Crispy. Crunchy. Cooked. Great for fried chicken. Not so great for your hair. If the summer sun has left your locks thirsting for some serious TLC, it's time to restore your tired tresses to their original lustrous glory.

We asked Beth Ann Catalano and Tina Hedges -- beauty experts and co-founders of Twist, a beauty brand incubator that recently launched the Jonathan Product hair-care collection -- their tips for reviving sun-damaged hair. Here is their advice for getting your hair back in shape for fall and beyond.

Contact Nerissa Pacio at npacio@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5827.

Avoid shampoos with sulfates. ``Sulfates are a key ingredient that makes a soap foam. It strips and further damages hair. Look for gentler products at organic or specialty stores that are sulfate-free,'' Hedges says.

Also: ``Sulfate-free shampoos work best when hair is wet thoroughly,'' Catalano says. ``Application is just as important.''

Shampoo every other day. ``If you have thick, porous, dry hair like mine, you don't need to shampoo daily,'' Hedges says. ``Every other time you shampoo, use a leave-in conditioner and then rinse it out.''

Also: ``This is especially important for ethnic women who might have coarse, frizzy and often brittle hair,'' Catalano says. ``For women with finer hair, choose a leave-in that smells and feels clean and fresh, not emollient.''

Raid your refrigerator. ``There are great things in your kitchen that are instant hair recovery tricks. A little olive oil mashed with a banana or avocado, or some beer with a drop of mayonnaise are great hair packs. Leave it in for five to 10 minutes, and rinse with a conditioner so you don't have the smell,'' Hedges says.

Look for conditioners with UV or thermal filters. ``This is important for after your hair has recovered, to avoid re-creating damage you've done using your blow dryer and being in the sun too much,'' Hedges says.

Get a shower head water filter. ``It gives you chlorine-free and harsh mineral-free water. The products you use will be more effective,'' Catalano says.

Avoid products with high alcohol content. ``Alcohol is extra drying,'' Hedges says. ``Silicone also weighs fine hair down. Choose products with as few ingredients as possible -- a combination of water and natural, light oils such as sweet almond oil.''

Hydrate internally. ``It's so intuitive, we forget,'' Hedges says. ``Drink a lot of water. The health of the hair on your head also comes from within.''