Keeping color bright in Houston heat

Houston summers are hard on colored hair. Strong UV breaks down color, pool chlorine strips it, and humidity keeps the cuticle swollen so pigment escapes every time you wash.

Use a sulfate-free shampoo made for colored hair and finish with the coolest rinse you can stand. Cool water helps the cuticle lie flat, which keeps color and shine in.

Wash two or three times a week if your hair allows, and use a dry shampoo in between. Outside, a hat or a leave-in with UV filters makes a visible difference by August.

Before swimming, wet your hair with clean water and add a little conditioner so it absorbs less chlorine. A gloss every six to eight weeks refreshes tone and shine in under an hour.