Has your hair experienced dryness during the warmer months caused by the sun, heat, chlorine, & saltwater?

We have compiled an extensive list of summer hair pitfalls and how to avoid them. Summer can be a really rejuvenating time for your mind, body, and hair with the right practices in place. 

Heat Damage

Avoid blow drying and heat styling your hair when possible as it is already being environmentally stressed during the summer. Instead try the new “No Heat Hair Diet” and let your hair breathe. When you stop and think about it— it’s better for your wallet, the environment, time management, and having more healthy hair is really just the cherry on top.

UV Effects On Hair

Wondering why your hair color fades so fast? Frequent sun exposure is probably to blame. Always protect your skin from direct sunlight by wearing sun screen, hats, and long sleeves. If you plan to be spending more than a couple hours in direct sunlight, spray on sunscreen should be applied to protect your scalp and hair from damage.

Hey! It’s not all bad, there are some really great benefits soaking up the sun in healthy doses. For starters your hair actually grows fastest during the summer than any other time of year.  

If you don’t mind your natural hair lightening or your artificial color fading—effortless multi-tone ribbons of sun kissed highlights can be drool worthy. People pay big money to achieve the balayage-like youthful glow and you can have it for free with a few hours of sunshine. Of course it’s important to practice moderation in all things, especially sunshine.

Water That Drys Your Hair:

We often overlook the very thing that’s actually drying our hair out, water. Steamy hot showers for example can leave hair stripped of its natural oils. When possible rinse your hair in cool water, this simple practice seals your cuticle and helps avoid frizz.

Ocean and salt water pools draw moisture out of the hair and skin striping them of natural protective oils. Frequent exposure to chlorinated swimming pools can be very damaging to your hair and cast a familiar green hue to your blonde locks as the copper molecules and other pool chemicals bind to the protein of the hair shaft. Keep in mind— any foreign chemicals can negatively affect your next professional hair service. Your hair is like a sponge and by doing your best to prep your hair in advance you can minimize the negative effects. Saturate your hair with clean water and leave in conditioner so your hair won’t be as quick to absorb harsh water. Try to keep your hair tied back, braided, or if you’re a trend setter—a swimmers cap. If all of these measures fail you, rinse and repeat as soon as you finish swimming. 

The Good Kind Of Hydration 

Like everything else in life— it matters what’s on the inside— meaning to keep your hair and skin hydrated, you’re going to need to start by DRINKING ENOUGH WATER. A moisturizing hair mask can go along way if you’re needing a pick-me-up. 

Professional Restorative Treatments

It’s amazing what a haircut and gloss refresh at the salon can do with summer wrecked hair. A professional gloss and Olaplex treatment can restore old color, neutralize unwanted tones, add shine, balance Ph, and seal the cuticle. If you’re stuck with a greenish or hard water buildup more extensive treatments can be performed by a professional stylist. Be sure so give as much information so the stylist can prepare as hair that is in a compromised state needs extra care. You always want to make sure you and your stylist have the information to make the best decisions. 

If you’re enjoying this blog series and would like us to cover more topics— drop a comment below or shoot us an email at deaconhairc@yahoo.com.

If additional help is needed for chlorine swimmers a good shampoo can be found at https://malibuc.com/products/swimmers-wellness-shampoo?variant=31714228797503 

If you can’t make it to pick one up a moisture mask at your local salon— here’s a great DIY at home mask and instructions at https://helloglow.co/summer-diy-hair-masks 

Photo by Joe Gardner