Our summer was stacked with beach trips, days at the lake and poolside afternoons. We soaked up the sunshine as much as we could, and man did those UV rays take a toll on our hair! After the summer, hair is often drier and more brittle from the sun and coated in hard water deposits from all those dips in the pool. To get it in shape before heading into fall, it’s important to clarify your post-summer hair. Follow these four steps from our beauty editor, Caylee Ashwell:

1. End-of-Summer Trim

Some love ‘em, some hate ‘em, but we all can agree that haircuts are essential in keeping your mane in shape. To get rid of those pesky dry and damaged ends, schedule an end-of-summer trim at your favorite salon so your hair can take on the cooler, drier months ahead.

2. Clarifying Shampoo

Post-summer is a great time to invest in a clarifying shampoo. It’s much more targeted and powerful than your normal shampoo and has the ability to cut through tough buildup, stubborn gunk and leftover product residue. Use it once a week to give your hair and scalp a nice deep clean. We’re loving Bumble and bumble’s Sunday Shampoo ($26) because it leaves our hair feeling like it was just washed at the salon.

3. Exfoliating Shampoo

If you’re prone to dandruff, an itchy scalp or use a lot of dry shampoo, an exfoliating shampoo should have a permanent place on your shower caddy. The rough texture of the shampoo works much like a body scrub, except it’s more gentle and made for sensitive scalps. Invest in Briogeo’s Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo ($42) and instantly feel the difference. The formula contains antimicrobial tea tree oil, detoxifying binchotan charcoal and moisturizing coconut oil—a trifecta of scalp-cleansing ingredients.

4. Deep Conditioner

Once your hair is squeaky clean, follow up with a nutrient-rich deep conditioning treatment. We look for formulas with keratin, as it’s a powerful healing ingredient, excellent for mending split ends and softening hair. Try It’s a 10 Miracle Deep Conditioner Plus Keratin ($20.58) and keep it on your hair for at least 10 minutes. For best results, use a wide-tooth comb to spread the product out from root to tip.

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