How to Get that No-Fuss Perfect Summer Hairdo

For years I've sought the secret to having healthy hair and a simple yet stunning hair style. The initial thought, after trying all kinds of hair care products, was to trade in my fine, thin, split personality coif for hair that was naturally thick and strong. Since I was born with hair that needed special care, I had to keep trying products until I found what worked for me.

I'm not exactly fond of doing hair either; don't have a lot of time to do hair. Besides, I've put a lot of time and effort into creating curly styles only for them to shrink, flop or wilt as soon as they came in contact with humidity, wind, heat or rain. What looked great in my bathroom mirror turned yucky by the time I got to my destination.

Finding hair care products and hair styles that worked for me has been no easy task. Most of my adult life, and in the midst of my search for the perfect hair and the perfect 'do, I've damaged a head full of follicles. My hair has been over-processed and under-processed. I've burned patches out with straightening combs. Hair stylists have created stunning styles up there that were washed away with the next shampoo; frizz, split ends, itchy scalp and dryness took the place of the stunning style.

When it came to hair care products, I thought ethno-centric products would be better for my hair. I discovered Pantene about eight years ago. Pantene developed a hair care line targeting women of color. I started using Pantene Daily Cream Moisturizer, which is better for adding moisturizer to my hair than using grease. I liked the cream so much, and my hair started to grow and be healthy and shiny, that I decided to try Pantene's shampoo and conditioner as well. People began to compliment me about how good my hair looked. Then I became a hooked Pantene user for life.

The next big step was to find an easy, inexpensive hair style that wouldn't blow away with the wind. I finally found what I was looking for. Within minutes, I can now transform my fine hair into a head full of waves using a ceramic wave iron. From start to finish, the process takes 20 minutes, but the look lasts all day - barring a summer soaking. I even rode with the windows down the other day. My waves moved back into place after being blown all over the place.

Here's a formula for women whose hair may need an extra boost, and a pick me up style that doesn't take all morning to create.

• Fill your palm with Pantene Cream Moisturizer and massage into hair. Brush it through from scalp to ends.

• Heat ceramic wave iron on high heat for at least five minutes

• Use your fingers and a comb to separate hair into 4 large sections and a bang if desired. Start with the bottom half of each section to wave hair in portions from scalp to end

• Once hair has been waved, use your hand to pull each section together.

• And that's it!

Waves even look good with my prematuring gray. That's another way of saying I don't have to hide my gray streaks and spots under Ms. Clairol. I would recommend the ceramic wave iron to any busy do-it-yourself hair stylists who don't have money for the salon.