Summer is already here, and you need to take extra care of your hair! No escape! The intense humidity and heat in summer can affect your hair and make it prone to breakage. On the other hand, excessive exposure to the sun will damage the natural shield of hair. Studies have proven that 3 days of sun exposure can make hair shaft cells fragile, leading to dry, brittle, and fragile hair conditions. However, the good news is that the right summer hair care can take your hair back to its original, healthy state.
An ideal hair care regime is essential. Pollution, stress, an improper lifestyle, hormonal imbalance, medicinal side effects, and many other factors can affect our hair health. A balanced diet (protein-rich), an active lifestyle, and a good hair care routine can save your hair from further damage and promote new hair growth.
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5 Ways Summer Can Affect Your Hair
Summer is fun—new fruits, new dresses, lots of energy, and so many other things are there to enjoy. However, excessive heat, humidity, and sweat really take a toll on our bodies. Here are some ways summer affects our hair, and sometimes we don’t even realize it.
Sunburn
Yes, sunburn is not only your skin’s pain! Prolonged exposure to UV rays can affect your hair. These harsh rays can break down the proteins and keratin of your hair strands and lead to premature hair fall, dryness, and breakage. People notice their hair is losing shine and elasticity and becoming frizzy and difficult to manage. The right hair care tips for summer can prevent all these issues and ensure a healthy, luxurious mane.
Swimming Damage
We like to stay a bit longer in pools during the summer. Chlorine is commonly used in pool water and wrecks havoc on your hair. It’s a harsh stripping agent that removes the natural oils that keep hair moisturized and protected. As a result, over time, hair becomes dry, frizzy, and prone to tangles. Some regular poolgoers with lighter hair color also notice a greenish tint. This might happen due to the reaction of chlorine with minerals in your hair.
Sweat
Without sweating, you can’t go through the summer. Sweat is like a double-edge sword for your hair. While it can remove dirt and buildup from the scalp, it can also irritate the scalp and cause dandruff and itching. Apart from this, sweat can mix with oil and dirt on the scalp and make your hair look greasy and limp. Hair restoration experts suggest frequent cleansing in the summer; however, you should not overdo it. Too frequent hair washing may strip away its natural oils.
Heat Styling
Hot summer days often lead to the desire for sleek, straight hairstyles. Heat styling tools such as straighteners, blow dryers, curling irons, etc. can further damage your hair. Reduce using heat styling tools. Also, you should add a heat-protectant spray to your hair styling routine. Actually, the high heat can break down the keratin proteins and cause a moisture balance imbalance in your hair, making it dry, brittle, and prone to split ends.
Effective Summer Hair Care Tips Suggested by Experts
Now, we know how summer affects our hair, and we should find effective ways to protect it. Here are some summer hair care tips to keep your hair healthy and manageable.
Protect your hair from the sun
Just like our skin, our hair also needs solid protection from the sun’s harsh UV rays. You can wear a hat or scarf to protect your hair from direct sun exposure. Do not forget to carry an umbrella whenever you go outside during the day. Experts also suggest using leave-in conditioner with UV protection to keep hair safe and undamaged when spending time outdoors.
Rinse well after a swim
Chlorine and salt water can badly affect your hair. After every swim session, you should thoroughly wash your hair with clean water to remove chlorine or salt residue. People who regularly swim or go to the gym prefer to use clarifying shampoo to remove any buildup.
Hydration is key
Sun and heat generally dry out our hair. We need to take extra care of our hair during the summer to keep it hydrated. You can include hydrating shampoo and conditioner in your hair care routine, as well as a deep conditioning mask once a week. Leave-in conditioners or nourishing hair masks help to lock in moisture.
Less is more when it comes to washing
Humidity and sweat make us feel like washing our hair every day. However, it isn’t a good practice. Too frequent shampooing may remove your hair’s natural oil and make it dry and frizzy. You should not wash your hair more than two times a week. You can use a co-washing conditioner to cleanse your scalp without stripping away moisture.
Try loose hairstyles
Tight hairstyles like braids and ponytails can put stress on your hair. Sweat and humidity may weaken your hair shafts and make them prone to breakage. Tight hairstyles may accelerate the process of breakage. And that’s why it is recommended to try loose hairstyles like messy buns, loose braids, etc., to reduce pulling and breakage. If you use elastics to tie your hair, go for fabric-covered ties to avoid snagging and pulling on your strands.
Conclusion
Following these tips isn’t difficult at all. You just need to be careful about your hair and what you are introducing to it. Be gentle with your hair, and don’t forget to have a balanced diet during harsh summer days. On hot summer days, our bodies require extra hydration. So, drink plenty of water and fruit juice, and take care of your overall health. If you are healthy inside, it will be reflected in your skin and hair.