I can’t believe summer is over and it’s time to head back to school already. This summer, my curls took a real beating between the beach and camp. I enjoyed days at the beach, in the pool or just catching some rays, but the wind and salt from the ocean really left their mark on my hair. Here’s what I did to get my hair healthy and shiny just in time for class:

First I got a trim to remove dry, split ends that were left over from the sun and beach. My mom wanted me to cut my hair shorter for school. But to avoid any back-to-school hair trauma, I just went for a simple and minimum trim. No drastic hair cut was going to take place this year!

Second, if your hair is like mine, it had a lot of environmental build-up. YUCK! I used Ion Purifying Solutions Clarifying to remove all the chlorine and mineral gunk! After I use this shampoo, my hair is really beast (for those who are little older, that means it’s clean, fresh hair with its natural texture and vibrancy restored”>.

To keep my curls in perfect shape, there are a couple of other things I do. I don’t wash my hair every day. It might seem “gross,” but my hair is much shinier and in much better condition. Instead of washing it every day, I wash it just two or three times a week and make sure to condition it daily. I use Miracle 7 every day. It’s a leave-in conditioner that detangles and adds shine, but it’s light and doesn’t weigh my curls down. For a daily shampoo, I love Beyond The Zone Noodle Head Curly Hair Shampoo that makes my hair soft and shiny and it smells great.

Everyone’s curls are different so experiment with different products to find the ones that may be right for you. My mom shops at Sally Beauty so I always ride shotgun when she heads there or go online to SallyBeauty.com and see the tons of products they have and just experiment.

And when it comes to styles, have fun! Look through magazines and experiment with different accessories. I’m a big fan of curly ponytails. They look fun, and they keep my curls out of my face.

Gotta go! I hear the bell!