Summer Hair Care

Recognizing threats is the first step to maintaining healthy hair and an expensive hair style.

The Worst Contributor to Summer Hair Damage

The sun is undoubtedly hair’s greatest seasonal enemy. Heat, UVA and UVB rays are constantly bombarding hair that is not protected. Damage to the hair is simple: it causes increased porosity. When the hair shaft is roughed up by these elements, harm can include:

• Weak, easily broken strands
• Split ends
• Rapid colour fading
• Excessive dryness

Once the sun has opened up the hair cuticle, it is vulnerable to other negative influences that can impart even further damage.

Sand

Sand is an abrasive substance—literally it is comprised of rocks that have been pulverized by sun, water and friction. Sand in the hair has the same effect as exfoliants on skin: it scrubs and removes bits and pieces of whatever it is rubbing against. For hair, this means:

• Breakage at any part of the shaft, but likely near the scalp as sand sits on the scalp or works its way down through the hair
• The cuticle is compromised by broken pieces flaking off, causing thinning and weakness
• Colour particles—either permanent or semi-permanent—are lost
• Hair is hard to style because of its weakened state

Water

Salt, fresh, and pool water are extremely drying to hair.

If hair is already compromised due to sun and sand, adding salt will make matters worse. Salt particles sit in pitted hair cuticles and not only expedite the damage already done, but can prevent the effectiveness of treatments by blocking absorption. Sea salt will cause dull, frizzy, lifeless hair.

Fresh water is surprisingly damaging as well. Many lakes contain minerals that cling to hair. Minerals build up causing the same dullness and dryness caused by salt water.

Pool or chlorinated water has one of the most noticeable and devastating effects on colour: it can turn blondes green. Lenntech Water Purification and Air Treatment of The Netherlands, describes chlorine as a disinfectant (for water). It is meant to kill bacteria so when it comes in contact with hair and chemicals on the hair from processing services, it oxidizes. This causes discolouration, drying effects, and excessive breakage.

How to Protect Summer Hair

• Wear a hat
• Use hair products with sunscreens in them
• Rinse with clean water after pools, oceans and lakes
• Use chelating shampoo for hard buildup
• Use mild shampoos for gentle cleansing
• Use moisturizing shampoos for excessively dry hair
• Use smoothing shampoos for frizzy, brittle hair
• Apply treatments and deep conditioners while on the beach or sitting in the sun, and before entering the water
• Wear a bathing cap
• Trim split ends every three weeks

Whether protecting naturally healthy hair, or processed and styled hair, wearing a hat and bathing cap will reduce summer hair damage significantly. Investing in these two must-haves will save tons of money down the road to repair structural damage and colour fading.

Summer Hair Care

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