Hot, humid, sunny summer weather (which for us means year round weather as we live in a tropical country) can mean hair pain for many of us. Here are some tips on how to treat your hair so it survives the sun, salt and chlorine and looks better than ever.
Shampoo less, rinse more
It seems a bit counter intuitive, but shampooing more actually strips your hair of its natural oils and causes your hair to produce more oil, or sebum, making your scalp look greasier faster and your hair look limp and lifeless. But this doesn’t mean that if you take a dip in the pool or splash in the ocean you shouldn’t rinse all of that chlorine and salt out of your hair – you can just rinse with plain water instead of using shampoo every time. Follow up with a conditioner to keep your hair smelling fresh and keep your locks moisturized. You can also use a dry shampoo or cornstarch / baby powder on your roots in between washes to soak up that oil and keep your hair looking fresh. Just spray or sprinkle some on and brush through.
Always condition
This should be a rule no matter what time of year, but with the harsh sun, chlorine or salt doing a number on your hair, it’s more important in the summer or if you’re in a tropical place. Apply conditioner to the ends of your hair (not the roots, they don’t need it) and let is soak for a few minutes before rinsing out. We’re all about efficiency here, so while you’re out lounging by the pool, put some leave-in conditioner in your hair, wrap your hair up in a bun, and let the heat and sun give you a deep conditioning treatment. This will also protect your hair if you decide to jump into the water afterward.
Opt for a wide-tooth comb
Try not to pull anything through wet hair, since that’s when it’s most susceptible to breaking. Wide-tooth combs are most gentle for untangling hair, as brushes can pull and tear hair when they hit snags.
Skip the blow dryer and flat iron
Your hair is already dried out, so applying more heat is going to do it no favours. Also flat ironing your hair straight is only going to emphasize the fuzzy, frizzy bits that will inevitably stand out due to humidity. Put on a smoothing balm or serum and let your hair air-dry; there’s no point trying to fight the humidity, you’re not going to win.
Shower before jumping into the pool
It might be tempting to skip this step and dive right in, but your hair acts like a sponge and will absorb any water it comes into contact with. It’s better to wet your hair through with fresh water first to protect it from soaking with just harsh chlorinated pool water. After getting out of the pool, rinse out your hair as soon as you can.
Wear a hat
There are all sorts of new fangled sunscreens for hair out there these days, but the most effective way is still just not to let the sun go there in the first place. Wear a fabulous wide brim hat, look chic and stylish and protect your tresses (and face) from the harsh rays of the sun.