Alaffia Beautiful Curls Curl Styling Cream -- 8 fl oz

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]During summer, it’s important to protect your hair from all of the sun, chlorine and saltwater that it’ll surely be exposed to! Here are 10 tips to keep your hair protected and healthy throughout the season.

1. Keep your hair and body nourished

Just like we hydrate our body by drinking lots of water during the summer, it’s equally as important to nourish and hydrate our hair. Consider using a hair mask once a week and using a leave-in conditioner in addition to the conditioner you use in the shower. If you have a beach day planned that will involve excessive sun exposure, it might be a good idea to leave your hair mask in for an extra few minutes to let your hair soak up the moisture and nutrients. Thick, dry hair will require more nourishment than finer hair. For thicker hair types, consider deep conditioners or masks that you can leave in overnight.

2. Cover it up

This is one of the easiest (and most stylish!) things you can do to protect your hair. Not only do hats and scarves make great fashion accessories, but they also help your hair avoid damage that’s typically caused by direct sunlight. To avoid frizz, consider investing in a nice silk scarf that will cause minimal friction between the scarf and your hair.

3. Wash your hair with cold water before chlorine or saltwater exposure

Since your hair has a limited amount of water it can absorb, wash it with cold water before swimming in the pool to minimize the chlorine or saltwater it absorbs. If you’re an avid swimmer, there are also products you can try that are specifically formulated to limit the effects of chlorine on your hair.

4. Apply products that protect your hair from the sun

There are a number of products that help protect your hair from the sun’s harmful rays such as UV hair protector sprays or sunscreen for your hair, like Sun Bum SPF 30 Scalp & Hair Mist. Both are meant to be applied before sun exposure to prevent heat damage from sun exposure. These products will also help defend against damage from chlorine and saltwater.

5. Trim or cut your hair

The summer months are when your hair is especially prone to dry, split ends. This makes summer the ideal time to trim your hair or chop off a few inches!

6. Avoid hot tools

Since your hair is already prone to so much heat exposure simply by you being outdoors, try to avoid using blow dryers, straighteners, or curlers on your hair. Instead, you can achieve your desired hairstyle with products that straighten, curl, or minimize frizz. Sea salt spray helps achieve wavy hair, and keratin-infused products help promote straighter, glossier hair.

7. Put your hair up

Styling your hair in a ponytail or bun not only keeps your hair out of your face, but it also limits the amount of your hair exposed to the sun and helps avoid sweating. Make sure to not pull on your hair too tight, as doing so can cause breakage.

8. Avoid coloring your hair

Colored hair is especially prone to suffering significant changes and damage from heat, so try to avoid coloring your hair during the summer months. If your hair is already dyed, take extra measures to make sure it’s protected from the heat; you can purchase products that not only maintain its color but also keep your strands healthy.

9. Wash your hair after swimming

A study showed that chlorine and UV rays can significantly impact hair color, so shampooing after a swim can help reduce the damage done to your hair. If you swim often and don’t want to shampoo after every time you swim, try to at least rinse out your hair with clean water!

10. Don’t over-wash your hair

There is such a thing as over-washing your hair. If your hair tends to get oily extra fast during the summer, try methods like co-washing or dry shampoo to extend the time in between shampoos. Co-washing involves washing your hair with a conditioner for a couple of minutes instead of a regular shampoo, and dry shampoo is a great alternative to washing your hair for days when you’re short on time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Editor's Picks" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="161213" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1658176075642{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/alaffia-beautiful-curls-curl-activating-leave-in-conditioner"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="161212" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1658176102181{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/sun-bum-scalp-hair-mist-spf-30"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="161214" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1658176134723{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/pacifica-salty-waves-texture-spray"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]