Summer is all about soaking up the sun. But while you are enjoying being at the beach or the swimming pools, your hair is silently suffering. The dry summer hair starts shedding after being excessively exposed to sun and hard water. The harmful UV rays make them brittle and lifeless. Will your hair lose its shine? Yes. Should you panic? Absolutely not! There are ways to deal with summer hair damage, stop them from breaking and restore their health. Here’s a complete guide on how you can protect and flaunt it all season long.
Understanding Summer Hair Damage: What Happens to Your Hair?
Your hair suffers big time as the season transitions from winter to summer. Their health and luster start to go for a toss. The following are the biggest causes of summer hair problems:
- Sun Exposure: The harsh UV rays penetrate deeper into the hair cuticle and weaken it. Ultimately, it causes dryness and split ends and even dyed hair fades.
- Humidity: Summer means excess moisture in the air swells. Such humid weather makes the hair cuticle swell up and look frizzy. Such hair is always tangled and breaking.
- Saltwater & Chlorine: Swimming is fun until salt starts drawing moisture out of the hair. The chlorine takes out the natural protective oils from the locks and makes them brittle.
- Frequent Washing: Due to sweat and product build-up you want to wash your hair more frequently and with every wash, the essential oils of the hair get stripped off and they become dehydrated.
How to Prevent Hair From Sun Damage
While a good SPF can protect the skin from the sun, what can we do to save our hair? Summer can cause your precious hair to suffer but with proactive measures, you can protect and fix your hair’s health. For that, it’s important to realize the sun damaged hair symptoms. Here’s what you can do to save your hair from UV rays:
- Use SPF Hair Products: We certainly need a good sunblock for the hair as much as for the skin. Look for a spray, leave-in conditioner or serum that will form a protective shield against harmful rays.
- Wear Hats and Scarves: Get a wide hat that covers your head or just wrap a lightweight scarf to protect it from sunlight and prevent color fading.
- Limit Heat Styling: Since your head already suffers from sun heat, you can spare your hair from styling tools. If you need to heat style, use a heat protectant first.
- Trim Split Ends Regularly: Split ends are common in sun-exposed hair. Get regular trims so that split ends don’t travel all the way up and hair stays healthy.
- Avoid Harsh Chemical Treatments: Bleaching and frequent dyes can further weaken your locks so it’s better to go for nourishing treatments.
Treating Dry Summer Hair
The biggest summer hair problem is extreme dryness which can only be fixed with enough hydration. Here’s how you can manage to keep your tresses hydrated and nourished:
- Deep Condition: Once a week, use a moisture-rich hair mask. There are many options out there so get the best one and it will help restore the lost luster and strengthen your strands.
- Lightweight Oils: It is suggested to oil your hair but with light oils so it doesn’t weigh down your strands. You can use argan oil or coconut oil as they are good options. They lock in moisture, add shine and make them smooth, not greasy.
- Sulfate-Free Shampoo: Harsh chemicals like sulfates can take away all the moisture from your hair. Make sure your shampoo is free from such ingredients. Opt only for gentle products that clean your hair and do not ruin it.
- Drink Plenty of Water: Yes, hair products are wonderful but you need to be hydrated from within. Drink at least 2 litres of water so your hair can get enough moisture.
- Silk Pillowcase: If you use Cotton pillowcases, it’s time to replace them as they absorb moisture from your hair. Get the silk or satin ones instead to retain hydration and reduce hairfall due to breakage.
Managing Summer Hair Shedding and Breakage
If you are losing a lot of hair every time you comb or run your fingers through them, you don’t have to panic. It’s just a frustrating seasonal change effect. Here is how we can minimize excessive shedding:
- Protein Treatments: Go to a nice salon and pamper your hair with strengthening treatments. These keratin or protein-based products strengthen weak strands and reverse the summer damage.
- Scalp Massages: Take any essential oil of your choice and gently massage your scalp. This will boost blood circulation, stop excess hairfall and even promote new hair growth.
- Avoid Tight Hairstyles: Yes, high ponytails and tight, sleek buns look stylish but they put a lot of pressure on the scalp. They cause the summer hair to break and can even cause bald spots.
- Hair Supplements: Our hair needs nutrients like biotin and Omega 3 to stay healthy. While you can get over-the-counter supplements as well, it’s better to get prescribed products. But you also need a well-balanced diet.
- Reduce Stress: Stress shows its signs in many ways and one is hairfall. Try to stay relaxed. Do anything that helps you calm down so your hair doesn’t suffer.
Fixing Chlorine and Saltwater Damage
Beachtime fun and diving in the pool are all fun until your hair starts feeling like straw. But how do you undo the damage?
- Rinse Before and After Swimming: Before you enter the pool or ocean, wet your hair with fresh water. It’s a great hack that doesn’t let hair absorb chlorine and salt.
- Clarifying Shampoo: Once a week, use an anti-dandruff shampoo because it removes all that build-up from chlorine and salt.
- Leave-In Conditioner: Before you start swimming, apply a nice layer of a leave-in conditioner or a thick oil. It will prevent harsh chemicals from entering the hair.
- Swimming Cap: If you’re a frequent swimmer, stop jumping into the water without a cap. It will protect your hair from the hard water.
- DIY Hair Mask: Make an at-home hair mask from easily available ingredients. You won’t believe how these simple nourishing mixes can restore lost shine.
Let your Hair Shine All Summer Long
Summer is the season for fun hairstyles and water activities. You don’t have to stop yourself from going outside from the fear of summer damage. With the right precautions and products, you can flaunt healthy hair all season. Just follow the simple summer hair repair tips and say goodbye to brittle ends and lifeless strands.
