Have you ever caught yourself running your fingers through your hair, only to notice an unwelcome crunch? That texture which is drier than the Sahara, and feels like straw, brittle and crunchy? Allow me to enlighten you on summer’s mystical hair transformation. Turns out, summer is the worst enemy for hair. The combination of excessive heat, salt water, and humidity saps all essential moisture and leaves hair looking like frizzy hay.
But here’s the silver lining: you don’t need to spend hundreds to revive salon-like health to your tresses. Let’s explore together why summer wreaks havoc on hair, spotting early signs of damage, and the most effective methods to rejuvenate those lifeless strands without blowing your budget.
Why Summer Makes Hair Dry and Brittle
While the summer sun allows one to maintain a perfect beach look, it’s also when hair is donating all of their moisture relentlessly. I, for example, had no clue how much abuse the sun, along with saltwater were doing until it was too late. Let me explain:
- UV Exposure: Your hair like everything else also gets burned during exposure to the sun. To make matters worse, the sun’s rays break down hair cuticles, which is the thin protective covering, This results in weakened and dehydrated strands.
- Saltwater and Chlorine: Both work mercilessly to strip hair out of all it’s natural moisture and oils. Saltwater dehydrates hair, while chlorine makes hair porous and susceptible to breaking.
- Humidity: Like a perfect villain, unchecked moisture in the air allows dehydrated hair to become even more porous, especially if it has been chemically treated.
While each individually is enough for chaos, when combined, your locks turn into a straw like material. No matter how bad the chaos may go however, the damage control always remains the same once the causes have been identified.
How to Avoid Hair Damage During Summers
The last thing I expected to learn was that summer hair damage wasn’t caused by going to the beach or staying indoors. Rather, it was caused by a lack of protection used to keep hair safe from strands of hair that come in contact with wind and the sun. Here’s how:
- Wear a Hat or Scarf: All you have to do is use a wide hat that can fully cover your hair as well as protect your hair from being exposed directly to the sun. Use sun hats or light see through scars that are stylish.
- Apply UV Protection for Hair: This provides necessary hair sun screen. Just like skin, your hair also requires extra protection. Purchase UV hair sprays or serums that work, for your hair.
- Rinse Before and After Swimming: Hair absorbs more water than needed. Ensure your hair is cleaned with fresh water prior to swimming to help get rid off excess Chlorine and salt.
- Braid or Bun It Up: Buns and braids give your hair the ability to stay safe from exposure to wind and sun. Less exposure equates to less hair damage, try to lessen wind and sun interaction.
- Weekly Deep Conditioning: Some masks work wonders on hair, giving rich hydration like none other. Weekly hydration boosts with Argan oil, Shea butter and Coconut oil give hair life.
3 Step Approach for Healing Brittle, Dry Hair. (Results: Guaranteed)
Rewinding back to when my hair looked as dry as straw, a hair mask helped rejuvenate my locks.
Spoiler alert: none of it worked. The good news is that over time I figured out three things that truly helped revive my hair:
- Hydrate from Within: Staying properly hydrated by drinking more water sounds obvious, but it is frequently neglected. Hair hydration starts within.
- Oil Treatments: Soften some coconut oil and massage it into both your scalp and ends. Let it sit for at least an hour or overnight before rinsing.
- Trim Those Ends: A quick trim every 6-8 weeks will remove dry fragments that cannot be saved which prevents split ends from climbing up the shaft and increasing breakage.
Top Products For Repairing Hair Damaged By Summer Heat
After trying so many products, this is the list I curated that worked on me:
- Leave In Conditioners: A silicone free leave in conditioner that is light weight and does not add any weight to hair is best used to maintain moisture.
- Moisturizing Shampoo: Use a sulfate-free moisturizing shampoo to switch in and out of draining your essential oil to not while removing your essential oil.
- Spray Heat Protectants: These sprays create a shield whether you undergo styling or not against UV rays, other environmental toxins outside the window.
- Hydrating Shampoo: Switch to dry nourishing shampoos that don’t add oils or getting rid of vital oils instead add keratin, argan oil and avocado oil.
Chart: Comparison Between Natural Medicine And Store-Bought Products
| Types of Treatment | Natural Advantages | Natural Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Coconut Oil Mask | Deep moisture, inexpensive | Fine strands may find it heavy |
| Avocado Hair Mask | Natural and vitamin rich | Prep and clean up needed |
| Keratin Serum | Repairing and strengthens | Expensive |
| Leave-In Conditioner | Light and effortless | Needs reapplication |
Summary
Summer does not need to signal the end of your vibrant, voluminous hair. With proper care, some protective measures, and the right products, hair can remain silky, radiant, and resilient throughout the entire season. For those already feeling the stress of summer on their hair, it’s always the right time to begin the restoring process.
What hair hacks do you swear by in the summer? Let us know in the comments or bookmark this post so you can refer back to these tips after your beach day.
