Summer Hair Care Guide: How to Take Care of Your Hair in Summer

White sand, ocean waves, long beach walks, and poolside lounging… sounds perfect, right? Well, maybe not if you ask your hair and skin—all that summer fun can be pretty tough on them. And while we usually protect our skin with sunscreen and clothing, our hair often gets left out. In this post, we’ll talk about how to take care of your hair in summer so you can enjoy your seaside vacation without turning your hair into a tumbleweed. 

Why Are Seaside Vacations and Summer Activities So Hard on the Hair?

When the weather warms up, we naturally spend more time outdoors, especially during vacation—there’s just so much to do and so many places to explore! But with all that extra outdoor time comes more exposure to the sun, wind, and ocean or pool water, which can really take a toll on our skin and hair. Here are the main culprits and how they can weather our hair.

Culprit #1: The Sun or Why Is Sun Protection the Most Important Summer Hair Care Tip 

While sun damage to our hair isn’t as obvious as sunburns, UV protection is just as important for our hair as it is for our skin. UV rays can erode the outer layer of the hair, called the cuticle, and damage the hair pigment, melanin. These are the two most important defenses that keep our strands whole and healthy.

When the cuticle and melanin get damaged, the proteins in the hair become vulnerable to further UV damage. This makes the hair more permeable to aggressive chemicals and prone to breakage and water loss. That’s why too much sun exposure can leave your hair showing signs of damage similar to those caused by frequent heat treatments or bleaching.

Just Dyed Your Hair? The Sun Will Beat the Dye Right Out

If you color-treat your hair, you probably want the color to stay fresh and bright for as long as possible, right? Many people use special shampoos, masks, and conditioners for color-treated hair to keep the pigment vibrant, just like when they left the salon. However, if you’re not using sunscreen for your hair, all that time, money, and effort can go to waste.

UV rays are the main factor that causes hair dye to fade. Unlike melanin, which naturally protects hair, artificial dyes break down much more easily. So, without UV protection, your color-treated hair is at risk of losing its vibrancy much faster.

Culprit #2: Chlorine 

Chlorine from pool water can really do a number on your hair’s cuticle. It strips away the natural oils that keep your hair protected, making it dry and brittle. Plus, chlorine reacts with the keratin in your hair, weakening the bonds and causing the cuticle cells to lift or break off. This oxidative damage makes your hair more porous and vulnerable to other environmental factors. 

Are Some Hair Types More Vulnerable to Summer Hair Damage? 

Yes! The less pigment your hair contains the more vulnerable it will be to sun damage and dehydration. Hair that’s been bleached and has signs of heat damage needs protection more than any other hair type.  

How to Take Care of Your Hair: Easy Summer Hair Care Tips That Work Every Time

Use Hair Products with SPF

Add a leave-in conditioner with SPF or a sunscreen hair spray to your routine. It not only preserves your hair color—whether natural or dyed—but also keeps your locks from becoming brittle and frizzy. You’ll enjoy hair that’s supple, shiny, and sleek all summer long!

The Skin on Your Scalp Needs UV Protection too

Think your hair gives your scalp all the protection it needs? That’s true if you have luxurious afro hair. For the rest of us, though, our scalps can get sunburned just like any other skin when left unprotected. Putting sunscreen on your scalp might seem tricky, but luckily, we now have sunscreen sprays and powders to save the day!

Wear a Sun Hat 

Wearing a sun hat is one of the best, easiest, and cheapest ways to protect your hair and scalp from sun damage. Plus, a wide-brimmed hat creates shade that protects your face and neck from direct sunlight and reduces eye discomfort (who wants extra fine lines and wrinkles from squinting, anyway?!)

Consider Silicone Leave-ins 

Planning to hang out by the pool a lot? Consider a non-soluble silicone spray or leave-in conditioner! Non-soluble silicones like dimethicone and dimethiconol aren’t recommended for long-term use because they can build up and cause issues (we have a post about silicones in hair products—be sure to check it out!). But for a short vacation, they might be a very good idea! These silicones form a thin, water-resistant layer around your hair shaft, helping the cuticles lie flat and snug, preventing chlorine, chemicals, and minerals from being absorbed by your hair. If you hate the idea of having to read ingredient lists, use an ingredient scanner app like OnSkin—take a picture of the bottle and the app will break it down for you. 

Don’t Forget to Rinse after Swimming 

Both ocean and pool water can be super drying to your hair. Leaving it on is like wearing a hair-damaging mask. Make sure to rinse with fresh water and reapply sun protection every time you swim—your hair will appreciate it! If you can’t stand chlorine smell, try a chlorine-removing shampoo.

Get Your Hair Wet with Tap Water before Going into the Pool 

Here’s an easy summer hair care tip to help minimize your hair’s exposure to chlorine and other pool chemicals: wet your hair with fresh water before diving in! When your hair is already soaked with clean water, it absorbs much less chlorinated water from the pool. This step is especially crucial for bleached hair, which is more permeable and porous and can even turn green from pool water—we have a separate post on that.  

Mitigate Frequent Washing

When it’s hot and we’re on vacation, we tend to wash our hair more often. But frequent shampooing strips our hair of its natural oils, leaving it unprotected and vulnerable. Try cutting back on shampoo—use it every other day instead of daily. Just rinse your hair with clean water and apply conditioner. This can help mitigate the drying effects of overwashing and keep those natural oils working a little longer.

Cut Down on Styling 

It might be a good idea to lay off heat styling your hair or at least try to cut down on it. Summertime is a stressful enough time for your locks with all the extra sun exposure and chlorinated water masks. If you can’t imagine yourself crossing the doorstep without styling your hair at least ensure you use minimal possible temperature settings and apply heat protection meticulously.