A few weeks ago we shared our Summer Survival Guide directed at taking care of your hair and hair extensions during the Summer months. In case you missed it, you can check it out here.
Today we wanted to share a few things to be on the look out for this Summer that aren’t extension specific, but are still super important to keep in mind for the wellbeing of your hair.
First up, we wanted to dive a little deeper into the pool queen’s nightmare… Chlorine. Chlorine strips the natural oils out of your hair, which is why your hair feels so rough when you climb out of the pool. There are a couple of things that you can do to protect the integrity of your hair before swimming or submerging your hair in any chlorinated water.
The first step may sound familiar if you read our Survival Guide. You should soak your hair with tap water (either shower before you go or use the showers at your pool), then use a leave-in conditioner on your hair. The water and leave-in combine to fill the cuticles of your hair, preventing the chlorine from being able to seep in and leach out the natural oils.
The next step is using a detoxifying or clarifying shampoo following your swim. This will ensure any chlorine will be removed from your hair. It’s important to note that you should use a high quality clarifying shampoo, as some clarifying shampoos can also be extremely drying to your hair. Brands such as Oribe, Kevin Murphy, and R+Co have created clarifying shampoos that are gentle and soothing even as they detox your hair. The final step to avoiding the effects of chlorine on your hair is to regularly use a mask on your hair.
A reparative or moisture mask will help restore what the chlorine has removed, keeping your hair hydrated and soft regardless of how much you swim. We recommend using a mask as often as once a week based on your individual hair needs.
Next up, are you aware that your scalp can actually get sunburned? The absolute best way to prevent this is to always wear a hat when you’re out in the sun. Wearing a hat is the most effective and complete way to prevent sun from reaching your scalp, however, if you know you will be out in the sun and will not be wearing a hat, you can also use sunscreen on any exposed areas. If your hair is thinning, or you wear your hair in a part, be cognizant of that skin being exposed to the sun and take care to protect it with sunscreen.
If you do experience sunburn on your scalp there are a few things you can do to minimize your discomfort while it heals. First, you can apply aloe or lotion to your scalp for soothing, just know it’s going to probably make your hair look a little greasy!
If your scalp is sunburned you should shower in cooler water, avoid further exposure to the sun, and avoid heat styling your hair. You should also make sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo as the sulfates could irritate your scalp further, and minimize the use of hair products that might also come in contact with your scalp. Typically, a sunburned scalp will heal in about a week.
The last summer hair tip we wanted to offer is in regards to a pesky problem we ALL face in the summertime. Our roots being ruined by sweat! Summer can be plagued by roots that look and feel greasy due to our scalp sweating in the heat. Instead of washing your hair every day, we highly recommend investing in a bomb dry shampoo.
Dry shampoo, particularly when combined with a cool blow dryer, will absorb the oils, dry up the sweat, and revitalize your roots. We recommend also grabbing a travel size dry shampoo next time you’re in the salon so you can keep it in your purse for whenever you might need it.
If you have any questions about Summer haircare or need advice on the best products to keep your locks looking and feeling great this Summer, shoot us an email at info@garnish-studio.com, or ask your stylist at your next visit.
