Taking care of curly hair in the summer months requires a bit extra in terms of effort and pre-planning. The heat, dry winds, and typical activities of summer can all lead to extremely dry curls and an extremely frizzy head of hair in a relatively short period of time. Luckily, there are precautions that can be taken to keep your curly tresses as healthy as possible.
When You Are Outside, Wear a Hat
Your grandmother wore a hat in the sun for more reasons than to shield her face. Shielding your hair from the direct rays of the sun can go a long way towards protecting your curls from frizz of nightmarish proportions. The instant shade created by a hat will not only help keep your hair from absorbing a maximum amount heat, but it will also help your skin in the long term.
Protect Your Hair from the Wind
Summer days are not typically as windy as fall and spring, but many summer activities, such as boating and water skiing, create their own wind. If you are going to be recreating out on the lake or river, then be sure to secure your hair underneath a baseball cap or a full-coverage kerchief. The wind whipping through your curly hair will have a very drying and frizz inducing result, so it is important to conceal as much of your hair as possible in these situations.
Conditioner Is a Must
Every time you shampoo use a powerful and thick conditioner and a rich, creamy shampoo to keep your curls as healthy as possible. Deep condition once per week under normal circumstances, but if you should have a week with a lot of outdoor activities, consider an extra conditioning treatment after five days instead of waiting seven. Deep conditioning will help you keep your hair tamed and frizz free for the duration of the warm weather.
Skip a Shampoo Day
The best way to protect your hair is by giving your natural oils plenty of time to work their magic on your strands. Take advantage of weekends and holidays to give your hair a break from regular shampooing. Even going only an extra 24 hours before a shampoo can go a long way towards preventing frizz and unmanageability.
Wear a Swimming Cap in the Pool
Find a swimming cap that will accommodate your hair and remember to always wear it when you will be swimming or submerging yourself in pool water with chemicals such as chlorine. Chlorine is drying to even normal hair. Go Ask Alice states that “The chlorine in pools sucks the sebum out of your hair.” Sebum is the name of the natural oil that protects our hair cuticles from breakage, and depleting your temporary supply of it is not a good idea with curly hair. The frizz and dryness will haunt you for days, and if the hair is subjected to chlorine too frequently, permanent damage can occur that would merit a haircut for a reprieve.
It pays to be careful in the summer when dealing with your curly hair. Summer weather and summer activities can contribute to massive frizz and horrible hair days, so be prepared and be proactive.
Source:
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/0727.html
