This summer, we’re fighting frizz and banishing brassiness! here’s how to help keep your hair in tip-top shape no matter the heat or humidity.
Ah summer hair. For some, it means sun-kissed highlights and beachy textured waves. For others, it’s a period best survived behind a hair mask or covered in a permanent slick of conditioner.
Taking extra care of your hair during the summer months is essential to maintaining healthy and vibrant locks. With the right products, you can protect your hair from the damaging effects of too much sun, saltwater and chlorine and keep your tresses looking happy and healthy all summer long.
Summer proof your hair
The sun’s UV rays are just as bad for your hair as they are for your skin. Ultraviolet rays chemically break down the building blocks of hair – keratin proteins – making hair weaker, dryer and more likely to break.
Sun protection for our hair is vital to keeping it looking its best. Look for shampoos, conditioners and sprays that shield your hair against the harmful effects of the sun and provide much- needed nourishment.
Summer, sun and swimming can make a magnificent trio, but beware the dreaded ‘post- swim hair’. The cortex, or inner layer, of hair is protected by the cuticle, or outer later. Sebum is a natural lubricant that protects the cuticle. Chlorine in pools sucks the sebum out of the hair, which may cause the cuticle to crack. This damage causes the hair’s natural sheen to diminish and the unprotected cortex to split ( creating split ends). Using a protective hair product and an anti-residue shampoo can do wonders to help keep the effect of chlorine at bay.
Similarly, when you swim in salt water, salt minerals stick to the hair, which can cause severe dehydration and fading and can often alter your hair colour. To help combat this, once you’re out of the water, rinse your hair immediately with fresh water. Invest in a good hair condiitoning treatment and apply as needed.
And while that refreshing ocean or pool may be beckoning, don’t dive straight into the water without first wetting your hair with fresh water. Hair is super porous and absorbent. If you spray water over your hair (or better yet apply hair oil or a mask) before entering the pool or ocean, your tresses won’t soak up such high quantities of drying and damaging salt and chlorine.
