Curly hair in summer needs protection, as environmental aggressors such as UV rays, humidity, seawater and chlorine can lead to damage, causing dryness, frizz and breakage.
Curly hair can already be tricky to manage on the best of days, and the last thing you need is a bad hair day, making the right curly hair products essential. Whether you live in a climate with high heat and humidity or you’re on vacation, ensure you’re taking extra care of your curls to avoid unnecessary damage. We’ve put together an expert guide with commonly asked questions from our community of curl friends when it comes to taking care of your curls during the summer months
Table of contents
- Does Summer Affect Curly Hair?
- 5 Curly Hair Care Tips for Summer
- How Do I Protect My Hair When Swimming?
- Protective Curly Hairstyles for Hot Weather
Does Summer Affect Curly Hair?
During the summer months, although we all appreciate the sun, there is only one thing that hot weather and humidity lead to: increased frizz. This occurs because the hair typically becomes drier through the summer due to factors such as UV exposure, seawater and chlorine. Heat and humidity can also contribute to additional challenges, including damage, scalp issues from sweat build up or sun exposure. When the hair is dry, the cuticles become raised and seek moisture from the humid air around it. Once this moisture enters the hair, it swells, resulting in unwanted frizz and loss of curl definition.
5 Curly Hair Care Tips for Summer?
Now you’re well versed in how summer affects curly hair, let’s take a closer look at how you can protect and maintain your curls during the warmer months. From hydration to protection, these expert approved tips will help your curls stay defined all season long.
1. Deep Condition Regularly
It’s vital to deep condition your hair on wash days during the summer to keep curls feeling nourished and hydrated. Use after cleansing to maintain hair’s moisture, especially if you’re taking a dip in the pool, sea or if you’re spending a lot of time in the sun. Try our Double Cream Deep Quencher for medium-coarse hair types or the Hydro Crème Soothing Mask for fine-medium hair types; recommended for weekly use.
2. Use a Heat Protectant
It’s essential to use a heat protection spray when using any heated tools, but especially in the summer. Try our Miracle Shield Spray, a full spectrum mist that not only protects against heat and UV damage but also brushing and styling and even damage caused by seawater and chlorine. Its unique tri-blend technology has been proven to protect from summer’s harshest environmental aggressors; suitable to use on wet, damp and dry hair (if you are re-styling in between washes).
3. Avoid Heat Styling Tools
Unfortunately, heat and humidity can make us reach for our hair tools more often because we are likely washing our curls more or having to re-style frequently. However, it’s important to be mindful of heat usage. Whenever possible, opt for air drying, the warmer weather will help sped up the process naturally. If you choose to diffuse, try to stick to medium to low heat to avoid overheating the hair. Use tools that are specifically catered for curly hair, like our Defrizzion Dryer & XXL Diffuser. The dryer provides even, gentle heat to minimize damage while the revolutionary 8inch diffuser covers more hair at the same time, allowing for an even airflow that helps keep frizz to a minimum.
4. Use Hydrating Products
Hydration is key to keeping curls soft, defined, and free. Incorporating the right hair hydration products into your routine can make all the difference. Start with a lightweight leave-in such as our Weightless Air Dry Cream, to smooth, moisturize, and support lasting hydration without weighing curls down. To further minimize frizz, follow with a strong hold gel like our Curl Defining Styling Souffle. Enriched with babassu and shea butter, it helps seal in moisture and maintain definition; making it suitable for all curl types.
5. Rinse Hair with Cool Water
Finishing your wash routine with a cool rinse, even just for 30 seconds can make a noticeable difference to the look and feel of your curls. Cooler temperatures can help seal the hair cuticle, locking in moisture and smoothing the hair’s surface. This simple yet effective step boosts shine, and reduces frizz, leaving your curls looking more defined.
How Do I Protect My Hair When Swimming?
Knowing how to protect your curly hair from chlorine is key when swimming. Before entering the pool, thoroughly soak your hair in water, this helps reduce how much chlorine your strands can absorb. Follow with a mist of Miracle Shield throughout your strands to create an added layer of protection against chlorine. If possible, wear a swim cap for extra protection, while not always the most stylish option, it can further help minimize direct exposure. After swimming, rinse your hair with fresh water. Cleanse with a gentle shampoo or alternate with a co-wash if you’re swimming regularly.
Protective Curly Hairstyles for Hot Weather
In warmer weather, protective styles and curly hairstyles for hot weather, like braids and twists help to retain moisture and prevent tangles or breakage. Some protective hairstyles can last up to 8 weeks, and therefore, it’s important to keep hair hydrated with a leave-in conditioner such as our Moisture Memory Release. To ensure that the hair stays healthy once a protective style is removed, use our Intense Treatment Serum and finger detangle; this can be left to soak in the hair as a pre-poo treatment. Once you remove your protective style, ensure your curls a thoroughly cleansed of any dirt and build by clarifying with Curl Reset Detox Shampoo. Follow with Double Cream Deep Quencher enriched with Shea Butter to deeply condition and lock in moisture.
Ultimately, your curls require a little extra TLC during the summer months, so it’s key to dedicate some extra time to implementing a good self-care routine. Regularly getting your hair trimmed and cutting down the use of styling tools will help to keep your hair healthy. And while those summer cocktails and beverages may be refreshing, they can also be dehydrating, so make sure you stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day.
