Between the beach, the pool, the heat and the humidity, summer is a time when our hair takes a beating if left unprotected. There are some techniques as well as products that definitely help keep our tresses hydrated. Avoid the pressure to fry your hair this summer. Yes, I know we want to look our best selves over summer and enjoy the beautiful weather, but damage to our hair lasts well beyond the summer months. So, instead of reaching for the curling iron for some defined curls, do a Bantu knot out or wear a braidout instead of straightening.
Chlorine or excessive salt exposure
Pool water is treated with chlorine and as a result can be very harsh on our hair. One of my favorite natural hair celebs shared her tips with Essence, and here’s what she had to say: “Going to the beach or a pool is a great opportunity to deep condition my hair. I get in the shower, brush my hair out and then load it with deep conditioner. I like Aveda Deep Penetrating, Lazartigue Shea Butter, Renee Furterer Karite or Hair Mayonnaise. Then I just braid my hair up or let it dry on its own. This way, if I swim my hair is coated and protected from the chlorine, salt or sun and gets extra time to get conditioned.” I think that is a definite great idea. Just make sure you cover your hair still because otherwise, you will leave a trail of conditioner in the pool Not at all attractive!
For even more ideas on how to protect your hair against chlorine, check out Newly Natural’s post on the topic. She shared some wonderful ideas.
Sun Protection
Sunscreen
If you’ve read this blog for more than a few days, you know I am adamant about protectin your hair regardless of its length. Long exposure to the sun does not only have an impact on your skin, it can surely affect your hair as well. To protect your hair from damaging UV rays, follow some or all of these tips.
- Apply sunscreen to your hair before long sun exposure. That’s right! Many hair products are now equipped with sunscreen to protect your locks. While I don’t use these on a regular basis, I find them important for a day when I plan on staying outdoors for long. Be smart about your product purchases. A rinse out conditioner with SPF protection will probably not do much to protect your hair since you will lose its benefits before you step out of the shower. Look at Biolage or Kerastase products for that purpose. They both have leave-in conditioners in their line that include sunscreen. (More on sunscreen in a future post)
A word of advice when shopping for a sunscreen containing leave-in is to do your research because of federal regulations governing sunscreen in hair products. go with a company you can trust and avoid paying a arm and a leg for the product if you are not even certain of the level of protection that is in the bottle.
Wear a hat
A day at the beach or park or else calls for a hat. You’ll do your hair a big favor and save yourself some heartache. Keep your hair covered and actually see it as what it is, an opportunity for you to show your sense of style with the hottest summer hats.
Deep condition often
The more time you spend outdoors, the more intense your conditioning should become. If you have been waiting to up your game, now is the time. Weekly or bi-weekly deep conditioning treatments are a must for our naturally dry hair, especially when our hair is exposed to environmental stress.
Protective styles?
Reach for protective styles when the sun is at its hottest. They can look very playful and fun while working hard at keeping your hair in shape. So, if you’ve joined us for the current protective style challenge, well done!
Replenishing oils
Many of you already use oils as part of your hair regimen. Some well known oils have wonderful benefits for dry hair. Jojoba, castor and avocado are a few of the best for that purpose. Keep your ends protected and hydrated before heading outside and always follow up with a good treatment if you sense that your hair has had a thougher day than it can handle.
Courtesy of Texture Playground
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