Swimming, sunning, backyard BBQs and pool parties… if you’re anything like us, these gorgeous summer days will have you making the most of every opportunity to be outdoors! While it feels great to be frolicking in all this sunlight and swimming at every chance we get (hello, Vitamin D!), it’s often not till the end of the season that we realise how tortured our poor tresses have been! Chlorine from pools, saltwater, humidity and even the sun itself can leech moisture and vital nutrients from hair, leaving you with dried out, frizzy lengths and broken ends.

Luckily, help might be closer than you think. Many of your favourite delicious fridge and pantry items also offer powerful benefits as rescue treatments for your hair. So, before you run out and spend a small fortune on fancy-brand products, why not try some of these great home remedies?

PROTECT: SPF hair spray

We all know how important sunscreen is for our skin, but we usually forget that our hair takes a beating from those harmful UVA/UVB too. Help protect your hair before it gets damaged by spritzing it with an SPF treatment. The best part? No need to shell out for an expensive salon product – it’s easy to make your own!

You’ll need:

Two teaspoons of SPF 25 sunscreen
1 cup of water
3 or 4 drops of rosemary oil

Add the ingredients into a spray bottle, and shake well to mix together. Spritz into your hair before going into the sun or pool — while the SPF fights those harmful sun rays, the rosemary oil will encourage hair growth and strengthen your hair.  Hot tip: rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar, or adding a little baking soda to your shampoo, is a great way to get rid of any excess buildup.

TREAT: Avocado and olive oil mask

Nourish dehydrated strands with this rich, luxurious at-home hair treatment. Avocado and honey will help rebuild the keratin protein bonds that get damaged by the sun, while lemon juice and olive oil moisturise your hair, leaving it silky and tangle-free.

You’ll need:

1 avocado
2 tablespoons of honey
3 tablespoons of olive oil
few drops of lemon juice

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl until you have a smooth, even, lump-free texture. Using your hands, coat your hair (wet or dry is fine!) from root to tip with the mixture, and massage through to ensure an even covering. Leave for 20mins, and then wash it out using shampoo and conditioner as normal.

SMOOTH: Leave-in moisture 

Keep your hair frizz-free and moisturised throughout the day with a leave-in, smoothing hydration spray.  This easy recipe combines the soothing and nourishing properties of aloe vera, which helps to restore moisture and fight humidity, with argan oil, which offers powerful de-frizz power and hydration without making your hair greasy.

You’ll need:
1 cup water
2 tablespoons aloe vera juice
1 teaspoon argan oil
1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin

Mix all the ingredients together in a large measuring cup, and pour into spray bottle. Spritz your hair with this leave-in treatment and comb through after washing. You can also use it anytime throughout the day that you notice strands getting a little dry and frizzy.