From the very beginning our hair is put through a lot. Every time you use a hot tool, brush while wet, or even stay in the sun too long, your hair’s health suffers. Now I’m not saying that the sun is doing the same amount of damage as your curling iron, but if like me, you plan on getting outdoors as much as possible, you may need to consider how you can shield your strands from excess summer damage.
Summer Sun Protection
Like some, I love the summer lightening effect the sun has on my hair, but unfortunately this is a sign of sun damage. Having your hair exposed to the sun for long periods of time can be very damaging to your scalp and hair. Especially since more often than not, when lying out during the summer, your first priority is protecting your skin with SPF. But believe it or not your hair could use protection too!
Don’t fret, there are a few things you can do to protect your strands while still frolicking in the sun. The first, and most obvious tip is to try to wear a hat or try wrapping up if you plan on exposing your hair to UVA/UVB rays for very long.
But before you even step outside you can add extra protection to your hair. You can actually apply a hair mask that contains SPF for some added protection. And of course find a hair and scalp friendly SPF to either put all over or just in your hair’s parting to avoid a burning, flaking scalp later.
Healthy Summer Hair Tips
First things first, do not wash your hair everyday! Washing your hair everyday strips your hair of its natural oils, which actually do quite a bit to nourish your scalp and hair. This doesn’t mean to not shower daily, just don’t wash your hair with oil stripping shampoo every day because this is likely to dry it out. Shoot for washing your hair 2-3 times a week and use dry shampoo between washes to keep your hair fresh.
Next, if you have never used coconut oil on your hair, you are missing out! My hair gets extremely dry in the summer months, especially if I find myself at a beach or near salt water. So I will use a coconut oil mask twice a weak, (on days that I wash my hair) to really lock moisture into the strands. This mask obviously does not contain SPF, so if protection is your main concern, do at least one SPF mask a week as well.
Last but not least, find a good hair, skin, and nail supplement. It’s just as important to give your hair what it needs on the surface as it is to provide for it from the inside out. Along with eating a well balanced diet, it’s important to make sure your hair has enough of the vitamins and minerals it needs to grow strong. Vitamins that can help restore hair health are: Vitamin A, B-Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Vitamin E. And be sure you’re drinking plenty of water to keep your body, skin and hair hydrated from within.
Don’t avoid the sun or the outdoors this summer, soak up as much Vitamin D as possible. Just be sure you’re protecting yourself from the elements and giving your hair a fighting chance!