Protect your hair from the sun

Last week this column began to cover the subject of summer hair. There is so much information on this subject I wanted to continue this week.

As mentioned last week, the sun can be fun, but we need to be aware of what it can do to our skin and hair. Many of us are very aware of the need for skin care, but I want to emphasize the very real need for hair protection on those sunny days.

Remember that hair, just like our clothes, is a fibery fabric. Exposure like the warm rays of the sun mixed with chlorine from the pool water, is for your hair, like throwing your colored clothes into hot water with bleach in the washing machine. Fading, loss of suppleness, loss of elasticity and eventual unhealthiness will occur for the same reasons your clothes would be thrown away after continued exposure to the water and bleach. Good thing we can grow more hair!

Besides regrowing an entire head of hair, let’s look at some ways you can minimize the ill effects of enjoying our summer activity. Here are few of my favorite helpful tips to help keep your lovely locks in shiny shape, and avoid damage.

We now know that sunlight and the elements can dry hair out, even more so if you have color-treated hair, so it is really important to keep your hair in the best possible shape beginning with a good shampoo and conditioner that is formulated for your particular hair type. Nowadays there are a plethora of excellent professional retail lines that your favorite stylist can help recommend for you. We are big Redken users and love our new organic line called Surface. Yum!

If you’re a swimmer, your hair might take on a green cast before long, especially if you are light headed or highlighted.

Again, a professional line for swimmers in in order. In salon product lines both have specialized products to first help reduce the effects and second to help repair your hair from them.

My favorite, very simple tip for swimmers: wet hair before swimming with regular water, not pool water. Your hair will hold the water first and absorb less chlorine.

You might love your highlights, but remember that the sun will tend to fade your color. So, take special care of that investment during the summer and keep it covered as much as possible. When fall gets here check to see if you need a color adjustment or fix. Remember if you have naturally dry, porous hair it will really “grab” color so keep it in great shape so you are not prone to a color mishap.

I really hope you are all enjoying a great summer season, even if it has been a rainy one! Have a beautiful day.