Fine and Straight - Your 3-Step summer hair plan

No-Heat Plan for fine and straight hair

1. In the shower: Your hair probably gets oily quickly, so shampoo daily with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Paul Mitchell Lemon Sage thickening Shampoo is gentle enough to use frequently. Conditioner weighs down fine hair; apply it only from midlength to ends. Try Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Clay Conditioner which has kaolin clay to make hair appear fuller.

2. When hair is still damp: Straight, fine hair falls even flatter when you use the wrong styling products. Stay away from oils, serums, or anything that boasts "extra hold" - these formulas can be heavy. Instead, choose a lightweight volumizing spray, like L'Oreal Professionnel Volume Expand Volumizing Root Lift Spray, and mist it only at the roots. Blow-drying for a few minutes helps the product create some oomph.

3. Just before you leave the house: Hairspray is drying because it contains alcohol; use it to reduce oiliness. TreSemme 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray provides hold without freezing your style in place, and also adds shine.

Deep Conditioner

In this all-purpose conditioner, the olive oil conditions and moisturizes your hair while the egg softens it. Store in a glass or plastic container in the refrigerator. Shake before using, as mixture will separate as it sits.

1 teaspoon olive oil
3 - 4 drops of your favorite essential oil
1 egg, beaten

In a bowl, mix ingredients with whisk or fork. Pour over head and massage into hair and scalp. Cover hair with shower cap and leave on 20 minutes. Wash out with gentle shampoo.

Thick and Straight (ish) hair

My hair is thick! I mean thick!! That can cause a lot of challenges (huge hair anyone) and joy (I'm not going bald). So, I asked a top Seattle stylist for the skinny on thick hair care and this is what he said.

Your Good Fortune: You have a lot of hair - thick, lush, and full.

Your Challenge:  You have a lot of hair - heavy and a bit coarse. As the humidity rises, it probably tends to expand, usually into a triangular silhouette, widening at the bottom.

Your Ideal Cut:  Length helps keep a mass of hair from becoming overinflated - but you don't have to grow your hair down your back. A cut that falls at least to your collarbone has enough weight to give you the extra control you need. You also want long layers, starting about four inches above your ends; they're key to keeping your hair from stacking into that pyramid shape. And a good idea is to use thinning shears on the last two inches, to take some of the bulk out of this hair type.

Steer Clear Of:  Blunt lines. They'll make your hair look, and feel, even heavier. You don't want a cut that's perfectly even at the ends. And while long layers are a must, short ones will make it more difficult to contain your hair's fullness - the last thing you need is a shag!!

Your go-to product:  A light-hold spray gel

Your Salon Checklist:

• Collarbone length or longer
• Layers starting four inches above ends
• Thinning the bottom 2 inches
  

Your 3 Step plan if your hair is Curly

No-Heat Summer Hair Plan for Curly Hair

1. In the Shower: Curls form better when hair is well moisturized, so shampoo no more than once a week and always choose a hydrating formula, like Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo. On nonshampoo days, use a thick conditioner: Comb it through damp hair, from roots to ends, and wait several minutes before rinsing. Pureology EssentialRepair HairCondition has chamomile and olive oil to soften even the coarsest curls.

2. When hair is still damp: A rich styling cream, such as Sunsilk Hydra TLC 24/7 Creme continues the moisturizing process and smooths frizz. If your curls are relatively fine, a quarter-size dab is enough; coarse curls call for a more liberal dollop.

3. Just before you leave the house: Rub a drop of a silicone-based serum, like John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum between your hands, then retwist any unruly curls and pat down flyaways. (Warning: Serums can get oily, so apply them sparingly.)

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How can I get the perfect beachy texture?

1. Prep your tresses - Apply a texturizing spray to damp hair from roots to ends. Then add a volumizing mousse for hold and body.

2. Amplify waves - Twist 1" to 1.5" sections around your finger; then loosely pin coils to your head. Diffuse or air-dry, or set hair before bed for a sexy, slept-in look.

3. Break it up - Scrunch in a bit of grooming cream to loosen up the look and create separation.

Salt Spray makes you look like you swam in the ocean - in a good way! Try KMS California Hairplay Sea Salt Spray, $15.95; kmscalifornia.com

Heavy-duty Conditioner

The moisturizing properties of the avocado and the conditioning elements of mayonnaise (oil, vinegar, and egg) make this combination an ideal conditioner for dry, brittle hair. Store in a glass or plastic container in the refrigerator.

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 avocado, peeled and mashed

In blender or food processor, combine mayonnaise and avocado until smooth. Massage mixture into hair and scalp. Cover hair with shower cap and leave on 20 minutes. Wash out with gentle shampoo.

Summer Hair: Your 3-Step, No-Heat Plan

If your hair is Thick and Straight (ish)

1. In the shower: Because thick hair can be coarse, you need a shampoo that will soften it. Using a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner is a must. Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Shampoo contains hair-silkening cassia and aloe vera and Suave Professionals Damage Care Conditioner helps smooth dense hair. If you have oily roots, confine conditioner to the ends.

2. When hair is still damp: Spritz a spray gel from midlength to ends. It's strong enough to control frizz but not so heavy that it will add more weight to your hair. Also, it's fine to use a formula labeled "volumizing," as long as you keep the product off your roots so it won't create pouf.

3. Just before you leave the house: Bulky hair will have more swing if you use a wax to separate it into small, piecey sections. Run your fingers over Kiehl's Creative Cream Wax and then rub your hands together to emulsify it. Pull it through the hair around your face and your ends.

15 Seconds to Gorgeous Hair

1. Don't over-wash your hair - Ever wonder why women in Europe or Asia, or for that matter anywhere outside the US, have such amazingly healthy-looking hair? They do not, I repeat, do not wash their hair every day. They go at least two or three days between washes, letting their natural scalp oils coat and nourish their strands. Now I know there are some women out there saying, "You're absolutely nuts. I go to the gym, run, do yoga, and sweat, so my hair has to be washed every day. " But it doesn't! Instead, just give your hair a good rinse with water and follow with minimal product to avoid buildup. Soon you'll find that you have a head full of lustrous, healthy hair.

2. Learn to love leave-ins - If you give your hair a break from shampoo, it will dry out less and won't require much conditioner. That said, I am sort of addicted to leave-in conditioner and recommend massaging one into damp hair on days you do wash. It gives your do just the right amount of moisture it needs to stay soft and adds a bit of texture and hold too. Try Aveeno Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment with strengthening wheat proteins.

3. Stock up on dry shampoo - This is a permanent fixture because it has so many uses. For example, you can dust it on to absorb excess oil when you've gone too long between washes. Or you can use it to give fine hair some oomph - just apply it at your roots all over your head and brush through. Try Shampowder by Buttercream Cosmetics, which comes in three shades that blend naturally into black, brunette/red, or blonde hair.

4. Accessorize with caution - Steer clear of elastic bands with metal closures; although they might look harmless, they literally rip out your hair. Instead, use cloth-only ponytail holders to create "cruelty-free" tails and updos. Try Bumble and Bumble Bb Bandball, which has 100 fabric-covered pony holders.

5. Layer styling products - When working with a new styler - anything from mousse to pomade - take baby steps. Remember, you can always add product, but removing it is not so easy and can leave you with a serious case of the greasies. Begin with an extra-small dollop and build up from there. Another smart move: Apply stylers to the back of your head first. That way, even if you accidentally used too much product, you won't end up with a big, unsightly glob of it where everyone can see. And when it comes to hair spray, spritz it onto your hands first, then smooth them over the top of your head for a nonsticky finish.

Get Good Hair

No more morning flat head! Try this secret for a trendy, textured look. At night, wash and towel-dry hair. Apply a leave-in conditioner or serum such as Sally Hershberger Supreme Head for Wavy Hair Style Primer, $13. Comb into six sections and braid each loosely. In the morning, untwist, flip hair over your head and finger-comb. Spritz with hairspray, shake strands into place and go!

DIY TRICK - Your goal: No More Grays‏

Revive the Roots. To mask any silver streaks, focus the pigment on the new growth at your scalp. The bottom half of your hair, which is older and drier, will absorb color much quicker than the roots. Brush a semipermanent dye, like Clairol Natural Instincts semipermanent hair color ($8.99, drugstores), on the top of your head, and in the last five minutes, do the bottom half.

DIY TRICK - Your goal: Brighter Highlights‏

Don't go overboard. The smaller the chunks of hair you highlight, the more diffuse the finished look will be. Take sections of about 10 hairs spaced at least a half inch apart. A kit that makes sun-smooched streaks a cinch; L'Oreal Paris Touch-On Highlights ($12.99, drugstores), which comes with a brush that fits on your finger and glides the product through strands.

Homemade Hair Shine

Here is a recipe that is sure to make your locks SHINE, SHINE, SHINE, and you should be able to find it all in your pantry.

Take 1/2 avocado, 1/2 cup coconut milk and mix it together well. Apply mixture to hair and let set for 15 minutes. Wash and rinse in the shower and voila!! Beautiful, shiny hair.

Make a yummy sandwich with the other half of the avocado and your tummy will be satisfied too.