By BIS Contributor Laura Symons
As it heats up outside, we shed our spring attire and embrace the summer styles.
It is just as important to change out your seasonal wardrobe of hair products to better care for your locks. With lots of pool time, beach outings, and other summer activities, you need to be proactive with UV protection, thermal care, frizz control, and prevention of split ends. With improper hair care, you will end this season in need of a major cut and much needed repair. Here is a quick go-to guide to better care for your hair this summer.
FUN IN THE SUN
Always make sure to care for your hair by using UV protection.
This can come in many different styles of products, and I recommend looking for a lightweight spray or crème. Start by using this as the foundation to your style. Apply the UV protection first to wet hair and layer additional styling products on top. Dry and style with piece of mind that you are now protected from the sun. My recommended products are Oribe Run Through, Biomega Moisture Mist, and Alterna Bamboo Beach.
THERMAL CARE
If you are using any type of heat, whether it be from a blow dryer, flat iron, or a curling wand, always protect your hair with thermal protection.
Your locks will thank you, and so will your hairdresser. This is a very overlooked product that will save your hair from the stress of excess heat and damaged ends. If you are wanting to have luscious locks, this is a must. After your UV protection, add your thermal hair care by layering your products. You now have the one-two punch to knock out any bad hair days. My recommended products are Kerastase Nectar Thermique, It’s a 10 Miracle leave-in product, and Oribe Foundation Mist.
FIGHT THE FRIZZ
The summer months typically bring on humidity and heat, which is a lethal and unfortunate combination for dry and wavy/curly hair.
We all dread the frizz that comes with summer months. The best way to combat this is with moisturizing products that help polish and smooth the cuticle of your strands.
When applying your product, make sure you are smoothing out the cuticle in a downward motion. Starting ½” from your scalp working down to your ends, using a scissoring motion with the hair between your fingers. This will aid in the styling of your hair to be less frizzy, and more manageable.
When possible, air dry as well. You should try and embrace your hair’s natural beauty and allow the wave/curl to dry naturally at least 1-2x per week. My recommended products are Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Oil, Oribe Curl Control Silkening Crème, and Seaextend Silkening Oil Foam.
SEAL THE SPLIT
Preventing split ends before they start is truly the key to this equation.
With the summer months we typically are more aggressive with our hair…from wearing our hair up in a pony tail, to frequent washing and drying, and adding more highlights for the summer months.
The accumulation of the aforementioned list all can add up to damaged ends. Pay attention to how frequently you are adding heat to your hair. Excessive heat can severely damage your ends causing breakage. In regards to your color, stick to highlighting your hair every 6 to 8 weeks or longer. You can opt for a base bump with your stylist in between your highlights to gently lighten your roots and avoid using a harsh lightener.
Visiting your stylist every 4-8 weeks for a gentle trim is also recommended to keep up on the health of your ends. If you happen to notice your ends are peeling like a tree branch, try not to pick. This will only add to the problem and cause further damage. Instead, apply a serum or crème that will seal your ends down and prevent the breakage from happening. Consider this a “haircut in a bottle”; the products mentioned will help correct and heal your split ends. It will feel like you had a fresh haircut without visiting your stylist. I recommend Oribe Split End Seal, Kerastatse Fiber Architecte, and Phyto 9 Crème de Jour.
