Summer Hair Smarts: Quick Tips To Avoid Sun-Damaged Locks

Introduction

Have you ever noticed what happens  to a bathing suit at the end of summer, after it's soaked up chlorine, been exposed to daily sunlight and blasted with heat in the clothes dryer? Well hair is fiber, too, and color fadage, loss of elasticity and eventual un-wearability can occur for the same reasons bathing suits wear out. Good thing that unlike bathing suits, hair re-grows. But what can you do about sun-damage in the meantime? These tips help you seal gaps in the fiber, put back the color and avoid further damage.

Deep condition

Exposure to sunlight and the elements can dry hair out, particularly if your hair is chemically treated. Put back the moisture with a deep conditioner that contains keratin, jojoba oil, and other hair strengtheners and moisturizes. For deep conditioning, use a shower cap and cover hair with a towel; this uses the heat from your head to help products penetrate. You can also give locks a quick pick-me-up with a specialized hot oil treatment. Of course, leave-in conditioners also give tresses a boost and help protect against thermal damage when heat styling.

Get out the green

If you've been swimming in chlorine, chances are your hair color is taking on a green cast. Check out beauty supply stores for products that remove chlorine or ask your hairdresser for help. Avoid using hair color products that contain metallic salts (most of these are for covering gray and are for guys). Two preventive tricks: wet hair before swimming--it'll absorb less chlorine. Since chlorine is a copper-rich bleach, rinsing with Club soda after a dip helps eliminate it.

Put back the color

You might love those sun-kissed highlights, but if you color your hair, the sun fades hair color. After summer, visit your salon for a color fix or re-do your color at home. Some women use the old trick of applying lemon juice or honey before sunning to intentionally get highlights. This dries hair out and should be avoided. If your hair is very dry and porous, it can really "grab" color and come out lots darker, so if you're coloring at home, do a test strand first. If your hair or ends grab color fast, choose a lighter product shade or deep condition for a few weeks before coloring and strand test again.

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Boost the shine

Because the sun removes color and dries locks, it can also make hair look dull. For a fast shine boost, condition well to seal the cuticle and rinse with a mixture of vinegar and water. You can also apply a clear glosser, which boosts shine without changing your hair color. Avoid neutral henna-it dries hair and some henna products create a green cast, even if they're neutral, because they contain metallic salts. Check out finishing products that add shine, such as pomades and silicone sprays.

Increase Elasticity

To put back the bounce, feed your head with protein. Use shampoos and conditioners that contain wheat germ protein, or keratin. Avoid pulling and tugging on hair when styling. Some salons offer special reconstructing treatments that make hair look and feel better instantly. If your hair is relaxed, don't over-use protein or it'll make hair more brittle. Opt for moisturizers instead. Take a break from heat styling and let your hair dry naturally whenever possible. When you do blow dry, dry on high heat. While it may seem this does more damage, it's actually better to use high heat because you expose your hair to heat for a shorter period of time than you would if you used medium heat. Of course, never hold hair dryers too close to your head and keep them moving as you dry. Skip the concentrator attachment!

Free the ends

The end of any season is always a great time for a trim. Not only do you get rid of "older" dry ends and split ends, you'll but the shape back in your cut.

Protect the surface

Get in the habit of using styling aids that contain UV protectors and anti-oxidants. They'll help prevent damage and keep your haircolor looking fresher longer. Opt for sun hats at the beach or coat your hair with a protective oil, like Phyto-Plage, which is formulated for sun protection.

Finally, while it is true that nothing completely repairs hair or split ends, many newer products temporarily fill in internal gaps and boost hair from the inside out, so it looks lots better, until real damage grows out. Check out the latest hair treatments to reverse damage such as PhytoKarite Intensive Treatment, Phytocitrus Mask and related nourishing masks and see what they do for you.

About Victoria Wurdinger

Victoria Wurdinger is an award-winning writer and researcher who specializes in business and beauty. 

She has written for dozens of magazines, including Longevity, Drug Store News, Beauty Digest, Drug & Cosmetic Industry, Modern Salon, Art Business News, British Hairdressers Journal, Celebrity Hairstyles, Color & Style, Beauty Store Business, Studio and Day Spa. 

Victoria has also authored several books, including "Competition Hairdesign," "Home Haircutting Made Easy," "The Photo Session Handbook" and "Multicultural Clients." 

Victoria has won several American Society of Business Press Editors awards, not only for her writing but for her design and layout concepts.

Note:  This article was originally published in May of 2000 - Revised 7/2001, 5/17/2003, 3/11/2006, 3/15/2006, 5/02/06 and 3/20/08.

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For additional hair care articles, tips and product information check out the following links:

• Hair Boutique Tips & Articles section.  Check out the over 10,000+ different hair care and styling tips at HairBoutique.com

• Phytologie's Hair Care Products For Fun In The Sun - Phytologie has a complete line of products that will protect hair from the ravages of the sun.

• Summer Hair Care Tips - Written in the very early days of HairBoutique.com, this article was recently revised by author Karen Shelton to reflect current hair care product notes.  This article has been reprinted, with HairBoutique.com permission at Myria.com and several other sites throughout the web.