Summer Hair

Summer Hair

As well all know, it has been predicted that winter is coming to an end and spring is rapidly approaching. For most people that leaves time to prepare, but in Florida we only have two seasons, summer and something like winter. So, I will be discussing tips for keeping our hair healthy while battling this Florida heat.

     The most important thing for both your hair health and your physical health is to stay hydrated! The one plus to living in Florida is that we have so many beaches, but a note for all naturals is that sea water and salt spray are both beneficial to our curls. They help our curls become springier and tighter, there are sea sprays that can be purchased and also recipes for salt water for your hair.

     There are also tips for those curlies that prefer the pool to the beach. We must make sure that we take precautions to help protect our hair from the chlorine. You can do this by wetting your hair prior to getting in the pool with regular tap water and applying a little oil (not so much that you create a oil ring in the pool, lol) to seal your hair and help keep the chlorine from overly saturating the hair. Or for a simpler fix, you can simply wear a swim cap ;)

     Of course it is very important to drink water on a regular basis, 64 ounces a day, but it is even more important to stay hydrated in the summer heat. So, simply put, drink!!!!

     Equally important as taking the initiative to hydrate your hair is taking the time to make sure that the moisture can stay in your hair. This can be done by either using a moisturizing product or applying oils regularly. It is also a great idea to concoct a mixture of your favorite oils in a little spray bottle with some water so that you can spritz your hair on the go.

     Also keep in mind that the sun is an indirect heat, so we must take caution to keep our hair from being burned. Shea butter and Sesame Oil can be used to as a UV protectant on the hair. It is also a good idea to use protective styles whenever possible to defend our vulnerable ends from further damage.

     The heat may cause us to feel like we need to wash our hair more, just be sure to not over wash. Remember that shampoo strips or hair of the oils that we need. We can still co-wash during the summer and sometimes we can even just rinse out hair to refresh our scalp to get that clean feeling and it will provide some nice hydration. Rinsing with cold water after a co-wash can assist with sealing in the moisture and providing a nice cool down. Then just let the sun and wind air dry. This will prevent breakage and splint ends from letting our hair dry while in pony tails and allow your scalp to breath. This will also allow us to avoid too much manipulation.

What do you do to protect your curls from the summer heat?