In addition to maintaining your bikini bod, keeping your hair healthy and shiny is probably one of your top summertime beauty priorities. Dry, unhealthy hair can be a day-ruiner, so make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep those luscious locks in tip-top shape.
Prevention
- Air-dry your hair.
Summertime heat and exposure to chlorine swimming pools is going to dry out your hair already, so don’t add more heat to the mix by blow drying. Air drying doesn’t take much more time, especially if you go outside and let the wind naturally dry it. - Use a heat protectant.
You should always use a heat protectant before straightening, curling, or blow drying your hair to minimize damage from the heat, and it’s even more important to make this a habit during the summer. - Use sulfate-free shampoo (and use it infrequently).
It’s not necessary to shampoo your hair every single day because it can actually do more harm than good by stripping your hair of moisture. When you do shampoo, use a mild, sulfate-free shampoo to decrease overall dryness.
Protection
- Wear a hat or bandana.
The ultraviolet light from the sun’s rays can break apart the melanin pigment in your hair, so it’s best to cover up whenever possible. Even if you just wear a head wrap or headband that covers part of your hair, it’s better than nothing. - Rock the updos.
Styling your hair in a ponytail, bun, or braid with no part will help protect your scalp from sunburns or other damage. Keeping your scalp healthy will in turn keep your hair healthy. - Don a swim cap.
They’re retro and will make you look like an Olympic swimmer, plus swim caps will protect your hair from chlorine in the pool and salt from the ocean. Slather some sunscreen on your skin and your entire body will be protected.
Repair
- Drink lots of water.
The best way to hydrate your entire body, including your hair, is to drink plenty of water. This means eight glasses a day, or at least as close to that goal as you can get. - Apply an argan oil or keratin treatment.
You can use a mask or a hydrating cream, and be sure to apply this to your hair once a day to replenish moisture lost throughout the day. - Keep up with trims.
ven if you protect your hair the very best you can, it’s inevitable that your hair will still sustain some damage, especially to the ends of your hair. So, to keep the rest of your hair healthy, regularly take off about an inch of hair.
