Summer is around the corner now, which means it’s time for ice-creams, pools, beach vacations and comfy sundresses (yay!). But with all these fun activities it also comes with sweaty bodies, acne, tan and the most dreadful of them all-hair damage. Hair, as we all know, is a very important bunch of keratin coated dead cells for us.
What don’t we do to keep our hair healthy and beautiful? We are even ready to spend a small fortune on hair products. But the summer sun, dust, and pollution don’t spare our hair any damage. Especially in India, summers are unpleasantly hot and humid in many areas and if you happen to live in such an area, may God help your hair.
Summer sun ruins all types of hair equally. Following are 12 hair care tips that you should definitely follow if you don’t want the sun to turn your beautiful hair into broom stands.
Shampoo Every Alternate Day:
You may have the urge to shampoo your hair every day, but it will leave your hair dry and frizzy while stripping your hair of the essential natural oils and moisture. Instead, try shampooing every alternate day. Try washing your hair at night instead of the day so that all the dust from the day can be washed away from your scalp.
Try Dry Shampoo:
If your scalp is too oily, try using dry shampoo for the scalp. Baby powder can also be used on your scalp to take the oil out; only it will make your scalp a bit rough which will go away the next time you shampoo. If your hair tends to be smelly, use a little bit of natural jasmine oil on your hair to keep it smelling good all day.
Moisturize:
Since you will be shampooing your hair frequently, you need to moisturize it after every wash to keep it healthy. Pick up any deep conditioner from the store to moisturize your hair, or if you want to go natural, coconut oil can act as a great natural conditioner. You can also use coconut oil after conditioner. Try to pick up a coconut oil which is good for natural hair to get the best results. Use 3-4 drops of this coconut oil and apply it from your end to the roots to keep your hair moisturized.
Overnight Oiling:
Does the heat and the humidity throughout the day make you hot-headed and you don’t want to go through the long hair washing process at night? We’ve got you covered. Try using cooling oils for if your head. Oil your scalp overnight to get the cooling effect and shampoo your hair the next morning. Use cooling oils in alternate days too since it tends to be too cold for your scalp and slightly greasy so you’ll need to shampoo the next day.
Use a Sunscreen Spray for Your Hair:
Leave in conditioners and sprays with sunscreens come very handy when you want to give your hair that sun protection. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of buying new things, try using your regular non-greasy sunscreen on your hair. Take some amount of sunscreen on your palms and rub it quickly on your hair.
Cover it up:
Covering your hair could be the best thing you do to it if you really want to protect it from sun damage and dust. Covering your hair will give your hair and scalp the ultimate protection and is a must if you’re working long hours in the sun. You could use a scarf, hat, or bandana to cover your head to protect it. But remember this will make you prone to dandruff; therefore you must use an anti-dandruff shampoo. Try stylish ways to cover your hair up so that it feels like you are making a fashion statement instead of a forceful accessory.
Pre-beach/ Pre-pool Preparations:
Going to the beach or pool during summer may be fun for you, but not for your hair. The salt and chlorine in the water can damage your hair to a great extent. So, to keep your hair safe, try rinsing your hair with cold water before you get into the water. This will minimize the damage thereby keeping your hair smooth.
Massage Your Hair:
Nothing could benefit you as much as oil massage before your bedtime. All you need to do is take a good amount of any pure ayurvedic amla hair oil or coconut hair oil and massage it on your scalp. A good 10-15 minute massage would be enough to improve blood circulation in your scalp, therefore, keeping your hair clean and healthy.
Get a Trim:
I know it sounds like a no-no, but getting a trim could help you keep your ends lively. Summer tends to dry out the hair severely and therefore your hair is prone to split ends. Try cutting your split ends as soon as they occur or they may reach halfway through your hair making it dull and frizzy and making you cut off a bigger chunk. Regular trimming will have to cut much lesser hair, and your hair will remain healthy and even grow quickly.
Protective Hairstyles:
Protective hairstyles are a must for summers. Letting your hair down may make you pretty but it’ll warm you up and also cause your hair a lot of damage. Try protective hairstyles like buns, braids or a ponytail. This way less portion of your hair will be susceptible to the heat and dust thereby reducing the damage.
Hair Masks:
Summer hair calls for a lot of moisture, and what better moisturization than hair masks? Hair masks have gained popularity due to their amazing results. Hair masks can be store brought or you can even use DIY masks. Both are fine, but they must be used 1-2 times a week during summers. Apply your hair masks from root to tips, keep it for a while and rinse off to see amazing changes in your hair.
Keep Away Heat:
Even though heat is not good in general, it can be too harsh during the summers. Try not to overdo straightening, blow-drying or curling your hair during the summer months since the heat from the sun is already causing your hair a lot of damage. Try to carry your hair naturally as much as possible and if you ever apply heat, always use something to protect it.
These were a few tips that will help you and your hair enjoy the summers to the maximum. Hopefully, you will not forget to take care of your hair since damage, once done, cannot be undone easily. Hope you have a great (and damage free) summer ahead.
