Summer Beauty Tips: Hair 911

It's that time of year again, when spring makes way for the skyrocketing temperatures of hot summer days. Summer means no school (a definite plus) and vacations from work to make way for lazy days lounging around the pool or on the beach sipping Mojitos and working on that freshly bronzed tan. As fabulous as that sounds, summer has a history of being the ultimate "frenemy" when it comes your hair and make-up routine. A little bit of sun and humidity is all it takes to turn your beautiful blow out into a frizzy mess. There are a few tried and true ways to combat these beauty woes and all it takes is a little strategical planning.


Beat The Frizz
Summer is the season that will chew up your hair and spit it out if you let it. Between the heat, humidity, chlorine from pools and the salty beach water, summer is packed with hair obstacles you must carefully navigate. 


1) First and foremost, do not over shampoo your hair. Shampooing strips the natural oils from your hair, drying it out and making it unmanageable and more susceptible to damage. Shampoo two-three times per week at most, unless your hair happens to be on the oily side. If this is the case, use a clarifying shampoo to keep your hair from getting too oily at the scalp. 


2) Condition, condition, condition. It is very important to keep your strands hydrated, especially during the summer. Condition your hair everyday to keep it moisturized. Again, if your hair happens to be oilier then normal, apply conditioner from the mid-shaft to your ends. 


3) Take it easy on the heat styling. If you're anything like me, your morning routine involves a whole lot of assistance from you hair dryer and your flat iron. Since summer has a more relaxed, laid back feel, it's okay to skip the heavy styling. If you have a day where you don't need to be at work or some kind of event that requires lots of effort for your style, skip the heat completely and limit the use of your styling products. A break from these devices will give your hair a much needed vacation and after awhile you'll notice a huge difference in the health of your hair. 


4) Don't forget to keep up on scheduled trims. This is a year round standard; one that should never be ignored. For hair to stay healthy, ends should be trimmed every 4-6 weeks. 


5) Just like your skin, your hair needs some protection from the heat. Before venturing out in the sun, there are a few ways to keep the heat from damaging your locks. Accessorizing is always your best option. A cute beachy wide brimmed sun hat or even a sporty baseball cap will provide full protection from the sun. But if you prefer a style, then a special UV Protection spray/shampoo/conditioner is the second best option for your hair. They work just like sunscreen, providing SPF coverage, and fortunately are made by nearly every popular hair line on the market today. 


A few more things to protect those locks..

• Wet your hair down with a leave-in conditioner or water before taking a dip in the pool. If you hair has already absorbed the conditioner spray or water, less damaging chlorine will be absorbed into the shafts. 
• Apply sunscreen to your part to protect your scalp. 
• Any hair treatments such as perms, colors, highlights etc. that include ammonia, peroxide, or bleach will damage your hair regardless of the time of year. 
• Use products that are alcohol and sulfate free; these will be better for your hair's overall health.
  
   

I hope you'll find these tips useful this summer while you're enjoying the beautiful warm weather. Keep a lookout for Summer Beauty Tips: Makeup Edition coming soon.


Signed,
V. Hughes