There are some things you can do to protect your hair from the summer sun, heat and humidity. If you are the type who likes a smooth, perfectly coiffed do…well…good luck! This is South Carolina after all! Embrace your natural hair for a few months and you’ll be a lot less frustrated! As my clients can attest, I cut my hair pixie short and embrace my curl for a gel and go look during the summer! I learned long ago that blowdrying and flat ironing didn’t last long with the south’s humidity! Here are some tips for helping you deal.
1. Cover up!
Use a scarf or hat to cover your head when you’re out in the sun. Not only does this provide extra UV protection, but it also helps your scalp to retain moisture. A hat reduces damage caused by wind, especially if your hair is prone to tangling, and protects color-treated hair which can fade in the sun.
2. Choose casual, comfortable styles
A braid is perfect for keeping your hair under control and minimizing exposure to the sun. It also protects it from wind damage.
3. Wash less often
I know I sound like a broken record about this but…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. It’s a vicious cycle. Bite the bullet and skip a day or two and soon you may notice less oil! Dry shampoos are good for this!
4. Reduce the heat
What’s the point, right? All that work straightening just to have it poof out as soon as you step outside! There are so many easy breezy styles, i.e. braids, buns, ponies… Your hair gets enough heat in the summer without adding more…
5. Protect your blonde locks!
Blondes, whether natural or not, can turn a nasty shade of green if you spend a lot of time in the pool. A few ways to avoid that… Spray your hair with regular tap water before getting in the water. If your hair is already wet, then less chlorine will get it! A little leave in conditioner in your spray bottle will help too! Rinse your hair as soon as possible after leaving the pool or ocean. Even if you aren’t shampooing it, rinsing will help a lot! There are also good clarifying shampoos to use when you do shampoo to help remove any chemicals. Just a warning though, clarifying shampoos can fade color a bit so if you color your hair, use these types of shampoos sparingly.
6. Shampooing
There are lots of shampoos out there now that actually have uv prrotectors in them. Use one of those with a good moisturizing conditioner. And remember, condition your hair, not your scalp, especially if you tend to be oily. And be careful how you dry your hair. Don’t use friction by rubbing the towel back and forth over your delicate strands! Just gently squeeze sections of hair then use a wide tooth comb to gently comb out any tangles. If possible, let it dry naturally. A loose braid while your hair is damp can create some nice waves when it’s dry!
7. Don’t forget trims!
Summer is probably the slowest time for hair salons! People tend to get busy with kids, traveling and whatnot… Get a nice trim before summer starts and follow these helpful tips and you should be good to go till the kids go back to school!
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
