Sunbathing, swimming pools, seawater: you love them, but your hair… not so much. How can you ensure that both you and your hair make the most of summer? Easy… just read on!
Summer is hard on your hair cuticles.
Hair fibres are composed of about 90% keratin, a tough protein that’s broken down into three layers: the inside marrow, the centre cortex, and the cuticle on the very outside, which is made up of tiny scales stacked like tiles. Their function is to protect your hair against harm while retaining water for proper hydration. The problem is that when your hair is exposed to UV rays, chlorine and salt water, the scales of the cuticles are lifted up, making your hair porous, dry and lifeless.
To help prevent that, you can adopt a care routine that boosts protection and hydration, using products properly adapted to your type of hair.
The golden rules of summer haircare
1. Wash with care
- Choose the right shampoo. Because you wash your hair more often in summer, it’s important to choose a gentle product free of harsh detergents. Look for moisturizing formulas, with the right amount of hydration for your hair type. If it comes with an SPF, even better!
- On the days when you’re not shampooing, remember to rinse your hair in fresh water to refresh it and remove accumulated pollution.
- Use a conditioner to prolong the moisturizing and repairing effects of your shampoo. You can coat your hair with a moisturizing conditioner or spray on a leave-in product (the haircare equivalent of aloe vera gel). Both will help restore the shine of your hair and make it easier to brush. It’s also the perfect way to fight dryness and frizz!
- Give your hair a nourishing boost from time to time. This step is particularly important if you spend a lot of time in the sun. Once or twice a week, apply a mask, hair oil or nourishing treatment throughout your hair. And make sure you leave it on for at least 10 minutes before rinsing.
2. Prepare yourself for the day
Going on a long picnic, a bike ride or an afternoon in the pool? Remember to prepare properly!
- Apply a leave-in mask before you go out to nourish your hair and help it resist the daily assault.
- If you want to fully protect your head from UV rays, wear a wide-brimmed hat or a baseball cap.
- Keep a bottle of dry shampoo in your backpack and spray it on your roots throughout the day to absorb the excess sebum generated by perspiration.
3. Use the night wisely
Did your hair get too much sun or chlorine during the day? Offer it an intensive nighttime treatment: choose a dry oil or a mask thar’s rich in vegetable oils and apply it throughout your hair before going to bed. Remember to cover your hair or your pillow to avoid staining. The active emollient ingredients in the treatment will have all night to penetrate your hair, nourishing it deeply and repairing the damage done to the cuticles during the day. When you wake up, simply rinse out the treatment and you’re good to go!
What about hair colouring?
Hair colouring can make your hair more vulnerable to harm than natural hair. So, when the keratin scales are lifted up and out of place, the dyes, which act as protective barriers, are weakened and be stripped away. That’s bad news for your hair colour, which can end up being dull and lifeless, or even a different colour from the one you chose.
The solution?
- A few times a week, use a shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for coloured hair. These products are enriched with pigments that will help restore your hair’s radiance and protect the vibrancy of its colour.
- From time to time, you can also give your hair a keratin-repair treatment to help restore the scales and boost their protective ability, which will also help protect the colour of your hair.
- To minimize damage, just avoid swimming or sunbathing for too long on the days you colour your hair!