Spring into Summer Hair Care Tips
Fun in the Sun
Lifestyle affects how we care for, style and wear our hair. If you’re an urban professional who spends most of your time in the office, chances are you’re not going to be getting much pool or beach time, which means you won’t have to worry about the effects of sun or chlorine. Go for the new hair color that you are thinking about! If you’re a parent with three kids, you’ll likely be leading a fairly active lifestyle, swimming or playing outside all day. So now is the perfect time to grow out bangs or ease up on hair coloring —your hair will probably be in a ponytail for most of the time anyway.
After a long winter, who doesn’t love to to bask in the glow of warm rays or relax near the pool. But the sun, chlorine and even salt water can affect hair—especially light hair—so it’s important to know how to combat potential damage.
Hair Care Tip #1
Chlorine can be very drying to hair. Wetting your hair with cold water before entering the pool can help close the hair shaft, which will minimize chlorine’s ability to penetrate. You can also apply conditioner that serves the same purpose. If you visit the pool more than once or twice a week, take “hair off days”—in which you don’t put your head under water. Make sure you are using a quality conditioner at all times and consider using a deep conditioning treatment once a week.
Hair Care Tip #2
The sun will change hair color. Sun has a lightening effect on hair, particularly for those of us who have lighter hair. If you are a natural blonde, you can look forward to pretty natural highlights. If you are a color-treated blonde, you’ll need to keep in mind that if you spend a good deal of time in the sun, your color will lighten considerably. If you prefer a warmer blonde tone and want to steer clear of a “bleached out” look, keep that in mind when you get hair color before the summer months. Talk to your stylist about what might be appropriate for you to maintain the hair color you want while still being able to spend time in the sun. Your stylist will likely go a shade or two darker or warmer to accommodate for the sun’s effects.