From Health magazine
The bright sun, sand from the beach, chlorine from the pool—even your neck-cooling ponytail—can take toll on your hair during the summer. Here’s how to protect your hair from summer and get a whole season’s worth of gorgeous hair days.
Keep it clean
Wash your scalp only, then rinse, suggests River Lloyd, a stylist at Sally Hershberger Downtown in New York City. The suds will run down the length of your hair, gently cleansing without drying it out.
Never shampoo before swimming, as this “strips away your protective oils, leaving hair vulnerable to drying chemicals and salt,” according to celebrity stylist Adir Abergel.
Detox your locks. Post-swim, use a shampoo with ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, like Frédéric Fekkai Marine Clean Detox Shampoo ($23). “It grabs hold of chlorine and pulls it from hair,” says Mario Russo, a salon owner in Boston and Vermont.
If your hair is fine, look for a shampoo with a clear formula. “Creamy shampoos are more moisturizing but can weigh down fine hair,” Abergel says.
Add moisture
Quench parched locks. Louise O’Connor, owner of OC61 Salon and Spa in New York City, suggests this DIY mask: Blend 1/2 avocado with 2 tablespoons olive oil; apply the mixture to your hair, and rinse after 20 minutes.
Do pre-plane prep. “Smooth linseed oil on your ends to prevent dehydration while flying,” suggests David Evangelista, creative director of David Evangelista salon in New York City.
Deep-condition weekly, using a treatment loaded with moisturizing shea butter, like Sleek.look Miracle Reconstructor ($16).
Get more from your mask. Waiting for a deep conditioner to sink in? Wrap your head in a silk scarf. (It doesn’t suck up beneficial ingredients like a towel can.)
Frequent-swimmers Rx: Coat hair with neem oil before swimming “to protect and hydrate at once,” says Sulekha Hilton, a colorist at Sally Hershberger Salon in Los Angeles. Try Now Foods Neem Oil ($6.79).
Next page: Create healthier strands
Comments (2)
Useful information. However, I find that one of the most important things I can do for summer hair is to wear a hat when I am in the sun to protect my color. Color fades so quickly in the sun and with today’s prices at the salon we sure want to protect the color.
Does sunscreen work on hair?