How to make your hair shine this summer

Want great looking summer hair? Relax! Step away from the straightening iron and — best of all — stop fighting with your hair’s natural texture, especially if it happens to be curly or wavy.

Summer’s hottest looks are loose and casual, but that doesn’t mean you can skimp on quality hair care. To pull off the season’s soft, feminine or sexy styles, your tresses need to be in tiptop condition.

Everything you need to know about beautiful summer hair, from styles to colors to the newest treatments, is right here in the latest edition of our weekly fashion and beauty update.

Versace Waves are all the rave on the runways.

Wave machine
Get ready to make some waves, because the hottest hairstyles are full of body, volume and curl. Cascades of ringlets? Sure — let ‘em loose! (It was a look that was all over the runways.) Less extreme, yet equally trendy, is casual, wavy "messy" hair. Want in on it? First, the haircut. It's a series of long, almost overgrown layers. Then, at home, take a hands-on approach. Finger comb wet hair; next, smooth a wave-inducing, body-generating, frizz-taming product onto your hair. Then scrunch, scrunch, scrunch until dry. No brushing, no ironing, no combs and no parts.  Wear your locks long and loose, or style into a casual up-do or ponytail. Let a few strands fall where they may and — voila! — summer’s sexy, chic, “she’s come undone” hair is all yours.

Trend Tip:
From shampoos to styling gels, summer’s newest products were created specifically to help you “do the wave.” Get off to a good start with the Pantene Pro-V Full & Thick Shampoo and Conditioner Collection, designed to boost your hair’s thickness. Next, add a curl-enhancing potion such as those from John Frieda, Citre Shine or Nexxus. Also check out the new, affordably-priced Curlmemory by Textureline collection at your salon — Spring Up helps create tight curls while Spiral Down turns out loose, smooth waves. Finish your style with Catwalk Curls Rock Curl Booster, a spray-in treatment that adds shape, shine and definition to curls and waves.

Marc Jacobs Color it subtle.

True color
You’d better believe it — the prettiest hair color is natural-looking. That doesn't mean you can’t get a little help, of course! Right now, the “in” hair colors take their cues from nature — all-over warm or deep chestnut browns, golden blonds and coppery reds. For the sought-after, sun-kissed look, forget ash and go for the gold — the “it” color for highlights.  Brunettes will want to opt for golden amber highlights. And if you love contrasting highlights, make sure they are done in a natural way on the top layers of the hair. The added benefits? Highlights that frame the face will brighten your look and will make your skin look more beautiful. But the sun can wreak havoc on your hair — for protection and to keep color from getting brassy or fading, Louis Licari developed a new hair care line with a color sealant specially formulated for color-treated hair.

Trend Tip:
A little bonus no one would turn down: hair color that actually conditions the hair. Maintaining the proper moisturization level is key — it’s the difference between lush and radiant instead of dull and dry. A best bet is right from your drugstore — a new triple moisturizing formula from Clairol’s Hydrience leaves hair soft, silky and shiny — perfect for any season. For fail-proof, do-it-yourself summer highlights, the easiest technique is as simple as combing your hair — literally — with the applicator comb from New Herbal Essences HighLights.

Goody Great hair gadgets, from Goody.

Best tressed
Dreaming of a summer where you spend one minute or less on your hair and emerge looking fabulous? It’s here! Invest in a few grown-up, haute hair accessories and you’ll be able to create effortless, on-the-go styles — like ponytails and up-dos — in a snap. Finish with accessories that include posh preppy looks such as a polka dot or striped headband in bold brights. Next, snatch up a Pucci-inspired print scarf, which you’ll tie loosely around a ponytail or wear as a head wrap. Or, tap into summer’s natural, organic style with an assortment of wood ponytail holders in rich, earthy colors. Finally, no head would be complete without a choice of riotously colored, oversized floral hair accessories. The garden party on your locks is going strong from barrettes to clips to bands.

Trend Tip:
Look in your local drugstore for a fun range of Goody “ouchless” hair accessories that won’t pull, tear or damage your hair when you slip them on. We also love the ultimate prepster accessories from Hadley Pollet and the chic styles from Colette Malouf (which include how-to instructions!). Or consider the latest in hair accessories — shimmering hair smoothers that add shine and a sparkling, colored glow. Glimmer from Phyto-Life helps you glam it up in shades like gold and silver.

Michael Kors Protect those lovely locks!

Beach bound
Hitting the beach is one of the joys of summer, but, oh what a toll it can take on your hair! Get smart when you’re beach bound and slather on products that both protect and treat your hair. The latest products are “non-photosensitizing” — you can use them in the sun without worrying about any reactions that could damage your hair, especially if it’s chemically treated. In fact, many beach-ready styling products are designed to work with the sun — using the sun’s heat to activate their special ingredients. You’ll also find “sunscreens” for your hair that are chock-full of UV protectants to shield your sensitive scalp and tresses from harmful rays.  Finally, don’t forget about after-sun care. There’s a product for every phase of your beach-bound day, so get busy!

Trend Tip:
Our favorites? We’ve loved Phyto Plage products for years. They’re specially designed to both style and repair sun-exposed hair. A few to try: Protective Beach Spray with UV filter and olive oil extract, Protective Styling Gel with UV filter and galanga extract and Hydrating After-Sun Mist. For shampoos and conditioners, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Celebrities such as Jennifer Garner and Gwen Stefani use Frank Galasso’s Beach Line of products, specially formulated for use on dry and porous hair. Infused with bamboo and coconut, they’re like a tropical vacation in a bottle!

Darphin Hair Care Hair repair, from Darphin.

Repair Rx
Just when you most need no-muss, no-fuss hair, summer heat and humidity can bring out the worst — especially if your hair is chemically treated. To the rescue come a slew of super-hydrating, healing products, many of which are infused with gentle botanicals. Want the perfect solutions for your scalp, hair shaft or the ends of your hair? A dry, itchy scalp calls for the removal of irritating build-up from salt, chlorine or the wrong hair products. Soothe and nourish your scalp, and you’re well on your way to a fresh, new crop of healthy hair. On the other hand, if the hair shaft itself is frizzy and uncooperative, you need to smooth things down. Products that hydrate the hair shaft leave it looking smoother, sleeker and shinier — and remove frizz. If your ends are dry and brittle, first of all, snip them! A quick pruning will remove the worst damage. Then opt for an intense, all-over hair mask that will seal in much-needed moisture.

Trend Tip:
When it comes to hair protection and repair, go for the best, most specific product you can find. Terax’s original silicon gloss is hard to beat for a smooth, shiny, no-frizz finish. The botanically-based Darphin brand has long been a European staple, and their gentle products are full of vitamins and essential oils. You can also try one-step hair masks for deep conditioning — L’Occitane makes a Shea Butter Hair Mask that you can use after every shampoo. Finally, we’re looking forward to the new Magic Bullet Hair Healer from L’Anza, which promises to heal hair from within with keratin, the fibrous protein that makes up hair cells.

Only on TODAY.MSNBc.com! Style editor Judy Gordon brings you the latest news and advice about apparel and beauty. LAST WEEK: Love is in the air — and in your closet GO TO ALL FASHION FRIDAY COLUMNS

Judy Gordon is a New York-based style consultant and the “Today” show’s style editor. She has been covering the fashion and beauty beat for the past decade. To learn more, you can visit her Web site, TheTrendReport.com, which highlights style trends in America.

firstVIEW is the primary supplier of photos to Fashion Friday. Go to www.firstVIEW.com for the latest pictures from top fashion shows around the world, including New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Milan, Brazil, New Zealand, South Korea and more.

MORE FROM FASHION & BEAUTY

Fashion & beauty Section Front

Jon Gosselin to design children’s clothing line Get a sun-kissed glow without the skin damage Your best face: Beautiful skin at 40 and beyond Images: Stars’ signature airport style   Summer beauty solutions   Kelly Rowland on ‘The Fashion Show’ Ambush! From librarian to ‘hot grandmother’   Fixing fashion faux pas 4 tips for picking the perfect bridesmaid dress   Sexy summer hair Fashion & beauty Section Front   Add Fashion & beauty headlines to your news reader: