Haircut

Both experts recommend a trim, at the very least, at the end of summer. That goes for all hair types. A haircut gets rid of the dry, dead part of the hair—the ends. It removes split ends before they can worsen and affect hair health and texture. It's always a good idea to begin a hair-health journey with a fresh slate.

Here are autumn hair trends to consider ahead of your next salon appointment.

Step 2: Use a Pre-Shampoo Treatment

Don't think your hair routine starts with shampoo. The experts say it should start before you get in the shower. "There is a treatment for every hair type that helps prevent damage," Shores says. "Besides Davines salon custom treatments, I recommend pretty much every hair type to pretreat their hair with oil before shampooing the hair." Even if you apply oil to dirty hair, Shores says it will penetrate the hair shaft and add shine, strength, and luster back into it. "Pre-shower and before cleansing, use these products to infuse hair with moisture and reduce damage," she adds.

Step 3: Use a Hair Mask

Hair masks are powerful damage-reversing products. Both experts recommend incorporating them into your post-summer haircare routine. You can either use them before or after shampooing; it's up to you and your hair type/concerns. "Applying a hydrating mask or hair butter to hair is a great first move prior to washing," Shores says.

Pjetraj agrees. She's been recommending a certain hair-mask routine to her clients for years and says "they absolutely love it." Start with damp hair—either using a spray bottle or your hands to wet it. Then apply a hair mask from mid-shaft to ends. "Avoid putting too much product directly on the roots," Pjetraj advises. Then twist your hair up into a claw clip and "go about your day! You can do your Pilates class, clean the house, run errands, or simply relax. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes to an hour." When the time is up, get in the shower, rinse thoroughly, and shampoo and condition as usual.

Step 4: Use Bond-Building Treatments Once Per Week

Bond-repair treatments are products that literally repair the chemical bonds within the hair shaft to make them stronger and more resistant to damage. Using an at-home treatment once per week is an easy way to prevent breakage and split ends, and it'll make your hair look shinier and more luxurious as a result. Every bond-repair treatment is different, and while you should follow each one's instructions for intended use, they're usually used before shampoo.

Step 5: Shampoo & Condition Using a Formula for Your Hair Type

After you've treated your hair to some serious moisture with either a hair oil or mask, it's time to step into the shower and shampoo and condition. The experts recommend two things: Avoid overwashing your hair, and use formulas designed for your hair type and texture. "I normally recommend to not overwash the hair or not shampoo every day," Shores says. To avoid greasy roots, she recommends reaching for a dry shampoo when possible. This will soak up excess oil and sweat without drying out the scalp and hair with excess shampoo exposure.

Next, choose shampoo and conditioner that are suitable for your hair type and texture. Pjetraj calls out three categories: fine, medium, and thick hair. If you have fine or straight hair, choose formulas that are "not too heavy so that it doesn't weigh down the volume of the hair," she says. Wavy textures often benefit from shampoo and conditioner for medium hair, and curly textures usually benefit from shampoo and conditioner for thick hair. If you color your hair, make sure to use color-preserving formulas. In that case, Shores recommends Davines Minu Shampoo ($38) and Conditioner for Colored Hair ($43).

Step 6: Use a Heat Protectant/Primer

If you regularly heat-style your hair, the experts are begging you to invest in a leave-in conditioner that offers heat protection. Not only will this product keep your strands safe from further damage, dullness, breakage, and split ends, but it'll also prime your hair for smooth, silky, and shiny styles. It's a no-brainer if you're on a hair-health journey, which I am. "Once you have a clean slate, it's time for products that can continue the repair process," Shores says. "These must-haves prevent and remedy damage."

Step 7: Use a UV Protectant

You use sunscreen to protect your skin, but what about your hair? "UV rays tend to break down the bond of the hair in the summer, so all hair types need protection just like the skin does," Shores says. "Especially when you are going swimming, I tell clients to always apply sun protectant to the hair. I feel like clients think to apply it to their skin but tend to forget about their hair." Shores recommends the SU line from Davines since it offers UV protection while also moisturizing and smoothing the hair strands.

Step 8: Use a Gentle Detangling Hairbrush to Avoid Breakage

Don't just brush your hair with any old hairbrush. As any hairstylist will tell you, the tools you use matter. If you're using a stiff, hard-bristled brush to yank through damaged hair, you're going to cause breakage rather than fix it. Pjetraj recommends investing in a gentle detangling brush. These brushes have flexible bristles that bend with the hair, keeping vulnerable hair strands intact.

Step 9: Consider an In-Salon Gloss

Last but not least, Pjetraj suggests an in-salon color gloss. While it doesn't necessarily improve hair health, she says "it's such a simple way to restore beautiful shine, enhance vibrancy, and refresh your hair color" after summer. As a longtime beauty editor, I agree. A quick gloss is my secret to making my damaged hair look fresher and healthier.