Pool & Sun: 5 Tips for Keeping Your Hair Healthy This Summer
In summer, our hair doesn’t always have the easiest time. Between swimming, sand, sun and heat, it can quickly become drier, rougher and harder to detangle.
The good news? A few simple steps are all it takes to help keep your hair soft and shiny throughout your holiday.
What’s on the agenda:
Protect against UV rays
Make the most of fresh water
Detox
Rehydrate
Take extra care of color-treated hair
1. Protect your hair with UV-protective products
Just like your skin, your hair also needs protection from the sun. You may not get sunburn on your lengths, but the hair fiber can become dry and weakened, leading to the appearance of split ends.
Before sun exposure, apply the product that works best for you: a protective spray, lightweight mist or oil. The idea is to create a light barrier to better protect your lengths from external aggressors. Remember to reapply after swimming, especially if you’re spending the whole day outdoors. It’s a habit that’s just as easy to adopt as applying sunscreen!
2. Fresh water: your hair’s best ally
After a dip in the sea or pool, your hair deserves a little shower too. Rinsing with fresh water helps remove a good portion of the residue left on your lengths.
Ideally, rinse your hair as soon as you get out of the water, rather than waiting until the end of the day. You can even wet your hair before swimming: since the hair fiber is already saturated with fresh water, it will absorb less seawater or pool water. Once rinsed, gently squeeze out excess water without rubbing your hair with your towel. A very simple step that helps reduce tangles and keeps your lengths feeling softer.
3. Detox your hair: an essential post-exposure step
As the days go by, protective products, sebum and impurities can build up on the scalp and lengths. A hair detox simply means giving your hair a deeper cleanse than usual.
Occasionally use a cleansing or clarifying shampoo to remove accumulated residue. Take the opportunity to gently massage your scalp with your fingertips, without rubbing too hard. There’s no need to overdo it: this step should remain occasional. Its main purpose is to restore a fresh, clean feeling without stripping or drying out your hair further.
4. The importance of rehydration
After a day in the sun or in the water, your lengths often need a little extra care. In the evening, opt for a gentle shampoo, then apply a hydrating conditioner or mask to your lengths and ends.
Leave the treatment on for a few minutes to help restore your hair’s suppleness and make detangling easier. For particularly dry or thick hair, you can follow up with a leave-in treatment or a few drops of oil on damp ends. A simple routine to repeat regularly throughout your holiday to prevent that straw-like feeling and keep your hair soft and shiny.
5. Color-treated, highlighted or bleached hair: precautions not to overlook
Color-treated, highlighted or bleached hair is already a little more delicate. During the holidays, it can therefore lose its vibrancy more quickly and require a little extra attention.
To help preserve your color, try to space out your shampoos and choose lukewarm water rather than very hot water. Also opt for products specifically designed for color-treated hair to help maintain its shine for longer.
When drying your hair, forget about vigorous towel rubbing. Gently pat your lengths dry and let them air-dry whenever possible. As for your next color treatment, it’s best to wait until after the holidays: your hair will thank you!