The summer months can be hard on your hair so we’ll be providing some tips and tricks to keep you locks looking beautiful all summer long.
Tress Management
Summertime, and the living is easy…but not for your head. Heat from the sun degrades the protective protein in hair–which oxidizes the color to a brassy hue, wipes out shine, and leaves locks brittle. On top of that, UV rays, follicle-frizzing humidity, and moisture-zapping chlorine and saltwater can parch your ‘do. Here are some summer hair care tips to keep your locks aglow.
Protect Color
Whether your hair is dyed or au naturel, sunlight bleaches it out. Unfortunately, results can be unpredictable and unattractive. Create a “sunblock” for hair. Because there’s no effective chemical product or dye designed to counteract the impact of ultraviolet rays on hair (though added SPF helps), a wide-brimmed hat is your best weapon for summer hair care. Try one made from a tightly woven UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) fabric. A good bet is Sun Precautions Rolled Brim Hat ($50; 800-882-7860) — it’s crushable, lightweight, and made from a Solumbra fabric with 30-plus SPF that blocks more than 97% of UVA and UVB rays.
A product specifically formulated to shield hair from the sun will offer some protection. Before venturing outdoors, spray wet or dry hair with Phyto Plage Protective Beach Spray ($20; Sephora and Nordstrom) or your everyday leave-in hair conditioner. Respritz each time you put sunscreen on your skin. It’s no coincidence that the hair along your part, which sees the most sun exposure, seems to age faster than the hair hidden underneath. The sun sops moisture from hair and dries out the scalp, zapping shine and making color look dull and faded, says celebrity stylist Sherri Jessi. Shielding your strands from UV light, especially around your hairline and part, will help lock in moisture and preserve your color. Try a sunscreen-pumped styling cream like Rusk Deepshine Luster ($15; Ulta stores), which absorbs rays while smoothing the hair with moisturizing marine extracts, strengthening proteins, and protective UVB inhibitors. Smooth a dollop throughout strands, focusing on your part and hairline. And try moving your part around—an inch up or down every few days—to minimize localized sun exposure.
Stay tuned, we’ll be posting more on keeping you hair healthy and beautiful.
Source: Adapted from Prevention Magazine, Wendy Korn
