Summer Hair Tips
Summer is a time of happiness. Warm weather, sunny days, and refreshing breezes bring about beach stay-cations and dry hair. Wait… what?
It might seem strange, but all the humidity and pool water your hair is exposed to actually dehydrates your hair and causes breakage, split ends, and even unwanted color. If you have no idea how to start perfecting your summer hair care routine, you’re in the right place. We’ll cover the most effective tips n’ tricks for keeping your hair soft, shiny, and hydrated this summer without breaking the bank!
Why Your Hair is Drying Up
Too Much Sun
Warm, sunny beams signal happy, carefree days, but those pesky UV rays can actually cause damage to your hair. Not only does the heat from the sun cause the water in your hair to evaporate, but the ultraviolet rays can also bleach your hair and dry it out. Have you noticed that your hair goes a few shades lighter in the summer? The sun is probably the cause.
Swimming
If you frequent the beach or the pool, your bone-dry hair is partly caused by the chemicals and salt found in the water. Pool water contains an array of chemicals, such as chlorine, that suck moisture right out of your hair.
Additionally, chlorine can even cause unwanted tints of color (typically an ugly green), especially in bleached hair. Salt sprays might be great for adding volume to your strands, but salty sea water sucks the H2O out of your hair and leaves it feeling like hay.
Swimming in fresh water is much better for your hair. Yet excess minerals can easily pollute salt-free bodies of water. These minerals cling to your hair and cause grimy build-up, so protecting your hair before doing any sort of swimming is a must!
Humidity
If you live in an extremely hot and humid climate, the excess moisture in the air may be the culprit behind your hair’s frizziness. In a process called osmosis, the naturally-occurring water in your hair evaporates to join the water in the air.
Another bothersome trait of humidity is that it causes straightened, naturally-curly hair to become curly again. Since this works both ways, straight hair that you try to curl reverts to being straight.Basically, humidity interferes with your hair looking its best!
Too Many Washes
Harsh shampoos contain sulfates, also known as detergents. These sulfates yank moisture out of your hair, which is why they’re most commonly found in shampoos for an oily scalp. However, they end up increasing oil production, leaving your hair greasier in the long run.
We’re not saying ‘don’t shower.’ By all means, please shower! Just tie your hair up, use a shower cap, and avoid getting your hair wet while showering.
Ideally, you shouldn’t need to wash your hair daily. Start with every other day and you can eventually transition to twice a week. The natural oils your scalp produces will become regulated, and over time, your scalp will feel less oily.
How to Keep Your Hair Healthy
Now that we’ve looked at all the causes of summer-damaged hair, let’s take a look at solutions and prevention measures. Summertime should be a time for having great hair!
Keep up With Your Trims
It’s a myth that getting regular trims will make your hair grow faster. But regular trims will keep split ends and other damage at bay, giving the impression of quicker-growing hair that is able to grow longer. Aim to get a trim every six to eight weeks, even if you want to grow your hair out. Split ends are irreparable, so cutting them off is necessary.
Keep it Loose and Comfy
Tight, uncomfortable hairstyles might look cute, but tons of tiny, tight elastics and
summer’s dry hair is not a good combination. Try loose braids, buns, or even just let your hair down this summer season to avoid creating a mess of breakage and split ends.
Stock Up on Scrunchies
Scrunchies and hair ties are not created equal. Hair ties might be more low-key, but scrunchies are overall better for your hair as the surface area of the fabric decreases the strain of the elastic. Scrunchies come in every color and pattern imaginable, so you’ll always be able to find one that matches your outfit!
Help Your Hair While You Sleep
Tossing and turning in your sleep can cause split ends and breakage to hair strands. Regardless of your hair type, it’s important to protect your hair adequately before getting some shut-eye.
For straight or wavy hair types, hitting the sack with a single French braid down the back of the head is ideal. This hairstyle
keeps all locks of hair intertwined and it keeps loose strands from potential breakage in the heat of the night. If it’s too complicated to do French braids every night, try a standard braid. It takes only a few minutes, and with practice, you’ll have your braiding skills down pat!
For curly or coily hair, a ‘pineapple’ style wrapped with a silk scarf is a simple
and effective way to stop yourself from rolling all over your precious curls. Also, consider traditional protective styles, like box braids and locks, which help you to maintain and grow your natural hair.
Every hair type should use a satin or silk pillowcase if possible. These special pillowcases reduce the amount of friction between your head and the pillow. Also, a satin or silk bonnet keeps your hair from being tossed around, and it’s perfect for preventing overnight hair products from staining your pillow or sheets.
Use the Right Protective Products
Preventative measures are much easier to take than trying to repair damaged hair. It’s always best to take extra precautions before doing something that could harm your hair permanently. Unfortunately, once breakage and split ends occur, the only way to get rid of the damage is to cut it off. Keep reading to learn more about how to protect your hair and keep it healthy!
Heat Protectant Spray
Straighteners and curling irons are fun, easy ways to switch up your natural style. However, the radiating heat from these devices literally cooks your hair, evaporating hydrating and creating split ends, breakage, and overall brittleness. Luckily, a good heat protectant spray is the answer to your problem.
Our PURA D’OR Argan Oil Heat Shield Protectant Spray encases your hair in a protective sheath that keeps moisture in and damage out. It can protect up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and reduce the amount of breakage and frizz that occurs when you use a blow dryer or other heat tools. Plus, it provides a sparkling added shine that suits the season!
Argan Oil also combats the humidity of the climate, meaning that your hair will stay straighter (or curlier) for longer if you venture outside.
Deep Conditioning Treatment
A deep conditioner is an easy and relaxing way to help nourish your hair with
nutrients and protect it from water loss and split ends. Look for a treatment that contains virgin oils, which act as a shield from free radicals and evaporation.
Our PURA D’OR HairClimax Hair Masque contains an array of virgin oils, like argan, avocado, and castor. The added Vitamin E easily detangles your hair without all the breakage and gives a shiny, smooth, soft appearance and feel to your locks from root to end.
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is the perfect weapon for combatting pool chemicals and salty seawater. All you need to do is rub a few drops into your hands and finger comb them into your hair, focusing on your ends. This will create a protective sheath over your precious locks.
Regular coconut oil can be difficult to work with since it isn’t refined enough to produce a perfect oil. Plus, if kept in an air-conditioned space, it can easily harden. A better option is PURA D’OR Organic Fractionated Coconut Oil, which is purer than its unfractionated counterpart and will remain in liquid form.
Aloe Vera, Your New Best Friend
If you spend a lot of time outdoors, summer often leads to excess oiliness or even dryness in your scalp and hair. As a result, you could suffer from greasy hair, dandruff, or both at the same time! Luckily, there’s a solution: It’s Aloe Vera to the rescue! Aloe Vera reduces dandruff by providing genuine hydration while also cleansing away an abundance of oil. Carrying a bottle of PURA D’OR Healing Organic Aloe Vera Gel for both your sunburn and your hair is an excellent idea!
Clarifying Shampoo
Many of us suffer from overly oily scalps in the summer due to prolonged heat and sweat. Clarifying shampoos contain natural ingredients that gently cleanse away oil without stripping the shaft and ends of the hair of much-needed hydration.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), in particular, is an ingredient to look for in a clarifying shampoo. Besides having an array of health benefits, ACV easily removes product build-up and impurities without stripping moisture or color.
The vinegar also acts as a toner for your scalp and hair shaft since it balances your hair’s pH, making your oiliness dryer and your dryness more moisturized. Lastly, it seals the cuticle of the hair shaft and end, making your hair shinier and less frizzy. People usually think of vinegar as having a harsh scent, but it is untraceable once washed out.
High-Quality Conditioner
In summer, you need a high-quality conditioner ready to help nourish your hair. A healthy conditioner will help make up for the moisture your hair tends to lose this season. What separates a good conditioner from a great one is the ingredients. Always check your ingredient label (for more information, check out our Why You Should Read Your Shampoo Label blog). This way, you’ll avoid harmful chemicals that cause more damage than good to your hair. Next, choose products that don’t contain harmful ingredients and DO contain beneficial nutrients for your hair!
ACV also has conditioning benefits, such as detoxifying the hair shaft and sealing the cuticle to prevent the evaporation of moisture and breakage. Apple Cider Vinegar is best known for the shininess it adds to hair, making your mane look much healthier.
The Ultimate Hair Care Wash Set
How about combining an Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying Shampoo with a deeply
hydrating ACV Conditioner? The PURA D’OR Thin2Thick Shampoo and Conditioner Set contains Apple Cider Vinegar and other reparative ingredients that clear clogged hair follicles and encourage new growth, such as biotin, keratin, and many other key active ingredients. These beneficial constituents will help you reach your hair goals from the inside out.
This shampoo and conditioner set has easy-to-use pumps and great product reviews. PURA D’OR Apple Cider Vinegar Thin2Thick is a set you can trust for all hair types.
PURA D’OR
At PURA D’OR, our goal is to create cost-effective, transformative products that truly work for everybody. We believe that Mother Earth is our protector, and we must protect her in return. That means a commitment to high-quality ingredients, without sacrificing ethics to obtain them. We’re committing to searching all hidden corners of the globe to find the purest sources of natural ingredients to combine science and nature into one bottle.
We love nature so much that we’ve planted over 185,000 trees in partnership with the Eden Reforestation Project. On top of planting a committed 10,000 trees a month, we plant one additional tree for every bottle purchased from our online store.
Take it Easy!
Hair care doesn’t have to be daunting. With PURA D’OR’s vast arsenal of products on your side, you’re sure to beat the summer heat and keep your hair looking shiny and feeling healthy. Always remember your sunscreen, treat yourself to some ice cream, and, most importantly, stay cool!