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Hair

6 Healthy Hair Tips To Recover From All That Summer Sun and Salt

 

Summer activities are a joy, but all that outdoor exposure can do a number on your hair. From a sunburned scalp to dry ends after too many dips in the pool, as summer winds down it may feel like your hair had a whole lot less fun than you did. To help get your hair back on track ahead of fall, we asked a dermatologist and a hairstylist for their best tips. Read on for six simple steps you can take to maintain healthy hair during the summer-to-fall transition.

Meet the Experts

• Dr. Brendan Camp, MD is a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology in New York.
• Raven Hurtado is a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago.

Protect Your Hair from UV Rays

Cooler weather may be on its way, but that doesn't mean you can stop being vigilant when you're out in the sun. "In addition to your skin, UV rays can damage hair strands by drying them out, making them more brittle, and lightening them," says dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD. "Consider using a sun hat or sun scarf to protect your hair and scalp when outdoors for extended periods." Hairstylist Raven Hurtado agrees, noting that head scarves are "a trending and fashionable addition to give protection and accessorize your outfit."

If you're still swimming, continue to take precautions: "Salt and chlorine can dry hair by stripping it of oil," notes Camp. "Rinse hair with fresh water after swimming, and consider using a hydrating hair mask to restore moisture."

Let Your Scalp Breathe

At the start of fall, lingering heat may keep you sweating—and that's not great for your scalp, which may have already dealt with sunburns and other irritations throughout the summer. "Sweat, oil, product buildup, and pollution can accumulate on scalp skin and hair shafts," Camp tells us. "Use a clarifying shampoo periodically to cleanse the scalp and hair of particles that can weigh it down or contribute to scalp irritation."

Hurtado explains that if you've experienced a sunburned scalp this summer, you'll want to be gentle in your shampooing even afterward. "It’s best to use cool water when shampooing and choose a formula that won’t further irritate the scalp," she suggests. She adds that if you're continuing to work out before the temps have cooled off, you can mitigate scalp irritation by how you style your hair: "You can also wear your hair in a loose style like a braid to let the scalp breathe."

Deep Condition After Swimming

Summer activities, especially swimming, can dry out your hair—and now is the time to start getting that moisture back. "Heat, UV rays, salt water, and chlorine can also dry hair by removing the natural oils that keep hair hydrated," Camp tells us. "Shampoos, conditioners, and masks that improve hydration keep the scalp and hair healthy and protected from damage."

Hurtado says that whether you spent time in a pool or in the ocean, adding moisture and hydration back into your hair afterwards is key to healthy hair, as both types of water can be drying to your strands.

Avoid Heat Styling

It's always best to avoid heat styling when possible, but that sentiment is especially true when your hair is dealing with both summer damage and changing weather. "Heated tools that style hair can alter the structure of hair shafts and eliminate moisture, making hair more susceptible to damage or fracture," Camp notes. That's especially important if you're trying to get your hair's moisture and hydration back to where they were in the spring, before things warmed up.

If it's still warm, you'll benefit from avoiding heat styling even more if your hair is color-treated. "The stronger sun can fade out color, but by minimizing heat, your hair color can last longer," Hurtado explains.

Trim Off Damage

When all is said and done—you've deep conditioned and cared for your hair as much as possible to undo the summer's work—you still might find yourself dealing with damage. If it's a matter of a few split ends, a minor trim will suffice, but if your hair is looking especially fried from the heat, you might want to chop a little more to regain its healthy appearance. Either way, it's important to cut off split ends before they reach further up your hair shaft.

"Split ends may occur from a combination of factors, namely heat, humidity, chlorine, and sun exposure," Camp tells us. "Unattended, split ends can extend up the length of the hair and cause further damage. Trimming often limits the formation of split ends and limits damage to hair shafts."

To remember for next year: "Trimming hair during the summer helps keep your hair easy and manageable, and it also enhances shine and smoothness," Hurtado says.

Change Your Wash Frequency

It's only natural that with the sweating, swimming, and more, you've probably washed your hair a lot over the summer. "During summer, we’re outside, swimming, hiking, and around salty water, which can create debris and sweat," Hurtado says. "You should wash your hair every other day or every two days to ensure a clean scalp."

Once you're done with all that, though, it's time to give your strands a break for the fall transition. "Washing less frequently allows natural oils to coat the hair shaft to improve hydration, flexibility, and strength," says Camp. He tells us that during the summer, "over-washing can strip hair of sebum and increase dryness and fragility," and that "heat, humidity, sun exposure, salt water, and chlorine can exacerbate these effects." That means this is the perfect time to put the shampoo bottle down and let your hair and scalp have some rest.

The Final Takeaway

As the weather cools, the above tips will majorly help your hair chill out, too. Saying goodbye to the hotter temps means that you can wash less often, deep condition away the dryness, and trim off any damage accrued during summer, leaving you with shinier, healthier strands.