When summer is in full force it is time to think about the special care that our hair
needs. Whether it be the sun, the sand, the sea or the pool, our hair takes a beating
when the temperatures rise. It doesn't take a lot to ruin our hair but getting it back to a
healthy state is another story. Let's talk about prevention instead. So, sit back in your
lounge chair, sip on your iced tea and read on to learn how to beat summer hair damage.
There is no escaping the sun, unless you live in the land of the midnight sun and
only have a couple hours of sun a day. Short of wearing a hat, there are some other
things that can be done to help prevent sun damage. Just as you wouldn't spend the
day at the beach without your trusted sunscreen, you also shouldn't spend time in the
sun without sunscreen in your hair. Use a leave in conditioner that contains SPF to help
prevent damage to your hair. If you are in a pinch and you find yourself taking a roadtrip
in a convertible or spending the day at the pool without a hat or the all important
SPF, just use the same stuff you put on your skin. Your hair will probably feel pretty
slimy and gross, but a few hours is nothing compared to several months of work to
repair the damage. Hair that has been damaged by the sun may become brittle and
frizzy. Many times the only way to fix this summer problem is to trim away the damaged follicles.
So you are covered in sunscreen from head to toe and now
you are ready to go swimming. When you are done you are always
sure to rinse your body and your suit, I mean for what you pay for
those suits you need to take care of them. Don't forget to also
rinse your hair. Pools contain all sorts of damaging chemicals as
do hot tubs. You wouldn't dream of pouring Clorox on your hair
and then leaving it there for the rest of the day, well one of the
most damaging chemicals in pools is a cousin of that bleach
known as chlorine. Chlorine not only will bleach your hair but can
also dry it out making it brittle. It can also affect your scalp making it sensitive and
itchy. To prevent these symptoms always wash your hair following a dip. Did I say
always, I mean no matter what, always, as soon as you are done swimming wash your
hair, preferably with a swimmer's shampoo. Another way to protect your hair from
chlorine damage is to wear a silicone swim cap. Try putting a good conditioner in your
hair before wrestling the cap onto your noggin, it will help it go on a little easier and will
also protect your hair from being damaged further.
When it is warm enough to fry and egg on the sidewalk, it is also warm enough to
fry your hair cuticles. Try to stay out of the heat as much as possible if you are
concerned about heat damage. However for most of us this is just not possible, so how
can you protect your hair without installing central air on you head. Start by simplifying
your daily hair routine. Cut back on the blow drying and heat styling, that's right, just
put down the curling iron and no hair will get hurt! Also, try using a heat activated
conditioner to make your job even easier. Make the summer heat work for you.
Summer is a time to baby your hair and let it go on a vacation. Just as we all need
a break from our daily routines, our hair does too. Try doing hair in braids, popping on
a straw hat, or even a short fun cut. This is a great time of the year to try something
new like a modified bob with a ton of texture. A razor will be needed to get the kind of
natural texture required to get the desired look without the use of a million styling
products which can also dry out the hair when it's hot. Enjoy your summer and enjoy
your hair, it only takes a couple of minutes to prevent months of damage from the hot
summer sun and all of the fun that goes with it.
