Summer is almost here once again and whilst there is a lot to look forward to, it’s also the perfect time to think about getting your hair ready for the heat.
We’re put together 5 helpful tips to help you prepare your hair for summer, so you can spend more time enjoying the sun and less time fretting about what it could be doing to your hair.
How should I prepare my hair for the summer?
1. Add more lipids to your hair
When peak summer arrives in July and August, UV rays tend to be bad news for your hydrolipidic film and hair cuticle, which can cause a lot of dehydration.
To keep one step ahead, using lipids to boost the protective barrier of your hair is a good place to start. Lipids naturally exist in your hair cortex and cuticle and help to keep harmful UV rays at bay.
But you can top this up by using deep-nourishing hair masks that contain avocado oil (to strengthen the roots), mango butter (to limit breakage and split ends) and biomimetic ceramides to offer more strength to the structure of your hair.
2. Hydrate and moisturise
As we mentioned above, UV rays tend to dry out and dehydrate our hair in the summer. But there are a couple of things you can try to lock in moisture to prevent your hair from becoming too dry:
- Avocado oil: The presence of palmitoleic acid and oleic acid in avocado oil can reduce hair damage and dehydration. Avocado oil also contains vitamin E and several antioxidants that offer solid protection from UV damage.
- Coconut vegetable oil: This contains a medium-chain fatty acid called lauric acid, which works in a similar way to keratin, so it easily absorbs into the hair shaft. Once applied, the surface of the cuticle can also be covered by a protective film.
3. Keep hair colouring to a minimum
Of course, you want to look fabulous for the summer, but it is generally not recommended to dye your hair before the really hot part of the year.
This is because coloured hair can be extra sensitive to the effects of the sun, with UV rays sometimes responsible for causing discolouration of the original shade, or degrading hair pigments.
Try to dye your hair a 1-2 months before extended exposure to the sun, as it can become dull and lacklustre and may even lose some colour.
4. Tidy up those split ends
Before the summer starts it is a good idea to trim your split ends, as this can help you maintain a good hair length during the hotter months.
Split ends occur when the scales of a hair cuticle spread apart and separate from the cortex, which also reduces the protective layer and eventually leads to split ends.
The sun and sea can play a big role in producing split ends and if you do not manage them early on, you may find yourself cutting your hair to a shorter length by the time October comes back into view.
5. Protect your hair from heat sources
The outer cuticle of the hair can be damaged through overuse of heat styling tools, which can not only weaken your hair but also cause it to dehydrate.
Overexposing your hair to heat styling tools can also affect the hair’s protein bonds, which makes it weaker and can lead to increased breakage and split ends.
Just as importantly, you should protect your hair from the sun, as too much exposure to UV rays can also have a damaging effect. You may find that wearing a hat or applying a hair product that contains sun protection can help during the summer.
Get in touch
At Kartee Salon, we are truly lucky to have amazing customers who love what we do, with some even calling us the best hair salon in Tooting (some have even called us the best hair salon in London!).
And keep an eye out for regular updates on our social channels that offer free, helpful tips and insight into common hair issues: Facebook or Instagram.
You can find us on Colliers Wood Road, SW19 and we are open Monday to Friday, 10-7.30pm (9pm on Thursdays), Saturday 9-6pm and Sunday 10-5pm. Give us a call on 020 8540 4664 or email hello@kartee.salon and we’d be more than happy to arrange a free hair consultation.
