5 Common Summer Hair Care Problems (And How To Fix Them)

 

Wasn't summer supposed to be the season of luscious locks and soft beach waves? The sun, sea and sand are the perfect ingredients for an amazing vacation, but they can wreak havoc on your hair. After a few days at the beach, your hair looks more like a bale of straw than a glowing mane! Here's how to tackle the most annoying summer hair problems and avoid sun-fried tresses:

 

Problem #1: Chlorine Damage

It's not a myth. The chlorine in the pool can turn your hair into a brittle, green mess if you spend a little too long in the water. Yes, I said green. Not many people know it, but there are trace amounts of metals in the water. When these metals get trapped with the chlorine in your hair, they initiate a chemical reaction that turns your hair a green hue. That's not even the worst of it. Chlorine damages your cuticles, the outermost layer of your hair. Without their protection, your tresses turn all brittle and break up a lot more easily.

 

The Fix: Wet your hair before slipping into the pool. Water sort of bulletproofs your hair, making it harder from chlorine to get close enough to wreak any damage. Once you're out of the water, don't forget to re-condition your hair well with a few drops of Argan Oil for an extra dose of hair-softening moisture.

 

Problem #2: Straw Hair

The warm rays of the sun and the salty water of the ocean conspire to rob your hair of all its natural moisture and oils. This leaves it stiff, crispy, and vulnerable to breakage. That beautiful, healthy shine is gone, and split ends come out in force. 

 

The Fix: Replenishing moisture with a quality deep conditioner is a start. If your hair is super dry though, reach for the big guns: a protective treatment such as Babyface's Pure Protein. This will fill in any "bald spots" where the keratin was damaged, and allow your conditioner to work better. It fortifies the hair, making it thicker, stronger, and resistant to breakage which keeps split-ends at bay. Applied twice a month, this salon-grade treatment is an easy way to strengthen and deep-condition weakened hair at home. 

 

Problem #3: Greasy Hair

Yes, most hair turns to straw in summer. But a few of us have to deal with a greasier than usual mane. Humidity, sweat and extra sebum can dirty up your hair pretty fast. Also, you can blame some of the extra greasiness on your sunscreen. As your tresses hit your skin, they can soak up the oils in the sunscreen. 

 

The Fix: Washing your hair often is usually a no-no, but in summer it can make the difference between a greased head and a shining mane. For some, there is just no way around frequent washing. Our tip is to be sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo. It's gentle enough to do the job without over-drying out your locks. And in warm weather months you get extra credit for air-drying your hair. 

 

Problem #4: Faded Color

Dying your hair? That beautiful color won't last long at the pool. When it's not busy turning your hair into straw, the sun fades your hair color away faster than normal.

 

The Fix: Use shampoos and conditioners that help color last longer. The best ones have dyes and pigments that stick to your hair, taking the place of the faded color. But the most effective trick is one that's as old as time: wear a hat. Bonus point if it has a wide brim: it'll keep your skin safe from UV rays, too.

 

Problem #5: Frizzy Hair

If your hair's curly, you probably feel like you've been spending entire summers fighting frizz. The high temperatures and humidity are a magnet for flyaways. When your locks absorb moisture from the air, some of the chemical bonds in your hair break, turning your flat strands into a dull, frizzy mess.

 

The Fix: Anti-frizz serums and conditioners are effective, but most of them do this with the help of silicones. These can build up over time, causing breakage later on. If you prefer a more natural alternative, turn to our Pure Sea Kelp. A natural film-former, fermented kelp adds a protective, weightless coating on the hair which is excellent at resisting frizz. It also is a rockstar at making hair soft and shiny! 

 

Ready for rocking those beautiful luscious locks and soft beach waves all summer long?