10 End-of-Summer Tips to Repair Damaged Hair
Spending time in the sun isn’t only harmful for your skin; UV rays and hot temperatures can also dry out your hair, not to mention fade your hair color. In this article, you’ll learn how to deal with common hair concerns like split ends, fading hair color and frizziness. From moisturizing masks to gently daily hair care products, these 10 tips will get you started on your end-of-summer hair care plan.
1. Repair split ends. Are brittle strands and split ends driving you crazy? If it’s not quite time for a salon tune-up, try a protein serum to strengthen hair and mend split ends between appointments.
2. Say no to sulfates. Sulfates are cleansing agents used in most shampoos. While they’re not necessarily harmful, they can definitely dry out your hair. Try a natural, sulfate-free shampoo to cleanse without stripping your hair’s moisture.
3. Remove build-up. Swimmers aren’t the only ones who need to worry about chlorine build-up. Ordinary tap water deposits chlorine and other minerals in your hair that your daily shampoo might not be removing. Additionally, styling products and your scalp’s natural oils can build up and weigh hair down. Combat this residue with a clarifying shampoo on a weekly basis.
4. Wash hair less frequently. Summer activities like swimming, exercising or outdoor activities can make daily washing feel like a necessity, but if your hair is damaged, it’s crucial to shampoo less frequently to avoid over-drying. In between washes, use a dry shampoo to absorb oil and greasiness and add volume. But don’t skip the conditioner; instead, refresh your ends with a leave-in spray.
5. Show your scalp some TLC. If your hair is naturally on the oily side, it may seem counterintuitive to add more oil; but a rejuvenating scalp oil helps balance sebum production in both dry and oily scalps. Massage a few drops of an essential oil blend into your scalp to soothe dry, flakey, irritated scalps.
6. Try a keratin treatment. Have you ever wished you had a daily defense against hair damage? A keratin treatment does just that - seals the hair strands to lock in moisture and preserve your hair’s health. Keratin treatments build a protein shield that makes hair easier to style - it's less fluffy, frizzy, and vulnerable to heat and oxidation.
7. Give your hair a break. Turn down the heat for a week or two and go without flat irons or blow dryers. Summer is a great time for no-fuss hairstyles, so enjoy it while you can! Just use a few drops of a lightweight frizz-fighting serum and rock your natural hair texture; or, play with braids, buns or a ponytail.
8. Make a fashion statement. UV rays can wash out your hair color, dry out your hair and even burn your scalp - but don’t let that stop you from enjoying the remainder of your summer days. Instead, make sun protection a fashion statement by sporting a sun-protective hat.
9. Investigate your tap water. If you’ve done everything you can but your hair is still damaged, perhaps your water is the culprit. Washing your hair is the first step in hair care, and if your tap water is overly chlorinated, it could be damaging your hair every time you shower
10. Consult a stylist. If your hair doesn’t respond to at-home remedies and products, like frizz-fighting serums or protein treatments, a new cut and color might be just the solution. Ask your stylist to touch up your roots and tone down brassiness by adding some low-lights along with your usual highlights, or take your hair color a shade darker. An all-over trim will freshen your look and get rid of split ends, or be bold and go for a new cut altogether.