6 Summer Hair Care Tips for a Gorgeous Season

By Laura Bissessar

There’s so much to love about summer! You can wear sundresses from day to night, have extra-long pool days, and bask in the glorious sun. But there are also a few things to not love about summer. The humidity-induced frizz, the chlorine-scented hair, and, “how is my hair both sweaty and dry?” There’s a bit of a universal acceptance of defeat when it comes to dealing with summer heat and managing our hair. But by following these summer hair care tips, you don’t have to let the hot season win in the battle of having a #healthyhairsummer.

Essential Summer Hair Care Tips and Product Recommendations

Our hair takes on its less fun personality when we experience increased humidity and heat. We tend to be exposed to more of the sun’s intense UV rays, chlorine and salt from swimming, and sweat from summer heatwaves. Your summer hair care routine needs to adapt to keep things under control.

Without proper care, these weather and lifestyle changes can result in the following issues:

• Dry or brittle hair (breakage)
• Color fading/discoloration
• Excessive frizz
• Limp, flat hair
• Discolored hair from chlorine pools

But when the weather is relentless, what’s a person to do to maintain a healthy mane?

1. Block Out Those UV Rays – Too much sun exposure can seriously mess with the integrity of your hair health. UVA rays may cause unwanted color changes, forcing you to make more hair appointments than you’d like. And UVB rays, aka the burning sunray, don’t do us any favors by breaking down hair proteins, leaving hair dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.

Summer hair care is not all about hair products. Before you head out for a healthy dose of sun, protect your hair as you would your skin. Break out those wide-brimmed sunhats, or use a chic scarf to accessorize your hot girl bathing suit. Look for hats that offer UV protection and scarves that aren’t see-through for maximum coverage.

2. Use A Protective Spray – When it’s not practical to wear headgear, scientific studies suggest that products with UV filters provide excellent protection. Adding these types of products to your summer hair care routine can be very effective.

Look for products that pull double duty for color-treated hair by preventing your color from fading and your strands from drying out, like Paul Mitchell’s Color Protect Locking Spray. Its lightweight formula offers UV protection for color-treated hair and can be used with your usual styling products while your hair is still damp. Go ahead and walk your dog with your tresses flowing freely.  

3. Rinse Before, Wash After – If you’re basically a pool float during the summer, chlorine does more than turn your light-colored hair green. It has the same drying and color fading effects as getting too much UV exposure, no matter the hair type. To protect your hair from harsh pool chemicals, experts recommend rinsing your hair with fresh water before practicing your cannonballs.

Just like a sponge, there’s only so much water your hair will absorb until water stops going in; therefore, soaking it offers some protection. But it’s still important to wash your hair after your swim session. Adding a clarifying shampoo to your summer hair care bag of tricks, like Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Shampoo, will rid your hair of pool chemicals and green tinge. It also helps repair hair by restoring ingredients like vitamin B5 and flax protein.

4. Wear Protective Styles – Do you tend to sweat more than usual when the temperature rises? Not to worry, sweat is our friend. It keeps us from overheating and eliminates toxins from our bodies. But a sweaty, wet head also makes our hair more vulnerable to breakage. Wet hair should be handled more delicately to avoid breakage, whether that water comes from the ocean or your body. Sound summer hair care includes using protective hairstyles. Consider French braids and cornrows, distribute hair around the head to avoid piling it heavily into one place. You can also wear a breathable headband or scarf to absorb extra moisture. No one has to know that you’re using super cute hairstyles because it’s so hot out.

Lastly, if you can, brush your hair after a good sweat to distribute the natural oils from your scalp and prevent buildup. And use metal-free elastic hair ties, like scrunchies, to avoid snagging.

5. Repair and Care – If your summer started early with Spring Break, and now your hair can use some love before heading back out to the elements, use a repairing shampoo that targets damaged hair to help bring your strands back to life. Joico’s Defy Damage Protective Shampoo can be the wind beneath your, um, hair.

Jokes aside, you can enhance your summer hair care by using products formulated with keratin to help strengthen hair, boost shine, and reduce frizz. Pair this shampoo with a high-quality conditioner during your regular washes, but also consider going for a professional deep conditioning treatment and regular trims if your hair is particularly damaged.

6. Use Quality Shampoo and Conditioner – Yes, this obvious advice belongs on every list of hair care tips. And since we’re talking about having healthy hair amid typical summer woes, we’re referring to using sulfate-free formulas that won’t strip your overworked hair. They should also help reduce frizz, replenish moisture, maintain vibrant hair color, and protect your strands from UV exposure.  

Amika’s Vault Color-lock Shampoo and Conditioner have all the ingredients your hair needs, like amino acids and antioxidants. They’re also formulated without the things your hair doesn’t need, like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. It’s just a bonus that they also smell like heaven. It may sound cliché, but great quality shampoos and conditioners are foundational to maintaining beautiful, healthy hair. Even when the elements disagree.

Great Summer Hair Care Is Not That Hard

The pool and beach are waiting for you! So grab your floppy hat, sunscreen, and beach chair. Head out to your paradise without worrying about your hair. Follow these easy tips for a gorgeous season and keep your hair looking fabulous and have fun this summer!

If you need more information about any hair care concerns, be sure to visit our LaLa Daisy Beauty Resource Center – Hair Care Advisor for helpful information. You can also read this great article from WebMD, entitled Summer Hair Care.