FOREVER YOUNG

We tend to blame the heat and humidity for many of our summer hair woes, but experts are now saying we can use the heat to our advantage. “Some natural ingredients found in hair products and your kitchen can be ‘activated’ by the sun to nourish strands while protecting hair and reducing damage,” says Francesca Fusco, M.D., a celebrity dermatologist and hair-care expert in New York City. The result: voluminous, vibrant tresses!

FOR DRY, BRITTLE LOCKS

Hot-oil treatments restore shine to parched strands, but instead of heating the oil before applying, use roomtemperature oil and let the sun heat it up. “The sun’s warmth opens the hair cuticle for better penetration,” says celebrity hairstylist Diane C. Bailey, who’s worked with Beyoncé. For great results, try argan oil (like SheaMoisture 100% Pure Argan Oil, $9, target.com). Its fatty acids are ultra hydrating but won’t leave hair greasy.

To do: Dab a small amount onto hair from the ears down; make a bun and enjoy your day outside. Repeat twice a week for hydrated tresses in two weeks.

FOR THINNING HAIR

Humidity makes hair fall flat, putting a spotlight on thin locks. The fix? A mint–coconut water spray. Minerals in coconut water boost blood flow to the scalp to stimulate hair growth while mint’s menthol tightens roots to lift strands for instant body, says Dr. Fusco. And heat opens pores on the scalp to optimize nutrient absorption.

To do: In a spray bottle, mix 1 cup of water, 1 cup of coconut water and 5 drops of peppermint oil. Spritz onto damp hair, then relax outside. Use three times a week for thicker hair in 30 days.

FOR DULL, FADED COLOR

UV rays can sap the vibrancy from hair, leaving locks looking lackluster and you looking older. But you can make the sun work for you with a little help from a honey-lemon tonic. When activated by heat, lemon’s citric acid and an enzyme in honey act as mild bleaching agents. Plus, honey is a humectant that counteracts the drying effects of the sun to keep strands hydrated. The result? Bright highlights that enhance any base color. To do: Combine 1⁄ cup of water,

4 1⁄ cup of honey and 1⁄ cup of lemon

4 4 juice in a spray bottle. Spritz onto damp hair, then pull hair into a pony. This allows the sun to hit the front sections of hair for face-framing highlights. After an hour in the sun, wash hair twice to remove residue. Note: Overuse of lemon can dry out hair, so limit to twice a week for stunning strands in two weeks.

These at-home treatments harness the power of the sun to give you thicker, younger-looking locks! “Argan oil is really good…I put it on my face, on my body and on my hair.”

Kelly Ripa, 46