How to Take Care of Your Hair in Summer

Sunshine and vacations — summer is a time that lifts our spirits with brighter days and plans for beach trips, city strolls, or countryside walks. While we often remember to protect our skin with sunscreen, we tend to overlook our hair, leaving it vulnerable to dryness, frizz, and split ends. Let’s explore what causes hair damage during the summer and how you can protect your hair throughout the season.

What Causes Hair Damage in Summer?

While summer brings sunshine, it also exposes your hair to several elements that can weaken, dry out, and damage it. Understanding what causes summer hair damage is the first step toward keeping your hair healthy and vibrant. Let’s break down:

1. UV Radiation from the Sun

Prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays breaks down the protein structure (keratin) in your hair, leading to dryness, weakness, and increased breakage. UV rays can also fade your hair colour, whether it’s dyed or natural.

2. Heat and Humidity

High summer temperatures strip away your scalp’s natural oils, leaving your strands dehydrated and dull. At the same time, humidity causes the hair shaft to swell, resulting in frizz, flyaways, and lack of control, especially for curly or wavy hair types.

3. Chlorine in Pools

Chlorine in swimming pools removes the natural oils that keep your hair smooth and hydrated. This can leave your hair dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage.

4. Saltwater from the Sea

Saltwater draws moisture out of your hair, leaving it dehydrated, rough, and tangled. Repeated exposure can increase split ends and make your hair harder to manage.

5. Frequent Washing

With sweat, heat, and outdoor activities, it’s tempting to wash your hair every day during summer. However, overwashing can strip the scalp and hair of their natural oils, leading to dryness, frizz, and irritation.

6. Air Conditioning

Air conditioning dries out the air as well as your hair, leading to static, brittle strands, and a dull appearance.

7. Over-Styling and Heat Tool

Summer already brings plenty of heat, so using flat irons, curling wands, or blow dryers can worsen the damage. These tools expose your hair to high temperatures, moisture loss, split ends, and breakage.

Tips to Keep Your Hair Healthy in Summer

Now that we’ve explored what causes hair damage during summer, let’s look at simple yet effective ways to protect and nourish your hair.

1. Cover Your Hair

Wearing a hat, scarf, or using a parasol is one of the easiest ways to shield your hair from direct sunlight. This physical barrier helps prevent UV damage, dryness, and colour fading, especially if you’re spending long hours outdoors.

2. Use Leave-In Conditioner or UV Protection Spray

One great way to protect your hair is by using a leave-in conditioner or hair mist with UV protection. These products create a protective barrier against sun exposure. Look for formulas that are sulphate-free and suited to your hair type, especially if your hair is coloured or curly.

3. Hydrate with Deep Conditioning Treatments

Your hair needs extra hydration in summer. Use a deep conditioning mask once a week to replenish moisture, repair damage, and add shine, particularly if your hair tends to get dry. Ingredients like coconut oil, avocado, shea butter, and aloe vera work wonders for restoring softness and elasticity.

4. Rinse Hair After Swimming

Whether you’re swimming in a pool or the ocean, always rinse your hair with fresh water immediately after. This helps wash away salt or chlorine before they can dry out and damage your strands. A gentle, sulphate-free shampoo followed by a hydrating conditioner is ideal for aftercare.

5. Limit Heat Styling

Avoid using blow dryers, straighteners, and curling irons too often during the hot months. If you do style your hair, always apply a heat protectant spray first. Embrace natural hairstyles like braids, buns, or loose waves to reduce heat stress.

6. Get Regular Trims

Getting your hair trimmed every 6–8 weeks helps remove dry, split ends and keeps your hair looking fresh and healthy. Regular trims also prevent damage from spreading further up the hair shaft.

7. Try Protective Hairstyles

Braids, buns, ponytails, and loose twists not only look great but also reduce exposure to sun, wind, and tangling. Avoid tight styles that pull too much on the scalp, especially when your hair is wet or fragile.

8. Eat Well and Stay Hydrated

Healthy hair starts from within. Drink plenty of water and include nutrient-rich foods in your diet to support hair health:

• Biotin (eggs, almonds)

• Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, flaxseeds)

• Vitamin E (avocados, nuts)

• Vitamin C (citrus fruits, berries)

These nutrients help maintain a healthy scalp, boost shine, and promote hair growth.

Conclusion

In addition to the sun’s UV rays, factors like heat, chlorine in pools, saltwater, frequent washing due to sweating, and air conditioning all contribute to hair damage during summer. Being aware of these environmental stressors and taking steps to protect your hair, can make a big difference in keeping it healthy.

Whether it’s wearing a hat, using a UV protection spray, deep conditioning regularly, rinsing after swimming, staying hydrated, or eating a nutrient-rich diet, each habit plays a role in shielding your hair from damage.

Taking these small actions can help you minimise the effects of summer stress and enjoy the sunshine with strong, vibrant hair.