Summer is already here but these awesome tips can be used right now to stop hair damage and can be used all year long! Summer usually means sun, salt, chlorine, wind and drying heat. Short of covering up every inch of our locks, there is no way to get past these summertime pitfalls. However, there are ways to protect hair and scalp from the elements and pleasures of summer.
Sunscreen is a MUST whether we are at the pool, ocean or gardening….and not only for our visible skin, but for our scalp and hair. Hair usually worn down becomes tossed up in a ponytail or off we go in that convertible with our hair flying about. In the meantime, the sun’s rays are drying out our hair and beating down on our scalp. New sprays are out there that protect from the sun and can also protect from breakage and wind damage whether windsurfing or taking a wild convertible ride. Oil treatments can also help for hair after the party if we were just not prepared for the fun!
The scalp also can end up with an extra layer of buildup from sun damage flakes and extra product. There is a fun scrub to make that just screams summer. This scrub lets conditioners work on hair and scalp after they have scrubbed away all of the excess. Just squeeze some shampoo into your palm and add a tablespoon of granulated sugar (it’s better on than IN our bodies!)…then mix and add to your head. Massage into your scalp to exfoliate. As the sugar melts away and the shampoo rinses out, your hair and scalp feel a new type of clean! And, the $ you save can buy you an umbrella drink!
Color is also affected by the elements, but once it starts to fade it is too late. Instead, think ahead and use a raw honey mask instead of conditioner the first time you wash your hair after coloring. All it takes is ¼ cup of raw organic honey and enough water to make a mixture you can easily spread on your hair. Leave it in place for 15 minutes and rinse out thoroughly. Add lavender or chamomile for a lovely scent! You can also research conditioners that are specifically made for color-treated hair. Either way you’ll keep your color and shine longer!
Clarifiers also come in handy to keep strands from looking dull and going flat. The difference between limp and luscious is the removal of the buildup of silicones in shampoos and conditioners. Clarifiers can be used once a week. Just wash twice with a clarifier then condition. Big disclaimer here…do NOT use on color treated hair or you will be back to the salon in no time!
Frizz is another condition that LOVES to come out in the summer months! Heat causes curls to unfurl like a flag on the 4th of July and straight hair to frizz like fireworks! Style extenders can be applied to damp hair and then you can blow-dry, curl OR straighten. The heat from your device activates the ingredients which hydrate hair and block humidity.
If it’s the AMOUNT of hair that you have or don’t have that bothers you, then the latest in a thinning hair treatment is laser hair therapy. A laser hair brush can be used every other day for 15-20 minutes per treatment to stimulate the scalp’s follicles and allow them to produce a thicker, shinier hair shaft. Any viable follicle will respond to the increased blood flow and added nutrients it receives. Using a laser hair brush for hair loss will increase the volume and the quality of your hair. Head into Summer with confidence and some shiny, healthy locks!
