Salt & Sun – How to Protect Hair in Summer? Beauty Guide

Summer makes us think of positive things, warm sun and bathing in the sea. Too bad, our hairdos don’t necessarily feel the same about this season of the year. In summer, we quickly end up with dull and brittle hair; its shade fades. How to enjoy hot summer days without hair damage?

How does summer affect your hair?

You must have noticed that hair gets fairer, drier and (often) damaged in summer. It is because of the strong sunlight and UV rays which disturb the action of melanin. After all, melanin is like a natural shield which protects from hair damage and loss of color. Its level may drop a little in summer thus hair loses protection. Dark hair is most resistant to the action of UV radiation whereas fair, bleached, color-treated and gray hair is most vulnerable; gray strands have the least melanin so the sunlight quickly destroys them.

Why do salty water and the sun damage the hair?

UV rays are extremely harmful – their power of destruction is overwhelming. They penetrate through windows and clothes. Thin, delicate hair has no chance while fighting against the non-stop, intensive sunlight.

The sun, slowly yet successfully, raises the hair coat – the keratin scales. Sunrays and high temperatures damage the inner protein structures. Sun hair damage is irreversible. Powerless strands become brittle and fragile.

If strands are lighter because of the sun, it means that sunrays have oxidized the melanin – and consequently, caused some hair damage. Water and wet hair after bathing in the sea work like contact lenses which concentrate the harmful UV rays.

The sea salt has a bad influence on the condition and appearance of hair, too. Hair is coarse, dull and unruly, the brushing routine is a nightmare. How so? The sea water has pH 8 – due to the mix of basic pH, the hair scales are open so the hair cortex is exposed and unprotected. Hair damage is just around the corner.

How to protect your hair against the sun?

Hair needs an intensified care in summer. Protecting it from damage and locking water in is the key thing. How to do it?

● go for professional products that are designed for protecting the inner hair structures from the sunlight; they have a high SPF, an array of repairing ingredients and vitamins (A, B, E, F, H)

● apply hair oils – regular hair and scalp natural oil treatments and masks effectively protect hair from damage. The best hair oils or blends of oils are rich in UV filter which additionally shields from the sunlight. Oils leave a hygroscopic coat on hair surface, locking moisture in

● a hat or a scarf doesn’t sound like a great idea on hot summer days but it perfectly shields the scalp and hair from losing water

● if your hair is wet after baths, let it air dry (in the shadow or under an umbrella)

How to care for hair after going back from the beach?

● if possible, take a shower and rinse the salt out of your hair: use a mild shampoo and – for the final rinse – try a vinegar rinse to seal the hair surface and restore pH (it may be cold water to close the hair scales),

● do a dry hair oil treatment – apply oils to dry strands, not just before bathing in the sea; do it afterwards, too – in this way you let your hair keep the water inside; oils are the best company for your hairdo – not just in summer

● put your hair up in a bun – as a result, hair won’t be getting so dry when exposed to the sunlight so you’ll avoid sun hair damage and dryness

● on holidays, give up on flat irons, curlers and blow-dryers – heat styling additionally destroys hair which is already fragile

● don’t use products that are based on drying alcohols (Isopropyl, Alcohol Denat) and parabens

Does hair coloring make sense in summer?

If you can, give up on hair dyeing in summer. Hair dye is like the final punch for sun-tired hairdos. To make things worse, dyes open hair cuticles and cause dryness. If you must have your hair colored, go for henna or a different herbal product which doesn’t lead to hair damage. After coloring, treat your hair to repairing procedures at a salon (Olaplex, keratin smoothing or hair steam treatment).