The Effects of Summer on Our Hair
Summer is finally here and in full swing! While we’re spending all of our spare time being outdoors trying to get the most out of the warmer months, our hair and skin may not be getting the proper care it needs to stay healthy. Yes, us girls love the natural sunkissed highlights that we get every year but the truth is that it’s damaging our hair, and more than you thought.
Prolonged sun exposure fades hair color, natural or color treated. UV rays weaken the hair’s cuticle and keratin becomes compromised. The melanin, which gives us our hair color, is broken down and in those with color treated hair the chemical bonds of the dye are damaged. The best ways to protect your strands (and your color investment) is by covering with a hat that has UPF and using haircare products containing UV protection before stepping outside.
Swimming is one of the top favorite summer activities for almost everyone. Some of you who are blonde (naturally or not) and those who wear blonde extensions know all too well how chlorine’s chemical reaction with heavy metals in the water can turn hair green. Porous hair traps the hard metals, copper, iron and manganese then oxidizes them which gives your hair that shade of chlorine green. It also strips your hair of its natural oils that lead to dry, brittle, highly porous hair and split ends. It can also bond with and remove the dye color molecules in your hair and for some, long term exposure can lead to irritant dermatitis. To combat the effects of chlorine you can be proactive by coating your hair in water and leave-in conditioner, combing through then putting your hair into a braid or a bun before going outdoors. Ensure you thoroughly rinse everything out of your hair at the end of day. If you already have a build-up of impurities or just want a deep cleanse after swimming all summer, come into the salon for an Intensive Repair Treatment. Learn more about what this treatment can do for your hair here.
We’re all aware of what heat and humidity can do to our hair, especially when it comes to frizz. Our hair absorbs and swells with the excess moisture in the air on humid days. The swelling of the hair strands causes the cuticle to become lifted and rough and repeated cycles of this swelling can lead to weak and brittle hair. The more porous the hair strands are the more moisture they are absorbing, and the bigger your “frizzy poof” will be. Ward off frizz with a product such as Formula 18’s Repair Oil before blow drying. This oil smoothes and seals the hair’s cuticle to eliminate frizz. Bonus benefit, it cuts down your blow drying time!
An equally frustrating side effect of heat and humidity is an oily scalp. Oh and yes, you can have an oily scalp and dry, frizzy ends simultaneously. Humidity prevents sweat from evaporating which leads to a build-up of bacteria on the scalp. Combine that with excess oil, dirt, pollutants and other impurities and your hair follicles become clogged and without proper cleansing, will continue to build up and give your hair that oily appearance. The easiest way to take care of this issue is by washing your hair after sweating and being outdoors. A double cleanse with a hydrating shampoo is recommended, the first wash removes the build up of impurities and the second wash ensures your scalp is squeaky clean. If you need a more intensive scalp cleanse, come into the salon for our Detox Scalp Care Treatment. You can learn more about what to expect from this service here.
Summer may have its downsides when it comes to the effects on our hair but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have beautiful, healthy hair. With the right knowledge and products anyone can take care of their hair and have more ‘good hair days’.
Need help personalizing your haircare routine? Schedule a blow out and we’ll discuss the best products for your hair and I’ll show you how to properly use them from start to finish.