The Beauty Prep -- and Products -- for a Sunny Day

Hair
Wet your hair before you wet your body, advises stylist Robert Vetica, dousing with tap or bottled water. This fills the cuticle, making it harder for salt or chlorine to penetrate it. Using a leave-in conditioner before swimming or sun exposure coats the cuticle and protects it.

And, Vetica adds, color-treated hair might need extra protection, perhaps from a UVA-blocking treatment.

"Without a hat or sun protector, colored hair will fade and potentially turn brassy -- and you'll end up spending a lot more time and money on it," observes Wells.

Generally, though, there's little use for other products, says Vetica, who features the tresses of client Salma Hayek on the cover of his book "Good to Great Hair."

"Heat and moisture will change the molecular structure of your hair so the products you apply before exposure to these elements will add unnecessary strain on the hair," he says.

Same goes for styling tools. Instead, he says, let your hair dry "au naturale."

"There is nothing like a beautiful sun-kissed face with hair pulled up or behind in a low messy pony for an evening out," he says.

Even be conservative with the use of shampoo since chlorine and salt water both serve as cleansers. But you do need a good rinse with clean water before drying off for good, he says. If your hair does look fried, get a trim since most of the damage occurs at the ends.