Summer is here and we know it’s an ever present coin flip of what your curls can transform into depending on the weather, humidity, or your favorite summer activities. There aren’t many factors we can control when it comes to our hair, but using the correct styling products and tools to combat the humidity is definitely within our curl power. Maintaining your curl pattern and texture health is vital because harmful UV rays, chlorine, and saltwater all contribute to drying out your hair and damaging your curls. When you are caring for your curls during the scorching summer heat, there are several factors you want to consider such as the type of refreshers you can use to revive your hair, what types of detangling tools you can use to combat the knots, what type of accessories or products you can use to protect your hair from the elements, and how to combat the chlorine when you take a dip in the pool. We talked to a few natural hair experts who shared their favorite ways to keep their hair protected during the summer!
1. Toni Anthony
Image Source: @tonianthony
To achieve the perfect wash & go, mini twists, or twist-out this summer, there are a few things you should do. First, find a professional hairstylist and book a trim, a hydration treatment, and/or a protein treatment. The foundation to healthy and bouncy curls will always be moisturized and freshly trimmed hair!
Second, understand how to properly cleanse our hair. Every natural should have two types of shampoos – cleansing & hydrating. When shampooing your hair you should always use a cleansing shampoo such as Design Essentials Oat & Protein Deep Cleansing Shampoo. This will remove any impurities and provide a clean slate. This should be followed by a hydrating shampoo such as Design Essentials Honey Creme Moisture Retention Shampoo or Joico Moisture Recovery Shampoo.
Next, you should treat your hair. The Olaplex No. 5 and the Joico Moisture Recovery Balm are miracle curl hydrators! For max hydration, you can mix the two in equal portions and place a plastic cap over your head for 15-20 min. Thank me later!
We need to understand that oil is not a moisturizer nor a sealant! Oil is a lubricant and its purpose is to provide shine and help things move along smoothly. For example, when unravelling your twist or twist out, you may place oil on your fingertips to prevent frizziness during the takedown. For that purpose it’s great but everything in moderation – excess oil can block the receipt of moisture.
So let’s break it down a bit more! When you shampoo your hair with warm water, you open the cuticle of the hair and allow for the hair to be cleansed. When you condition your hair and rinse it with cool water you are closing the cuticle layer of your hair and sealing in the moisture provided by the conditioner. By the time you place any oil on your hair your cuticle is already closed. At this point it’s just topical. Moisture can only come from water. To properly moisturize your hair, ditch the oils and raw butters and opt for moisturizers such as Moisture Milk or Almond Jai Twisting Butter by Camille Rose. The very first ingredient listed on any moisturizer will always be water.
Once your hair is hydrated your curls are ready for the world! Now you just have to choose which style you want to show off. Whether you choose a wash and go or a twist-out, Camille Rose’s Curl Maker and the Mousse Def Texture Foam by The Doux are two products that never fail me or my clients.
After following these steps to properly cleanse and moisturize your hair, grab your Tangle Tamer and watch your curls come to life!
2. Jasmine Lee
Image Source: @cosmocoolie
Right now I’ve been OBSESSED with the Surface Curls. This line is color safe, vegan, silicone and sulfate free.The shampoo and conditioner alone give you a lot of hydration. I’ve been only using the leave-in conditioning mousse and letting my hair breathe for the summer. For even more frizz control and moisture I’ll use the Curl Smoothing Creme from that line. If you want more hold I’d top it with the Firm Holding Mousse it gives great hold without crunch (and did I say moisture and hydration already?! Because YES”>
A hot tip for protecting your hair in the pool is to wet your hair and apply conditioner as a barrier from chlorine.
3. Toriah Lachell
Image Source: @hairbytoriahlachell
Summer time is a great season, but can take a toll on your hair from the humidity and heat. If you’re going to be in the sun for significant periods of time, I recommend that you keep your hair covered with a hat or scarf so the sun doesn’t dry it out. Also, keep in mind that “frizz” is just your hair looking for moisture in the air. In order to combat frizz, make sure to regularly deep condition your hair. Deep conditioning will add moisture back into your hair and help decrease the amount of frizz you experience. My favorites are Innersense Hydrating Hair Masque and Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Superfood Hair Mask.
4. Chissel Espinal
Image Source: @chisselbeautystudio
Swimming Tips:
Whether going to the beach or enjoying your backyard kiddie pool, Swimma caps are a must to protect your hair. From curly hair to locks, Swimma caps are made durable with luxurious satin lining.
Top Refreshers to use between wash days:
Always select a light product to refresh and avoid product buildup that leads to flat hair. My two favorites are:
First Recommendation: Botanika Beauty Mousse, to refresh and bring curls back with no water application and a quick-dry. Apply this to dry hair and scrunch. You will love this frizz-reducing mousse that nourishes hair while adding moisture and shine.
Second recommendation: Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Hydrocream Whip, this hairstyling mousse hydrates and smoothes thirsty hair and delivers long-lasting, crunch-free hold with a silky, soft finish. It contains light conditioners and natural awapuhi extract to fight and balance moisture for healthy-looking hair.
Another, favorite to protect your color from the summer heat is the Paul Mitchell Ultimate Color Repair Triple Rescue to activate triple benefits for color-treated hair. This dual-phase thermal protection spray delivers heat protection, luminous shine and outstanding condition. Apply product before stepping outside to protect against the UV rays or spray right before diffusing hair. The top phase protects against excessive heat that can damage color-treated hair and lead to dull, faded strands. The bottom phase conditions hair with Quinoa Color Repair complex, so hair looks healthy, shiny and vibrant. Leaves hair soft, smooth and manageable!
How do you keep your hair healthy in the summer? Share with us in the comments below!
