I hit the pool this past weekend for a fun-in-the-sun house party and I can already tell a difference in my hair — it gets fried that fast! We all know to use sunblock to protect our skin from the sun’s harsh UV rays, but I often forget about protecting my hair. Kyle White, lead colorist at Oscar Blandi Salon weighs in on how to preserve your hair color this Summer.

1. “The sun bleaches out paint jobs on cars and fades fine art, which is why museums don’t hang fine art in direct sun light. As far as I’m concerned, hair color is art, so keep it covered when in direct sunlight. (like Stacy Keibler, pictured) Try using floppy hats or scarves – there is a website I love called CoverYourHead.com that you can go to for ideas too.”

2. “For everyday use, just like your dermatologist says sun block for your skin every day, I say sun block for your hair every day. I like the Kerastase Micro-Voile Protecteur for your hair – it’s not the least bit oily, and won’t weigh down your locks like some other products.”

3. “Keep hair out of chlorine and salt water. Imagine what would happen to your favorite dress or Manolos if dunked in salt water or chlorine, and then laid it out in the sun – that’s what you’re doing to your highlights. The cuticle of the hair is like a sponge – if you go into a pool with dry hair, it will absorb the chlorinated water. If you know that you’ll be going into salt water or chlorine, slick your hair back with an oil that contains sun protection like Phyto Plage because the oil will make the cuticle full, and it won’t absorb as much chlorine. Then, be sure to rinse hair with fresh water when you get out of the ocean or pool.”

4. “If some chlorine does deposit on your hair and dulls your color, you can remove it by using a clarifying shampoo like Ultra Swim or an at-home option like an apple cider vinegar rinse.”

5. “Healthy hair holds color longer, so I already recommend doing a deep conditioning treatment once a week. I like Oribe’s Masque For Beautiful Color because it strengthens damaged hair, smoothes the cuticle and has color-protecting UV filters. It also has bio-flavonoids which protect color from fading and discoloration.”