How to Keep Hair Healthy During the Summer Months

Summer means fun in the sun. Lazy days at the beach, lounging poolside, jetting around town with the top down and enjoying a barbecue with friends. But if you don't protect your hair from the elements, your dazzling 'do may be brittle, dry and plagued with split ends come fall.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Anti-chlorine Conditioners
• Anti-chlorine Shampoos
• Body-building Shampoos
• Deep Conditioner
• Hot Oil Treatments
• Moisturizing Shampoos
• Protein-based Shampoos
• Deep Conditioner

1. Prevent green hair with an anti-chlorine shampoo and conditioner if your summer plans include a lot of pool time. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner a few times a week to combat any dryness caused by daily exposure to the sun.

2. Do a hot oil hair treatment followed by a clarifying shampoo about three times a month. The oil treatment offers a moisture surge and adds luster, while the shampoo will remove any residue of chlorine, salt, sunscreen and styling products.

3. Protect your hair and scalp from the damaging rays of the sun. Talk to your hairdresser or beauty supply store about creams and spray treatments that offer sun protection.

4. Alternate your updos. Minimize the breakage caused by tight or frequent ponytails by pulling your hair back with headbands, hair sticks or hair clips instead.

5. Remember that color-treated hair will fade faster when exposed to the direct rays of the sun. Hats or head wraps are a must. Find out which sun-protection hair product is best-suited to your hair.

6. Skip blow-drying and the use of hot rollers and curling irons whenever possible. When it's a must, always use heat-activated styling products, particularly at the ends, to guard against drying.

Tips & Warnings

• Create natural blond highlights with a chamomile or lemon juice rinse.
• Remember that although your scalp is covered with hair, it's still susceptible to sunburn.
• Sunning with lemon juice in your hair may add streaks, but the acid can cause dryness and damage.

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[Quickstar]

on 7/13/2009 My hair loves luster, and gets sad in the summer elements.

on 7/13/2006 First, get your hair wet, dry with a towel. Next, apply oatmeal, or a very thick pudding on your hair. Let it rest on your head for about 25-30 minutes. Then rinse well. Next, blow dry hair so it's dry, then keep applying oatmeal or very thick pudding to hair for about 3 times a week for 3-4 weeks. Soon your hair will be healthy, smooth, and very shiny!!

on 6/30/2006 Make a paste from baking soda and water. Leave it on for 10-20 minute. The green the chlorine caused should come right out.

Make sure to use a deep-care conditioner after the green color comes out. Chlorine doesn't just turn bleached hair green--it can dry it out and cause frizzies. This all can usually be prevented if you rinse your hair out right after going for a swim.

on 11/22/2005 Living in Cyprus, I find the intense, long summer months really dry my hair, leaving it looking dull and lifeless. Olive oil is cheap here, so I comb it through my hair then wrap a towel or cling film around my hair for an hour. I then rinse it out (about 3 times to stop the greasy look). It leaves my hair shining and soft and it helps with blonde highlights. I find doing this once a week keeps my hair in great condition.

on 11/22/2005 Mix 1 quart of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Apply evenly through your hair and leave on for approximately 5-10 minutes. Rinse and shampoo as usual. I used this recipe when I used enough hair spray to put glam rock stars to shame in the '80's, and it made my hair nice and soft. I recommended this to many of my clients as well, and they were happy with the results.