Summer is the season of shorts, swimming, BBQs and carefree fun in the sun. Unfortunately, many of the season’s most notable attributes take a toll on your hair. Heat, humidity, afternoons by the pool, trips to the beach and prolonged exposure to sunlight can give way to excessive sweat and oils, dryness, frizz, faded color and a battle to keep your mane styled throughout the day. No one wants to spend summer as a follicular fail.
Luckily, there are a number of precautions and products that can help you manage summertime hair care struggles. These tips will keep your hair looking its best as the sun comes out and the mercury soars.
Get A Seasonally Appropriate Style
The ideal summer hairstyle is simple to maintain, minimally affected by heat or humidity, easy to rinse after swimming and short enough to keep you cool. Start the season with a cut to rid yourself of split ends and refresh your style, and continue getting regular trims to keep it tidy. Though you may be tempted to beat the heat with a short buzzcut or a complete shave, leaving some hair behind helps protect your scalp from the sun and prevent sweat from dripping into your eyes.
Use Products With UV Protection
It’s not just your skin that suffers in the sun. Ultraviolet rays dry out your hair and rough up the cuticles (the outermost layers) of your hair shafts. Make it a daily habit to apply a product that contains UV filters to shield your hair and scalp from sun damage. Take extra care if areas of your scalp are exposed due to thinning hair.
Wield Your Wardrobe Wisely
Now is the time to experiment with the latest accessorizing trends. A hat, especially one with a broader brim than a baseball cap, is an invaluable tool for defending your hair, scalp and neck from the sun’s harsh rays. A bandana can offer similar protection, provided you don’t mind the Bret Michaels aesthetic. If you’re willing to cart around extra gear, an umbrella acts as both a sun shield and a source of shade when you need it.
Saturate Your Hair Before Swimming
Summer is made for swimming. Unfortunately, both saltwater and chlorine can wreak havoc on your hair, leaving it dry, untamable and vulnerable to split ends and breakage. Wet your hair in fresh water before taking the plunge in a pool or the ocean. Because your strands can only hold so much moisture, this limits the amount of harsh water and damaging chemicals it can absorb. Smothering your hair in conditioner, oil or a moisturizing mask can offer additional protection.
Keep Frizz At Bay
The dryer your hair is, the more likely it is to succumb to this notorious summer foe. Thirsty hair soaks up the extra moisture in humid air, causing the shaft to swell and disrupt the cuticle. Fend off frizz with regular trims, conditioning and lightweight anti-frizz products that don’t make it look like you’ve shellacked your hair into a natural helmet. Towel-dry by squeezing your hair instead of roughing it up and avoid brushing.
Fight The Fade
Picture an old car, left to decompose in a junkyard, paint peeling and faded from years of direct sun exposure. Color-treated hair is similarly at risk of fading in the face of UV rays. Light colors can also develop a greenish tinge from too many dips in chlorinated pools. If you bleach or dye your hair, look for products containing UV protection and vitamins A, C and E to limit fading and brassiness.
Lock In Moisture
Parched hair deserves a drink. Switch to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to counteract summer’s inherent dryness, and consider adding a deep-conditioning treatment or hair mask to your routine. Use a clarifying shampoo once a week to clear away residue buildup from these heavier products.
Hydrate From The Inside Out
Drinking water is one of the most important things you can do for your body. Staying hydrated with H20 improves your skin, aids digestion, boosts brain function, removes waste, assists in thermoregulation, maximizes your physical performance and more. Gulp generously to keep your scalp healthy, support hair growth, and fight dryness and flakes
Wash Less Often
Sweat and summer are an unavoidable duo, but frequent showers are not your friend. Overwashing strips your scalp of oils – aka your body’s built-in moisturizers – causing your hair to dry out when it needs moisture most. Try to limit your washes and experiment with dry shampoos to control excess sweat and oil between showers.
Stock Up On Products That Withstand The Weather
Different seasons call for different formulas. In winter, your skin demands a rich, thick, deeply hydrating moisturizer. In summer, a lightweight gel or serum may serve you better. Likewise, you might find that rotating your hair products according to the seasons gives you better looking and more manageable styles. Many products, particularly those that are highly water-soluble, can’t stand up to summer’s inevitable heat and sweat. They soften and get sticky (or melt completely) when mixed with sweat from your scalp. Products that require dry air to set properly also tend to malfunction in the humidity of the season.
Skip Heat Styling
Between the sun and the scorching temps, more heat is the last thing your strands need in summer weather. Take a hiatus from your hot tools (blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons) and embrace your natural texture as much as possible. Ask your barber or hairstylist to recommend products that can help you achieve an air-dried, effortlessly undone style.
Call Hair by Robotics at 1-844-HAIR-BYROBO to learn more about the best ways to care for your hair, all year long.