Protect Your Hair This Summer With These Easy Techniques

For many of us, our hair is our favorite feature. We spent hours washing and brushing it to keep it in a fabulous condition. We also style it with tongs, hairdryer and irons to showcase our style and personality. When your hair looks amazing, it gives a huge boost to your confidence and makes you want to show it off as much as possible.

However, many of us forget to give out hair the protection it needs during the summer months. From frizziness to split ends, the sun can wreak havoc on your hair leaving it limp, dull and lifeless. If your hair follicles get burnt, it can also put a stop to your hair growing. These effects of sun damage aren’t going to make you feel good and could take you months to rectify. We should be giving our hair the same care and attention as we do our skin when it’s exposed to the sun.

So whether you’re going to the beach or just staying at home this summer, try these easy hair protection techniques today.

Apply sunscreen

This might sound like an odd technique because sunscreen can only be applied to your skin,  right? Wrong! There are many types of sunscreen that are designed to be protect your hair as well as your skin. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of this, so fail to give their hair the full protection it needs. So check to see if the sunscreen in your beach bag can be applied to your hair too. If it can all you have to do if put some of the product into your hands, warm it up and run it through your hair. Just try not to apply too much as this can make your hair look greasy and clog up your hair follicles. Pay particular attention to the hair around your parting as this area is the most likely to burn.

If you are unsure about using your sunscreen directly onto your hair, why not shop for a specialist product instead. Hair brands such as Wella and Rene Furterer have hair sprays that provide UV protection. Using these sprays will stop your hair from drying out and becoming brittle. But they will also provide it with added moisture and shine to keep it looking incredible. They often come in bag friendly sizes that are easy to carry to the beach or pool. As with sunscreen, you will have to reapply these products every few hours for them to be fully effective. This is particularly important if your hair gets wet as the product can get washed off. Always read reviews before you buy to get a good quality and affordable protective hairspray for your hair type.

Wear a fabulous wide brim hat

Not only will a wide brim hat make you look chic and stylish, but it’s also an excellent way of giving your hair protection. It will block the sun’s rays and prevent them the burning of your hair and scalp. This is one of the best ways of avoiding having a bright red scalp that is painful and flaky. It will also stop your hair from developing dry split ends. If hats aren’t really your thing, you could try wearing a headscarf or bandana instead. You can find a number of online tutorials that will show you how to tie these around your head in unique ways. So do plenty of practice beforehand to make sure you are getting maximum protection.

As well as the sun, the sweat your body produces when you get too warm can also be damaging to your hair. Studies have found strong links between sweat and hair issues such as dandruff, frizz and dryness. It can also make your hair look greasy and unwashed. While you can’t stop your body from sweating altogether, you can protect your hair from it. Wearing a hat will keep you cool by providing shade from the sun. This will help you keep your body temperature down and stop you from sweating as much. A headscarf can also soak up some of the sweat from your head, so it doesn’t make contact with your hair. Just remember to wash them after use to keep them fresh.

Avoid over coloring

Coloring your hair is a brilliant way of changing your image. Whether it’s to hide greys or show off your personality, hair color can work wonders. However, fading and discoloring is something that commonly happens to women with colored hair. Especially during the summer months. This is caused by a combination of heat from the sun and the harsh chemicals used in hair dye. This can be embarrassing and force them to re-dye their hair more often than they should. Unfortunately, this will only cause further damage to the hair, scalp and follicles. The best way to avoid this from happening is by getting your hair dyed by a professional and protecting it as best you can.

To help maintain your hair color, you don’t have to spend your entire indoors. But you should stay in the shade and avoid the sun during peak times. Again, wearing a hat or bandana can also help to maintain the color and prevent fading. If using a pool or going into the sea, you may want to consider wearing a swimming cap to avoid discoloring too. You should be using shampoo and conditioners that are designed for colored hair that provides protection and moisture. If you’re unsure what to buy, ask your hairdresser for their recommendations.

Accept your natural look

Whether it’s through blow drying or curling, we all use heat to dry and style our hair. But when this is combined with the heat from the sun it can have severely damaging effects. It can make your hair brittle, give you split ends and can even make it fall out more easily. Too much heat can also stop your hair from being glossy and healthy looking. So avoid using these products and instead allow your hair to air dry. This might add some additional time onto your morning regime, but your hair will be in a much better condition as a result.

If you don’t want to stop using heat on your hair, always make sure you used a heat protection spray. This will provide a barrier that will keep your hair in good condition rather than drying it out. You could also apply a hair mask once or twice a week to lock in your hair’s moisture.

Instead of overusing your curling tongs or straighteners, why not use this opportunity to experiment. This could be the perfect time to try out a new and less damaging hair style. Go onto Youtube or visit hair blogs for step by step guides for ideas and inspiration. You might discover a way of styling your natural hair that you’ve never tried before. Did you know that tying your hair up can stop it from becoming frizzy in hot weather? So why not try different up-dos, braids and buns that don't require additional heat or too many hair products. Not only will this stop frizz, but it will also stop you from sweating as much.

With these easy techniques to help you, taking better care of your hair this summer shouldn’t be a problem. The more protection you provide, the easier it will be to maintain your luscious locks. Don’t let dried out and damaged hair stop you from having an incredible summer with your friends and family. Make the effort and make your hair stand out for all the right reasons.