Tips + Products to Keep Summer Blonde Hair Beautiful.

While it may unofficially be summer, the warm weather is here and the summer season is here. That means we are spending a lot more time outside, in the pool, ocean, lakes. etc. On top of all the hair coloring and heat styling we subject our hair too, keeping it beautiful takes extra effort in the summer. Especially if you are a blonde like me. I have been talking to experts and trying products to keep my blonde hair beautiful this summer.

Blonde hair can fade, turn brassy, white or even green in the summer so it needs to be cared for with a special regimen. I have been liking the Redken Blonde Idol Shampoo and Conditioner. The Blonde Idol Shampoo is sulfate-free so it won't strip hair or lend to any brassiness. There are two conditioners ; one for cool tones and one for warm tones so it will deposit violet or gold tones back into hair. The great thing about the conditioner is that you customize the amount of tone you add to the product with the turn of the dial. Look for the Blonde Idol products at your favorite salon.

For those of us with fine and thinning blonde hair, there is Kérastase Paris Densifique Minoxidil Hair Regrowth Treatment. This treatment contains Minoxidil, the only ingredient that is medically proven effective to help regrow hair in women. This daily hair regrowth topical solution penetrates the scalp to revitalize hair follicles and promote regrowth over time.

To add in a little extra blonde just where you want it or gradually lighten hair, L'Oreal Paris has introduced Summer Lights Hair Lightening Gelee. This is not what you are thinking (stop thinking Sun-In), this lightweight sweetly scented gel gradually lightens hair for a really pretty sunkissed glow. You can control it so you can attempt an ombré look, all over lightening or comb it in for all over highlights or just pull it over a few strands for subtle summer highlights.

When finishing up after a long day at the beach pool or just wanting to wash all of those extra hair products that have built up in the hair, you need a great deep cleaning shampoo. Hair Food Strawberry Ginger Root Clarifying Shampoo deeply cleanses the hair to remove dulling residues and product build-up, chlorine and salt to leave hair fresh and full of shine. Plus it will smell so good!

Finally, when outside at the pool, lake or beach it is important to protect blonde hair from the sun's rays. Wear a wide brimmed hat or tuck hair up into a bun to expose as little hair as possible to the sun. I just bought this super cute Kate Spade Sun Hat and it protects my hair and is wide enough to shield my face too. I also really like this big Floppy Hat and this big Straw Hat. There are also hair protectant products that help protect hair from sun exposure. I really like Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil ($28) and Alterna Bamboo Beach Summer Sun-Kissed Smooth Protective Illuminating Cream ($22). The later controls frizz and protects hair so it's a double win - plus it illuminates my blonde strands.