Get your best hair this summer!

This week on the #GeeEdit blog, we sat down with hair pro and Mela & Kera founder Jason Lee for his expert advice on all things summer hair.

From how to properly protect your tresses and how to make your hair style last all day to a sneak peek at what's next at Mela & Kera, Jason is sharing it all!

We always update our skincare routine for the change in seasons! Should we also be updating our hair care routines + products during the summer?

It’s extremely important to change your hair care routine for the summer months due to the increased sun exposure which can really affect your hair color as well as the integrity of the hair structure. Summer months also can see an increase in humidity depending on where you live and for certain hair types that tend to go frizzy, having products that contain ingredients such as Keratin to help combat that frizz can be a great addition to our summer hair care routine. Also, it’s important to remember to protect your scalp as well from exposure to the sun when wearing certain hairstyles such as braids or ponytails which can often expose the skin on the neck, forehead and scalp.

How should we be protecting our hair in the summer sun?

It’s important to use products that contain UV Protection in them such as the Mela & Kera Balayage Exceptionnel Wave Foundation Spray which adds a gentle texture to the hair and is perfect if you have natural waves that you want to just enhance. UV protection is key to extending the length of your hair color during the summer months as well because when hair is exposed to sun, the sun rays can actually penetrate the hair structure which ultimately fades the hair causing it to go brassy and can make the hair feel dry and damaged over time. This is why by the end of the summer people experience dry brittle hair as well as hair color that goes brassy. Another key product to use is the Mela & Kera Balayage Exceptionnel Blowout Creme to help protect the hair from heat and over styling along with providing UV protection.

How can we stop our hair from looking/feeling dry this summer?

Dry brittle hair in the summer is caused by over exposure to sun rays. UV Protection is the key to protecting hair from hair becoming dry as it will repel the sun rays from penetrating into the hair. I often suggest wearing hairstyles that are up or wet hairstyles that will help to keep the hair protected. I personally will keep a little bit of the Mela & Kera Balayage Exceptionnel Conditioner in the hair when doing braids or wet buns which help to protect the hair from over exposure to sun as well. Just be sure to keep conditioners or treatments off your scalp.

Pro tip:

If you’re a big pool swimmer in the summer you definitely want to protect your hair from chlorine as well. One tip is to be sure to use fresh water on your hair prior to going into a pool. The reason is, hair can only absorb so much water and if your hair is already wet going into a pool, it won’t be able to absorb quite as much of the chlorinated water which can build up on your hair and affect your hair color.

What are your tips on how to make any hair style last in hot and humid weather?

It’s important to use products that contain Keratin in them to help hairstyles last during the hot and humid weather. The Mela & Kera Balayage Blowout Creme has a vegan Keratin in it which helps with frizz and also locks down the cuticle of the hair which helps fight frizz. By starting with the right products you set yourself up for success during the hot and humid months. Keratin is a protein that is found in the hair and when you add those Keratin proteins back into the hair, it helps with targeting frizz and gives a smoother finish. The humidity in the air basically brings out the frizz but Keratin helps to fight against it.

What's an easy, low-maintenance hairstyle that's perfect for the season?

I think in the summer it’s always best to not fight your natural texture too much. So if you have curly/coily hair, wear your hair out and just make sure you’re using products that protect your hair but also accentuate your texture. If you have wavy hair, it’s always great to try to wear it beachy and just use products that will help with frizz. I’m also really big on wet looks for summer and that can be achieved just by using products like conditioners or blowout cremes in your hair and letting it air dry without too much fussing.

Right now, the trends are up dos with the front pieces worn down almost Pamela Anderson inspired from her '90s era. I think if you’re good at putting your hair up, its been a long time since that’s been the trend, but it’s a great style that is easy enough to do and will last you throughout a night out. Also looks super chic with most looks.

Are you able to give us an inside look at what's coming down the pipeline at Mela & Kera HQ?

In the past year, we’ve received a tremendous response to Mela & Kera including having won 10 Beauty Awards (including Best New Hair Brand) across North America from some of the world’s most recognized media outlets. We have been working diligently on new launches and I’m hoping to have a new launch by this fall which I can assure you, is a beautiful range of products. My goal with Mela & Kera is to continue creating beautiful products that evoke feelings and experiences for the people who use it and elevate their hair performance. I have a lot that I want to do with this company and I’m so proud that Gee Beauty was one of the first homes we found ourselves in because of the dedication the Gee Family puts towards their love and passion and incredible foresight and vision when it comes to beauty.