While we are familiar with how important it is to protect our skin from the harsh effects of the sun, we tend to overlook protection for our hair and scalp. In reality, prolonged exposure to the sun causes just as much damage to our hair—it sucks out moisture from the strands, causes frizzing and can even weaken the hair and cause breakage. That’s why we’re sharing a list of summer-specific hair care tips to keep your mane protected and at its best throughout summer.
7 Summer Hair Care Tips:
#1 Use a hat/scarf to minimize exposure
The easiest way to protect your hair and scalp from sun damage is to use a physical barrier. Wrap a scarf around your head or use a wide-brimmed hat to protect your hair from getting scorched in the heat. The best part about using a scarf or hat is that both options also double up as fashion statements!
#2 Style your tresses in protective hairstyles
With summer comes sweat, and you don’t want to be transferring that sweat onto your hair! Putting your hair up in a bun is the best way to limit sun exposure, but to keep your hair from mixing with sweat, you can try a bunch of hairstyles like a loose braid, ponytail, space buns and twists. Basically, any hairstyle that will keep your hair from touching your face and neck!
#3 Give your heating tools a rest
The sun is hard enough on your hair and applying additional heat will only cause further damage. If possible, stay away from your heating tools completely or limit usage to once or twice a week. To deal with frizz, apply a few drops of hair serum on damp hair and let your hair air dry.
#4 Put on a swimming cap before you take a dip
Always make sure to wear a swimming cap before you get into the water—be it at the beach or a pool. If you don’t have a swimming cap at hand, saturate your hair with fresh water before diving in to prevent your hair from absorbing too much saltwater or chlorine.
#5 Use a pre-shampoo hair oil before wash day
Besides moisturizing and nourishing dry locks, oiling also shields hair from any damage that shampooing can cause. A pre-shampoo hair oil can also help curb hair fall by reducing protein loss and the amount of water hair soaks up during a wash. Therefore, adding the pre-poo step to your hair care routine can do wonders for restoring and maintaining hair health.
#6 Break up with scalp buildup using a scalp scrub
Don’t forget your scalp! When sweat mixes with sebum (oil) and styling product, it creates buildup that causes greasiness, itching and even hair fall. While shampoos are great for cleansing the scalp, they aren’t as effective as exfoliants. That’s why we recommend using a scalp scrub once a week to remove product buildup, excess oil and dead skin cells that end up blocking the hair follicles. If you’re looking to incorporate exfoliation into your hair care routine, you could try our Tea Tree Buildup Control Scalp Scrub.
#7 Use a sulphate-free shampoo that protects hair from UV damage
The urge to shampoo your hair every day gets stronger in the warmer months, but remember, doing so will only cause more harm than good. Shampooing too frequently can cause over drying and make your hair brittle. That’s why it’s important to look for a shampoo that is sulphate free and alcohol free as both ingredients are known to cause dryness. Our Olive & Macadamia Healthy Hydration Shampoo is not only sulphate-free and alcohol-free, but it also protects hair from UV damage with pro vitamin B5.
With these trusty summer hair care tips, we’re sure bad hair days will soon become a hassle of the past!
FAQs
Q1. How many times a week should I wash my hair?
It depends on your hair. If you have dry hair, you can wash it once a week. If you have an oily, greasy scalp you could wash it twice or thrice a week.
Q2.How many times should I use a scalp scrub to exfoliate?
You can use a scalp scrub once a week to avoid over exfoliation.
Q3. Do I need to change my hair care routine in summer?
During summer, we recommend using a pre shampoo hair oil, scalp scrub (weekly), shampoo + conditioner (as required) and a hair serum on damp hair to control frizz. If your hair needs deep nourishment, you could also use a hair mask (weekly).
