There's no doubt that we love the summer months. Sun-bleached and salt-sprayed - summer hair is the best, right? Unfortunately, we’re not all blessed with the hair (or abs) of a surfer girl. Exposure to the sun’s UV rays for long periods of time has been shown to damage the hair cuticle, the outer layer of our hair, which can cause dullness, knots, tangles, and more. But there's no need for your hair to suffer in the heat. Enjoy beautiful, healthy hair all season long with our summer hair care tips.
Follow a Good Hair Care Routine
Just like hitting the gym in April to get that beach body ready, following a summer hair care routine will leave your locks in tiptop shape for the season and protect against the effects of sun damage. There’s no better time than today to introduce natural products that work with your hair and form a protective barrier against the elements. Made with wholesome ingredients and designed for every hair type,Lu's array of shampoos, conditioners, and styling creams are formulated with plant-based oils that are proven to bring back your shine in no time and eliminate frizzy hair and split ends (two of summer hair's peskiest problems). Who knows, Lu might even be this year's summer romance, or the start of a beautiful long-term relationship!
What makes Lu the perfect summer companion? Each bottle contains Impossible Keratin™, which mimics keratin -- the protein that makes up hair -- by blending vegan ingredients to meet the same blend of amino acids naturally occurring in keratin. Not only does it improve moisture retention, reduce frizz caused by humidity, and strengthen every hair strand, but keratin naturally offers UV protection and even promotes healthy hair growth.
Take Care At the Beach
Not only can spending too long in the sun cause hair damage, but a dip in the ocean can also leave your wet hair looking rough, flat and dull after it dries out. When water evaporates from the hair too fast, it can become dehydrated, just like you can if you don’t drink enough water. Saltwater is osmotic, which means it absorbs water from the hair quickly, which can spell disaster for your summer look. If you need to give your dry hair a boost after a long stint in the sun, you need hair care products that moisturize your strands. Try Lu's Rescue Collection to recover dry, sun-damaged hair. Formulated with shatavari-infused glycerin, this nourishing shampoo, conditioner, and "intense therapy" leave-in cream can stand up to the summer heat, hydrates dry hair, and helps restore hair health naturally.
Wet Your Hair Before & After You Wet Your Hair
If your summer days are going to be spent by the pool, here’s a hot tip: get your hair wet before you dive in. This will help your hair absorb less chlorine. And if you’ve got color-treated hair, you might notice how it comes out of the pool a different shade from when it went in. If that happens to you, rinse out your wet hair with a mix of 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar and 2 cups water to avoid discoloration.
Add a Summer Hair Mask to Your Routine
Sun exposure isn't just limited to the beach, of course. Anytime you're out and about, your skin and hair can suffer the effects of UV damage. A great way to reinvigorate your hair when it’s feeling dry from the heat is to make a coconut oil mask. Coconut oil penetrates the hair follicle and hydrates the hair shaft. Just mix two tablespoons of coconut oil with a tablespoon of honey in a hot pan and apply to your hair. Then, leave it for 20 minutes and rinse it out with your favorite Lu shampoo.
Embrace the Sweet Smell of Summer
Newsflash: the sun makes you sweat, and that includes your scalp. When too much sweat appears on the scalp, your hair can get more oily, which can lead to bad odors. Fortunately, you can keep your mane looking and smelling incredible in the summer sun with Lu. The Rescue Collection has the soothing scent of violet leaves, and citrus nuances from mandarin and bergamot. The Control Collection will infuse your hair with top notes of sweet almond, jasmine, tonka bean, and musk with Sicilian blood orange. And Freedom contains marine notes, mandarin and peach for a refreshing citrus punch after every wash. What will be your fragrance of choice this summer?
Give Your Hair a Break
Most of us have at least one hat or baseball cap that works overtime in the summer. But wearing a hat too tight can create tiny scarring and shortening of hair follicles through pressure and cutting off blood flow to the head. This is known as traction alopecia, a form of hair loss due to repetitive tension. If you want to cover up, ditch the chapeau and wrap your hair in a soft silk scarf instead. Silk is naturally kind to your locks and doesn't damage hair like cotton or synthetic materials. Or, try this backless cap that is designed to protect your curls while keeping the sun off your face.
Choose the Right Style
Protective hairstyles are a practical way to wear your hair in the summer. A few of our favorite looks include box braids, which go all the way down to the end of the hair shaft and are left to hang loose; French braids that divide the hair into two sections and braid from the temple back to the end of each strand; or cornrows for something closer to the scalp. Protective styles will last for about two months -- practically the whole summer season -- and are a great way to combat the harmful effects of the sun. Just remember that your scalp will be more exposed than usual.
What is your go-to summer hair care routine? Let us know in the comments!
