Summer Hair Care: How to Protect Your Hair from the Sun, Salt Water and Chlorine
Summer is generous with sunshine, swimming, and freedom. But for your hair, it is one of the most demanding periods of the year. UV radiation breaks down the hair’s protein structure, salt water causes dehydration, and chlorine in pools can alter both color and texture. The good news: with the right routine, your hair can get through the summer without being damaged.
What sun and swimming actually do to your hair
UV radiation affects the keratin in your hair in the same way it affects your skin: it breaks down the structure and makes the hair more fragile and dull over time. Salt water lifts the hair’s cuticle layer and causes dehydration, while chlorine can oxidize the hair’s natural pigment and give light hair a yellowish or greenish tint.
It’s not about avoiding summer, but about giving your hair the support it needs.
Wash your hair properly during the summer
Salt water and chlorine should be rinsed out of your hair after every swim, but that doesn’t mean you need to shampoo just as often. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water immediately after swimming, and shampoo only when your hair really needs it.
The Editor’s Note: A common mistake is washing your hair more often in the summer because it feels weighed down by salt and sun. Instead, start with a thorough rinse using clean water; that is often enough and avoids unnecessarily stressing the scalp.
When you do shampoo, choose a sulfate-free alternative that cleanses gently without stripping your hair of the moisture it is already struggling to retain.
Give your ends extra care
The ends are the oldest and most exposed parts of the hair. In summer, they need a little extra care. FOAM’s Dreamy Hair conditioner bar works excellently as an intensive treatment: wet a little of the bar and work it into the ends after washing, then leave it in for a few minutes before rinsing. The result is softer, more resilient lengths.
Protect your hair before you take the plunge
Just as you apply sunscreen to your skin, you can prepare your hair before swimming. Wet your hair with clean water before going into the sea or pool; wet hair absorbs less salt and chlorine than dry hair.
A summer routine doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be well thought out.