Summer Hair Care Tips for Naturals

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Summer time is just around the corner! That means lots of fun in the sun, in the water and so many outdoor activities (with social distancing, of course!)! Sadly, many ladies don’t remember to protect their hair amidst all that fun. Just as your body needs sunscreen, your hair needs a protective layer as well. Oxidizers and mineral buildup are some of the main causes of scalp and hair problems. Repeated metal and chlorine exposure will damage your hair over time. However, the following hair-saving tips should leave your tresses looking and feeling as healthy!

Do’s

• Wear a hat or scarf if you are going to be outside for extended periods of time. To avoid friction between your tresses and the hat, put on a barrier such as a silk or satin scarf.
• Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.  It's so important to drink the right amount of water, especially during the summer months so your body's temperature can stay regulated.  64 oz or 8 cups is recommended, but if you really want to take it a step further, divide your body weight in half--that's how many ounces of water you should take in per day.  Let's just say I need a bit more than 64 oz LOL!  If you have trouble drinking water, try making a mild tea or adding fruit like lemon (use a  straw to preserve tooth enamel) or add cucumber slices for a refreshing drink.  It also helps to use a good water bottle.  I love this motivational one!

• Protect your hair before jumping into the pool.  Apply a leave-in conditioner and seal it in using avocado oil or coconut oil to create a bit of a barrier.  And don't forget a swim cap if you'll be doing some serious swimming!
• Regularly trim split ends to prevent the splitting from spreading up the rest of the shafts. If you are protective styling, check every 8 weeks or so to see if a trim is necessary.  This brings me to the next DO...
• Wear protective styles such as braids, ponytails, buns, cornrows and twists, wigs and weaves to protect your hair’s delicate ends!  I can't stress this enough!  It will be easier to cleanse condition your hair without excessive manipulation.  I mean, who wants to pull out a flat iron during the summer anyway?  Not only will you give your hair a rest, but you will also find that you are able to retain more length (if that is your goal) making lots of trims unnecessary. Protecting your ends is the key to length retention.

Don’ts

• Do not use just any shampoo after swimming in a pool or ocean. Instead, rinse off the pool or ocean water and use a hydrating and clarifying shampoo designed to remove chlorine and salt from the hair.  Be sure to follow up with your favorite deep conditioning treatment.

• Don't use a lot of heat on your mane. I wouldn't bother with a flat iron--who wants to fight humidity?!  You'll find yourself constantly straightening to keep your style, and that will most certainly lead to heat damage.  Remember, protective styling is your best option!
• Don't forget to moisturize and seal!  Use products with UV protection to help block the sun's rays.

So you see, beating the summer heat is pretty easy.  What are your tips for protecting your hair during the summer?