Summer Hair Care Survival Guide: Celebrity Colorist Marco Pelusi Shares Secrets for Vibrant Frizz-Free Hair
Celebrity Colorist Marco Pelusi
Summer is in full swing, and we’ve got insider tips from Marco Pelusi, celebrity haircolor authority, educator, and stylist extraordinaire from Marco Pelusi Hair Studio in West Hollywood, California. Marco’s got the secrets to keep your hair vibrant, healthy, and frizz-free during the hot months.
What's your advice to keep hair looking its best when traveling on a summer vacation?
Try not to wait a long time between color appointments, as color can fade rapidly during summer. Get your color done just prior to leaving on vacation, and schedule an appointment for soon after you return, as you are able, if you would like to keep your summer color fresh and vibrant.
Consider wearing a hat in the sun during your travels. Maintain your summer color with a shampoo that’s formulated for color treated hair. Don’t rely on the shampoos at the hotels. Even an expensive shampoo can strip color, which is a disaster when combined with summer sun during travel. Ingredients such as mineral oil can dull and strip color.
“Consider adding lighter pieces to your haircolor for the summer.”
Marco's product recommendation for color-safe formulas: Marco Shampoo Collection
What are some common issues that arise in the summer and how can people avoid them or address them?
The hair acts much like a sponge. It will mimic whatever environment it is in. During the summer months, the hair will absorb the humidity that surrounds it, and this will cause ‘frizz’ in the hair. This problem makes the hair very difficult to style and control. What we must do during the humid months is provide an effective barrier for the hair against the environment.
One extremely effective way to do this is with a hairspray! The spray will provide a barrier: Use the spray after the hair is dry to lock out the humidity. But the trick is to use a spray that actually provides benefits to the hair – and not to use a spray that will dry or damage the hair. Non-aerosol is preferred.
Marco's product recommendation for a lightweight, gentle spray: Marco Color Guard Hairspray
What are your tips for maintaining color if you are swimming a lot during the summer?
Most importantly, wet your hair prior to getting into a swimming pool. The hair behaves like a sponge; it will absorb whatever it is first introduced to. So, it’ll absorb chlorine (which wreaks havoc on hair and color) quickly. Give the hair a chance to allow the chlorine to not be absorbed by saturating your hair with water prior to getting into a pool. Consider using a leave-in conditioner prior to getting into the pool to provide a protective barrier.
Marco's product recommendation: Marco Anti Frizz Leave In Conditioner
What color and style trends should we have on our radar for summer?
“Feel lighter and brighter with the new summer sun with adding highlights and dimension to your color!”
Consider adding lighter pieces to your haircolor for the summer. Let the warmer season work in tandem with your hair color – feel lighter and brighter with the new summer sun with adding highlights and dimension to your color!
A great beachy summer look is beach waves. Use a big barrel curling iron to add a few waves and spray with a soft hold spray.
Check out Marco’s collection at marcopelusi.com.
A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning writer/editor. You can also find her work in publications including Healthline, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo!, MindBodyGreen, Men’s Journal, Bezzy, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16