Summer beauty routines all too often focus so much on skin that we forget that the warmer months can also do quite a number on your hair. Just as the sun damages your skin, it can also damage your do’. Saltwater and chlorine also take a toll on our tresses. After a few weeks, let alone a few months, even the shiniest and easy-to-manage hair can look and feel fried. If your hair is not only feeling but showing the effects of the dog days of summer, here are a few techniques to fight the frizz and bring back a healthy head of hair.
First, back away from the hair dryer and other hot tools. I’m not suggesting abandoning your dryer, flat iron, and curling irons altogether, but maybe skip the blowout and straightening a couple of times a week and give your hair a rest. You can create a beach wave by washing your hair at night and sleeping with it in a bun or ponytail. For shorter cuts, try texturizing sprays and styling your hair with a headband or barrette to give it shape.
Next, protect your hair from the sun. Make a daily habit of applying products that contain UV filters like L’Oreal’s leave-in caring spray or Banana Boat’s clean sunscreen for scalp and hair. These types of sprays not only protect hair from sun damage but can also keep color-processed hair from fading. If you’re not too keen to add another product to your beauty routine, at the very least, after applying sunblock on your body, run your hands through your hair with any excess product for some bare minimum protection. If you find yourself spending most days outdoors, you can further shield your hair with a hat or headscarf. Head coverings not only provide extra UV protection, but they also help your scalp retain moisture and reduce damage (and tangles) that other elements like wind and smoke can cause.
In addition to SPF, sprays, and head coverings, you can minimize the summer damage to hair with loose, comfortable styles. Messy braids, loose chignons, and side ponytails keep your hair under control and give off a casual summer vibe. Tighter hairdos tend to pull and tear hair, causing split ends and breakage, especially if your hair is already dry from the sun and heat.
If you find yourself at the pool, you can reduce the harm of chlorine (and saltwater if at the beach) by saturating your strands in clean water before diving in. Pre-wetted hair won’t absorb as much salt or pool chemicals as dry hair. If there’s no shower handy, keep a spray bottle of fresh water to spritz your locks or use a leave-in conditioner to pre-treat your hair before taking the plunge. It’s also a good idea to rinse your hair after a swim. Again, if there’s no shower, use that spray bottle. For lighter-colored hair, try rinsing out post-swim hair with 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar and 2 cups water to get rid of discoloration and dullness.
A low-key method to keep hair healthy this season is simply washing it less often. Frequent washing can strip your scalp of its natural oils, which in turn stimulates additional oil production and makes you feel the need to wash it even more, which in turn dries out and leads to frizzier hair. To break this vicious cycle, skip the full wash for an every-other-day rinse. If your follicles are feeling sweaty, try a dry shampoo like Dove’s Care Between Washes dry shampoo, or use a homemade alternative such as cornstarch. Another quick fix is to dab a cotton ball soaked in witch hazel along your scalp to dissolve excess oil.
On days you do wash your hair, switch to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, such as Pantene’s Hydrating Glow shampoo and conditioner combos. You may also want to add a deep-conditioning treatment to your weekly haircare, or on days when you’ve been in the sun for long periods. Target features Native’s Vegan Hair Deep Conditioner mask, or create your own with shea butter, coconut oil, or honey; just be sure to rinse thoroughly.
These are just a few ways of keeping hair healthy during the summer. Of course, with the sun beaming down, the pool calling your name, and the air thick with humidity, a bit of frizzy and fried hair is bound to happen. Don’t let preventative methods and treatments keep you from enjoying what’s left of summer. You can always do some damage control come fall.
