Finally, the months of brutal cold and dry air are behind us. During the winter months, we talked about how the cold affects our hair and what we need to do to keep it healthy. Now, as temperatures rise and we spend more time outside, we need to think about how UV rays, heat, water and wind affect our hair. As we get excited for sunshine, beach days, and switching our closets over we should also be thinking about switching our hair care routines as well. Fortunately, the Tease Hair Boutique team has pulled together a list of products, treatments and best practices to keep your locks healthy all summer long!
Swimming Hair Care
Nothing feels better than jumping into a body of water on those hot, humid days that you feel you can’t escape. While swimming is enjoyable and cools you off, it can often be less kind to your hair.
The Effects of Water on Hair
When your hair gets wet, it increases the elasticity and makes it more fragile, often causing more breakage due to the extra stretch. In addition to this, dry hair soaks in the components of whatever is in the water and, depending on where you're swimming, can cause additional dryness and damage.
Chlorinated Water
It’s no secret that swimming in chlorinated water can have negative effects on your hair. Chlorine not only strips the natural oils from your hair that keep your strands healthy, but can also dry them out causing weakness, split ends and more breakage. In addition to these negative effects, chlorine can also cause a chemical reaction that changes the natural colors of your hair - especially in lighter hair and can also strip the color out of dyed hair.
Salt Water
While swimming in salt water can cause dryness to your ends, it also has its perks. Removing build-up and naturally exfoliating your scalp, salt water can stimulate blood flow and increase hair growth while decreasing excessive oils. Nonetheless, having your hair soak up salt - a natural drying agent - can cause loss of moisture and additional breakage and split ends.
How to Keep Your Hair Healthy
Wet Your Hair Before Swimming
Despite the damaging effects of chlorinated and salt water, you should not feel like you shouldn’t go swimming. By wetting your hair with fresh water before entering the pool or ocean, you allow your hair to become hydrated while avoiding soaking up the components that cause problems. Before you swim, wet your hair under a fresh water shower or even with a bottle of water to allow for proper hydration and protection against chemicals and salt.
Use Pre-swim Hair Products
In addition to wetting your hair before swimming, there are a few products we recommend putting in your hair once you’ve wet it with fresh water as an extra layer of protection. Brazilian Blowout Daily Smooth Serum offers a nutrient rich formula that smooths, conditions and detangles while protecting hair from UV rays and harsh environmental damage. Kérastase Crème UV Sublime Hair Creme uses coconut water, vitamin E, and UV filters to protect hair while moisturizing and preventing frizz (and it smells amazing!)
Available for sale at Tease Hair Boutique
Get a Trim
Whether the heat has you tying your hair up more often or that top-down breeze is leaving you with a tangled mess; chances are you are at a higher risk of split ends due to the elements. To avoid ends looking straggly and making split ends worse, make sure to get your hair trimmed around every six weeks!
Protective Summer Hair Products
To keep frizz down and counteract the damage your hair may encounter during the
summer months, make sure to use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Our favorite option that offers an extra layer of protection is the Kérastase Soleil Sun Protection Hair Set. The Bain Après Soleil Shampoo removes residue of chlorine, salt and sand while nourishing hair and restoring smoothness. The Masque Après Soleil Hair Mask revitalizes after-sun hair, providing nourishment and restoring shine, and the Crème UV Sublime Hair Creme (as mentioned above) protects hair while reducing frizz and preventing hair breakage. Did we mention it smells amazing?
Available at Tease Hair Boutique
In-Salon SmoothingTreatments
Though it differs by person, humidity can have a big effect on your hair. When the air is humid, it breaks down the hydrogen bonds, causing hair to swell and take a new shape. For some of us, it’s a beautiful beach wave. For others, it can become a frizzy nightmare. To protect your hair against frizz and other summer elements, Tease Hair Boutique recommends an in-salon smoothing treatment like Brazilian Blowout, Cezanne, or Inca Glow. Speak to your Tease Hair Boutique Stylist to learn which is right for you!
Use a Wide Tooth Comb & Leave-In Conditioner
Another way to combat frizz and breakage is to keep hair feeling extra soft this summer by using a leave-in conditioner. After you get out of the pool or ocean, rinse your hair again with fresh water and apply a leave-in conditioner. Comb through with a wide-tooth comb to help work out tangles and avoid breakage.
Avoid Heat Styling
We’ve all had those days where we spent a good chunk of time styling our hair, only to walk outside into the humidity and be greeted with instant frizz. When using the right products, you can embrace your natural hair and avoid heat styling, which will only cause further damage. If you have to use styling tools, make sure to use a heat protectant in your hair before drying.
Protect Your Scalp & Hair From Excessive Sun Exposure
While products like the Kérastase Soleil Sun Protection Hair Set offer UV protection, the summer sun can still take a toll on hair and even cause sunburns on your scalp. For those long days at the beach, bring a hat to wear when you’re not swimming. For those of us with finer hair who are prone to scalp sunburns, opt for a scalp sunscreen like this one by Supergoop.
Bottom Line
By adding small changes to your routine for days spent swimming and in the sun, you can protect your hair from the elements while also giving it a break from the damaging effects of heat styling. To learn more about ways to protect your specific hair type, speak to your Tease Hair Boutique stylist during your next appointment!
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