Summer can be a difficult time for your strands. Hot weather can dry your hair and strip it of its natural oils. If you’re on holiday, you need to watch out for the damage saltwater or chlorinated pool water can do to your tresses. And, of course, there’s the issue of seasonal hair loss to be factored in.
That’s not to say that you should spend all summer with your head under a blanket. This article will examine some of the stresses and strains your hair faces in summer and suggest ways of managing the difficulties. Scroll down to find out more!
The Dangers of Summer Sun
Sun-damaged hair is easy to spot. It’s characterised by frizz, split ends and dry, brittle strands. Put simply, too much sun is bad for your hair. If you have naturally dry or coloured hair, your tresses will get even drier if exposed to the heat. When hair becomes too dry, it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere around it. This causes the hair shaft to expand and the hair cuticle to split. The hair cuticle is the outer layer of the hair. It provides your strands with shine and smoothness. When it’s damaged, therefore, your hair starts to look dull and rough. In addition to attacking the structure of your hair, the sun’s rays also rob your tresses of their protective oils.
Water Alert!
If you’re lucky enough to be beside a pool or on the beach in summer, you need to take extra care. The chlorine used in water to kill bacteria will affect the natural oils in your hair. It may also strip your hair of any colour you’ve recently applied to it. Your hair will be dehydrated and will be prone to tangling. This makes it difficult to comb through, and you may find more hair in your brush or comb as a result. Saltwater is equally damaging, stripping your hair of moisture and oil.
Seasonal Hair Loss
This kind of seasonal hair damage should not be confused with seasonal hair loss. With the latter, a rise in temperature in spring and summer can cause hair shock or trauma, sending more hair than usual into the resting phase of the growth cycle. Hair doesn’t fall immediately when it enters this telogen phase. Instead, the individual is likely to see greater hair fall in the autumn months.
Summer hair damage, on the other hand, may result in the immediate loss of a small number of brittle, broken strands that are quickly replaced.
Steps You Can Take
All this sounds like a bit of a nightmare but, as stated at the top of this article, you don’t need to hide away all summer. There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that your hair stays healthy. Above all, you need to moisturise your hair regularly. Use lightweight leave-in treatments that can restore moisture to your scalp and strands. It’s infinitely better to use a product that contains UV filters, as this will provide extra protection. Use a hair mask containing olive oil to restore strength and shine to your locks.
There are also simple, commonsense lifestyle hacks you can follow. Wear a hat, for example, and drink plenty of water to keep your skin and hair hydrated. Cut down on how often you wash your hair to avoid stripping it of its natural oils. Cut down, also, on the use of your hairdryer and other heat styling tools. Get your hair trimmed regularly throughout the summer to rid yourself of split ends.
If you’re swimming, be sure to rinse your hair before you enter the water and immediately after you emerge from it. Wetting your strands beforehand prevents the chlorine or saltwater molecules from attaching to them while rinsing afterwards gets rid of any that have managed to bind to your hair. Use a clarifying shampoo or a swimmer’s shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for this purpose.
Natural oils and conditioners can restore protein, oil and moisture to your hair. Conditioner can help with frizz and split ends as well as sealing in moisture.
Conclusion
The summer months are, understandably, many people’s favourite times of the year. It’s often the only time you get to enjoy some nice weather away from the daily drudgery of school, college or work. Take sensible precautions, some of which we’ve outlined above, and you should be able to enjoy this time without serious damage to your hair.
If you are concerned about the condition of your hair, why not have a chat with one of the hair experts at Vinci Hair Clinic? We are one of the largest, most successful hair restoration organisations in the world. What’s more, we’re offering a free, no-obligation consultation to all our new clients. Get in touch and book your appointment today!
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