Summer can be hard on your hair. Between the heat, sun, and chlorine, there are all types of risks for your hair. Fortunately, making a few tweaks to your routine can make all the difference. Here are seven summer hair care routine tips to keep in mind.
BEAUTY
1. Buy the Right Products for Your Hair Type
There’s no doubt that summer can lead to many bad hair days if we’re not careful. It’s important to invest in the right products for your hair type. Use curly hair products to keep your curls looking defined. If your hair is prone to frizz, opt for anti-frizz products. If your hair looks flat, try volumizing shampoos and conditioners to give your hair more body.
2. Condition Your Hair More Than Usual
When your hair is too dry, it can become damaged — if it’s not already. Extra moisture leads to healthier, stronger hair. When shopping for shampoo and conditioner this summer, you’ll want to pick moisturizing or hydrating formulas.
While your shampoo and conditioner are a great place to start, moisturization shouldn’t stop there. Be sure to apply hair oil or serum to your ends. Consider using a leave-in conditioner and a deep conditioning hair mask for even more moisture.
3. Lay Off the Hot Styling Tools
The summer heat can dry out your hair, so why make the problem even worse with blow dryers, flat irons, curling irons, and rollers? Minimize how often you use these styling tools, and embrace your natural hair texture.
Instead of reaching for the blow dryer, allow your hair to dry naturally. Consider putting your hair in braids overnight to create the appearance of beach waves or scrunching your hair with mousse or gel.
When you do need to style your hair, be sure to put your styling tools on the lowest setting and use a heat protectant product to reduce damage.
4. Use Dry Shampoo to Avoid Overwashing
When we sweat during the hot months of summer, it can be tempting to wash our hair more than usual. But remember that overwashing isn’t good since it strips your hair and scalp of essential oils. Instead of washing your hair too often, try using a dry shampoo in between washes.
5. Plan Your Salon Appointments Accordingly
This is one of the most important summer hair care tips that most of us don’t even consider. Are you thinking about going blonder this summer? If so, be sure to schedule your hair appointment after your vacation. Blonde hair is more prone to both sun damage and discoloration from chlorine.
6. Protect Hair from Chlorine Damage
If you plan to spend time in the pool this summer, there’s a risk of blonde locks turning green. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to reduce chlorine damage. For starters, consider wearing your hair up so it stays out of the water completely. If that’s not an option, apply a leave-in conditioner or a small amount of oil to your hair before going into the pool. These products act as a barrier between your hair and the water, preventing chlorine damage from occurring.
7. Consider Getting a Keratin Treatment
Keratin treatments help reduce frizz, give your hair a smooth, silky feel, and cut down on the amount of time it takes to blow your hair dry. All of these factors make keratin treatments an ideal option for reducing heat damage this summer. Keratin treatments last about three months on average.
These are just seven summer hair care routine tips to keep in mind. Following this advice can help keep your hair strong and healthy during the hottest months of the year.
Images by Icepong Sang, Courtesy of DSCENE.
