It’s finally summer time, and your beach bag is packed with towels, floppy hats, sunglasses and a book for a bit of light reading. Of course, you’ve got your sunblock to protect you from those harsh summer rays, but what about protection for your hair? Keep these tips in mind when you head to the beach to help extend the time between salon visits and preserve your color.

Sometimes, I really hate going to beach, because the sun and saltwater can be a deadly mixture for my ruby red locks, so you better believe I have a few tricks for battling those UV rays. One of my new favorite hair products (for everyday and beach day) is Bumble and Bumble’s new Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil shampoo, conditioner and primer. I keep a travel size of the primer in my beach bag, so all I have to do is dampen my hair and spritz in the primer before I go for a dive. I specifically like this product, because it contains six different feather-light oils that help repair my hair, and it also includes safflower and sunflower oil, which are color-preserving agents, so my red hue stays put.

Everyone loves a beachy blonde, and most people who highlight their hair don’t mind when the sun soaks in and lightens their locks a shade or two. But be wary, there will come a point when your hair can become over processed and dried out from the sun. Keeping a color-safe conditioner or a masque in your beach bag is always a good idea, too — just pop a bit onto your hair and let the sun act as a natural incubator.

Before heading to the pool, try wetting your hair with fresh water and putting it into a ponytail or braid. Your hair is like a sponge; if you have a wet sponge, it will be hard to soak up or absorb any other liquids, including chlorine water. If you’re an avid swimmer, using a deep clarifying shampoo once a week will help to cleanse any impurities or chlorine buildup that can happen over time (it’s also good for us product junkies, too!)