Photo Courtesy of salonhive.com
Oh Summer how do I love thee? Let me count the ways... I love your sunny days, and I love your long warm evenings. I love your water sports, and I love your outdoor festivals. I love your barbeques and I love your garden parties.... What I do NOT love, is what you do to my hair!
Dry and frizzy, sun-damaged and waterlogged, my hair barely makes it through my favorite season. Between the chlorine, the sun, and the humidity, it's a constant battle just to keep my hair from looking like some modern version of Medusa!
Summer is THE hardest season on your tresses, so it's a good idea to take some extra precautions to protect those delicate locks during these steamy months. I've put together a list of 8 simple things you can do to take care of your hair this summer...and here they are!
1. Keep chemical treatments to a minimum. Most chemical treatments have a drying and/or damaging effect on the hair. This includes chemical straightening, hair color, bleaching, relaxing etc. If you can forgo the chemical treatments for the summer, do it. If you cannot (I cannot,) attempt to do them with less frequency. The more space you can put between those chemical treatments, the better! I know it's hard when those roots are staring you down, but try.
2.Wash your hair less often. Washing hair too frequently strips it of its natural oils leaving it dry and vulnerable to damage. Try washing it every other day, if possible. If you like, in between washings, you can rinse it in the shower and apply conditioner only. This gives dry hair a moisture boost.
3. Use heated styling tools as little as possible. If you're a blow dryin', flat-ironin' fool like some people I know, give it a rest over the summer. Try to air-dry hair whenever possible. If this gives you styling problems, try a cute braid or a bun and call it a day! If you must blow dry, high heat is actually best as it minimizes the amount of time your hair is exposed to the heat.
4. Get VERY regular trims. My hairdresser tells me I should be getting a trim every 4-6 weeks! Say goodbye to frizzy unmanageable ends with this one habit. As hard as it is, this simple step removes damaged, sunburned, frizzy ends, leaving you with much healthier hair. If you can at least stick to this schedule over the summer, you should be in pretty good shape.
5. Wear a hat or scarf if you're going to be outside for an extended period of time. The best way to protect your hair from the sun is to cover it up completely. Find a stylish hat or scarf and make it part of your outdoor uniform. Added benefit? This also protects your scalp from sunburn.
6. Get deep conditioning treatments. Most hair salons offer intensive conditioning treatments that are left on the hair for at least ten minutes. Sometimes they will cover your head in plastic wrap and apply heat to encourage deeper penetration. However they do it, these treatments provide crucial moisture and conditioning to lackluster locks.
7. Minimize frizz with a stylish braid, bun or knot. These looks are super fashionable right now and work wonders at banishing frizz. If you style hair while it's still damp you get two hairstyles in one! Leave hair up all day, then later, take it down and shake it out for beautiful, tousled waves.
8. Wet hair thoroughly before going into chlorinated, or salt water. This prevents hair from soaking up as much of the damaging elements when you swim. When hair is dry and you jump into that pool, your parched hair is immediately waterlogged with the offending elements. As you may know, too much chlorine can cause green hair. It's happened to me ladies, too much chlorine will actually turn your hair green! You should also rinse hair thoroughly with fresh water after swimming.
Yes, summer is a glorious season filled with long lazy days, and warm, fun-filled nights. Don't let this otherwise fabulous season wreck your hair! Follow the 8 Cardinal Rules of Summer Hair Care and enjoy the rest of your summer with gorgeous, healthy hair!
