Summer. Full of moments of relaxation and carelessness, it is undoubtedly a tough season for your hair. The sun, wind, chlorine, and salt dry it out, frizz it, and damage it. However, by arming yourself with some basic knowledge on how to care for your hair in summer, you will keep your hair healthy, shiny, and manageable all season long.
In this guide, you will discover everything you need to know to care for your hair during the warmest months of the year. We will explore how the sun and other elements affect your hair, share strategies to protect it, and give you practical tips to keep your hair healthy during vacations and beyond.
Understanding hair structure
Before diving into the secrets of summer hair care, let's briefly review its structure. The hair fiber is made up of three layers:
- Medulla: The innermost layer, often absent in fine hair.
- Cortex: The intermediate layer containing pigment (melanin) and keratin, providing strength and elasticity.
- Cuticle: The outermost layer, which protects the inner parts of the hair and gives it shine.
Hair is mainly composed of proteins (keratin), lipids, and melanin. Understanding these components is crucial, as exposure to the sun and other environmental factors can damage them, negatively affecting the health and beauty of our hair. This is why summer hair care requires special attention to protect it from these external aggressions and keep it healthy, shiny, and full of life throughout the season.
How the sun affects your hair in summer
Solar radiation is one of the main culprits of summer hair problems. It can negatively affect your hair's color, shine, strength, protein content, and even cause it to have a rough texture. Although the science on the different types of solar radiation (UV, visible light, infrared) and their effects on hair is still evolving, studies show that UV rays are particularly damaging.
UV rays, especially UVB, can cause a myriad of problems for your hair:
- Cuticle penetration: UVB rays can penetrate the outermost layer of the hair, the cuticle, causing structural changes.
- Protein absorption: Hair proteins absorb UVB radiation, which can lead to damage and breakage.
Hair's natural defenses and how to increase protection
Fortunately, your hair has some natural defenses against sun damage:
- Melanin: This natural pigment acts as a shield, absorbing some UV rays and protecting hair from the sun's harmful effects.
- Hair dyes: Dyes can also offer a certain level of protection, depending on the shade and type of dye used.
It's important to remember that while hair has certain natural defenses, these are not enough to fully protect it from sun damage. Therefore, summer hair care involves taking additional measures to protect it from UV radiation:
- UV filters: These ingredients absorb UV radiation, protecting your hair from sun damage.
- Antioxidants: Ubiquitous and powerful ingredients. they help us combat free radical damage caused by sun exposure. We recommend edelweiss extract (Leontopodium alpinum), coltsfoot extract (Tussilago farfara) and yarrow extract (Achillea millefolium).
Challenges of hair sunscreen products
While there is a wide variety of hair sun protection, there are some points to consider:
- Standardized testing methods: The lack of standardized testing methods, which yield disparate results, makes it difficult to accurately measure the effectiveness of hair sun protection products.
- Misleading labels: Products labeled as "hair sunscreen" may not offer the same level of protection as skin sunscreens.
- Protection limitations: Developing products that effectively protect the entire hair shaft, from root to tip, remains a challenge.
- Environmental impact: Some chemical UV filters used in hair products can negatively affect coral reefs and other aquatic ecosystems. Research ingredients before buying.
The best way to protect your hair in summer
As with skin, hair sun protection goes beyond using specific products. One of the best ways to protect your hair from the sun's harmful rays is to use a physical barrier, such as a hat, scarf, or umbrella. These provide the necessary shade, limit direct sunlight, and reduce sun damage.
How to care for your hair in summer or on vacation
Here's how to keep it as healthy as possible while away from home:
- Wash your hair more often: Especially after swimming in the pool or sea. Washing your hair more frequently helps remove chlorine and salt buildup.
- Use specific products: Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for frequent use. This ensures your hair gets the right balance of cleansing and nourishment.
- Take a break from heat styling: Limit the use of tools, such as flat irons and curling irons. Extra heat can add additional stress to already damaged hair.
- Leave-in treatments: Leave-in conditioners and hair oils provide essential hydration and protection against the sun and salt. If you don't have one on hand, let your usual conditioner sit for longer than usual before rinsing.
- Don't forget to pack: Hats and scarves are very cool ways to protect your hair from the sun's harmful rays. Alternatively, look for hair products formulated with UV filters and/or antioxidants to protect your hair.
How to care for your hair after your vacation
After your summer vacation, your hair might be a bit worse for wear:
- Damage control: A trim helps eliminate split ends or breakage that occurred during your trip.
- Deeply moisturize your hair: Well-formulated conditioners are essential for revitalizing hair after vacation or when summer ends. Look for formulas rich in ingredients like hydrolyzed jojoba esters, which mimic the scalp's natural oils, penetrate the hair shaft, and provide deep hydration. These esters also form a protective barrier against environmental damage caused by UV rays, heat styling, and pollution. (Find it in Prebiotic Natural Shine Conditioner.)
- Sun protection remains key: In addition to these steps, remember that summer hair care doesn't end with vacation. Continue using products with UV filters, avoid excessive heat, and appropriate supplementation is always a good idea.
Tips for caring for light hair in summer
Blonde hair, whether natural or dyed, or grey hair faces a unique challenge during the summer: brassy or green tones from swimming in the pool. It should be noted that pool water contains chlorine and other disinfectants to eliminate bacteria (even salt pools have other chemicals added that can affect hair color). To combat this color change, regularly use a deep-hydrating conditioner. It not only counteracts the dryness of the hair caused by the products used to treat the water, but also offers an additional layer of protection against them, preventing the hair from turning yellow or even green.
Another tip is to wet your hair with fresh water before swimming. This creates a barrier that reduces chlorine absorption. In addition, rinsing your hair after each swim when you are in the pool is a must to remove chemical residues.
Keys to washing your hair properly in summer
Many people are still unsure about how to wash their hair during the holidays. In summer, hair suffers more than during the rest of the year. Here's how to do it correctly:
- Rinse with fresh water after swimming: Always rinse your hair with fresh water after swimming in the pool or sea to remove chlorine and salt residue.
- Treat it with love: Gently comb your hair to prevent breakage. Detangle by starting at the ends and working your way up to the roots to avoid tugging and breakage.
- Wash as needed: Wash your hair as often as necessary, especially after spending time at the beach or pool. However, avoid excessive washing, which can strip hair of its natural oils.
- Opt for a gentle, hydrating shampoo: Use a gentle, hydrating shampoo to cleanse your hair without drying it out. We love Prebiotic Natural Shine Shampoo.
- Turn down the temperature: Rinse your hair with cold water at the end of your shower. Cold water helps seal the hair cuticle, retain moisture, and add shine.
- Air dry whenever possible: Let your hair air dry whenever possible. If you use a hairdryer, use the lowest temperature and keep the dryer at least six inches away from your head.
Why does more hair fall out in summer?
It's normal to lose hair every day, but summer can sometimes lead to increased shedding. Here's what you need to know:
- Summer hair loss is quite common: Many people experience increased hair shedding during the summer months. Studies have shown a 6% increase in hair loss in women in summer compared to other seasons.
- Causes of summer hair loss: This hair loss is caused by a combination of factors, including:
> Warmer temperatures cause the body to conserve energy, which can reduce hair growth.
> Sun exposure reduces melatonin production, which can influence the hair growth cycle and prolong the shedding phase.
- Breakage vs. hair loss: Summer heat and humidity can dry out hair, making it more prone to breakage. This breakage can sometimes be mistaken for hair loss.
When to worry about summer hair loss?
While hair loss is a natural part of its life cycle, it's important to differentiate between normal shedding and potentially excessive loss. Losing around 50 to 100 hairs a day is perfectly normal, so finding hair in your brush or on the shower floor shouldn't be a cause for alarm. Even when washing your hair, losing up to 200 strands is not concerning.
However, if you notice excessive hair loss, your scalp becoming more visible than usual, or in some cases, your hair volume significantly decreasing, it's advisable to consult a professional. A specialist can rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to hair loss and advise on appropriate treatment recommendations.
How to prevent hair loss in summer
Here are some strategies to prevent hair loss in summer:
- Minimize heat styling, sun exposure, and tight hairstyles: Reducing your reliance on heat styling tools, minimizing sun exposure to your hair, and avoiding tight hairstyles will help prevent hair breakage and loss.
- Use nourishing scalp treatments: Consider incorporating a scalp treatment into your routine. Products formulated with botanical ingredients, antioxidants, and prebiotics, such as The Scalp Cure, nourish the scalp and hair follicles, promoting overall hair health and decreasing seasonal shedding.
- Hydration from the inside out: Drinking enough water and using hydrating hair products helps keep your hair healthy and strong, reducing the risk of breakage and hair loss.
- Natural protection: Introduce natural protective ingredients into your hair care routine. It's an easy way to protect your hair. Look for ingredients like raspberry oil (stimulates melanin production), walnut extract (protects the skin against UVB rays and helps the skin produce more melanin), or buriti oil (rich in pigments like carotene and other antioxidants, offers protection against UVB and UVA rays).
By following these summer hair care tips and adopting a healthy lifestyle, you ensure your hair stays healthy, shiny, and manageable throughout the season. Remember, a little extra pampering during these hot months makes a world of difference. And, if you need summer assistance, don't hesitate to contact us.