How to Keep Your Summer Hair Healthy

Steve Terry is not only our Co-founder here at Youtime but he is one and Sweden´s best known and awarded hairdressers. Lets find out what Steves best tips and favourite products are to help us keep our locks in shape this summer.

TIME TO TREAT HAIR LIKE YOUR SKIN.

You may diligently customize your skin-care routine throughout the year, but many of us neglect the changing needs of our hair as the weather evolves outside. As summer hits, the sun, swimming, and hot tools can all cause damage that will stick around long past the summer itself. So how do we avoid inevitable damage which comes with having so much fun during the sunny season?

Lets deep dive into the knowledge and experience of one of Swedens most awarded hairdressers, with over 35 years in the industry.

“In winter, hair and skin can get dry thanks to the absence of moisture in the air, like from forced air, which is something we all know about here in the Nordics explains Steve  “But in the summer you’re exposed to more sources of damage that can harm the structure of your hair and the amount of moisture it can hold.”

To avoid serious offenders, Steve explains the season’s most aggressive sources of damage, how to avoid them, and how to restore hair’s health with the right habits and products.

RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF A SHOWER (WITH THE RIGHT SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER).

Between sweat and swimming, you find yourself sudsing up much more frequently in the summer and, believe it or not, the simple act of washing can be harmful to hair fibers. “Every time you rinse and wash your hair you lose proteins because water itself is eroding,” says Steve.

Water can degrade the hair’s fiber and cause colour molecules to release from your hair. Your best solution is a shampoo and conditioner that replace protein and moisture, putting it in a better state while you are in the shower, and therefor keeping it healthier once you are out of it.

To accomplish this Steve recommends:

EXTRA TIP.....using K18 once a week to hyper boost the strength of your hair from the inside out is also a sure kept way off maintaining your hair health even during the hottest and most active of days.

UV PROTECTION ISN'T JUST FOR YOUR SKIN.

Protecting your hair against sun damage is just as important as protecting your skin. “Any source of heat is going to burn your hair and the sun will do the same: lightening the hair, making it more brittle,” Steve explains.

“Virgin hair is always more resistant because of natural oils, but when it’s treated with colour, hot tools, etc., there’s less resistance in the outer layer. And once hair is more porous, it’s easier for damage to occur because it doesn’t have its natural coating.”

Steve recommends wearing a hat whether you’re at the beach or running errands, and rebalancing hairs hydration with shampoo and conditioner to help replenish the barrier hair naturally offers. Similar to your daily face moisturizer, using a cream, milk or serum with built in UV protection while in the sun will supply your hair with a protective layer to combat the rays.

TURN THE TIDE WITH REGULAR HAIR MASKS

There’s nothing more exciting and fulfilling during the summer than that first dip in the ocean, lake or pool, and finally being able to feel like, "yep...its summer". But wait, before you dive in, make sure your hair is well-protected. “Salt water from the ocean dries hair out because salt purges moisture, just like when you put salt on eggplant before you cook it,” explains Steve.

“When salt crystallizes on hair as it dries, it becomes even more damaging. People say they love the crunchiness because it makes their hair feel thick and textured, but when you brush it through it’s in a brittle condition and you can cause even more damage.”

PRO TIP....Prep for a beach vacation by using the mask preemptively before you take off, or better yet, toss a few travel size pouches in your beach bag so you always have one handy.

CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION (AND DEEP CLEANSE).

After your sun session, in best case head straight to the shower to shampoo and condition in order to not let the hair dry engulfed in damaging materials. I recommend using a deep cleansing shampoo at least once a week in normal circumstances, but during the summer, especially if you are living in the pool (why wouldn't you), I recommend that you double that remedy. My favourites are:

Ok, time to get technical. Chlorine, the chemical in pool water that destroys gross microorganisms to keep it hygienic, also eats away at your hair. “It’s very similar to the chemical process that strips your hair when it’s being bleached, only chlorine is more diluted,” says Steve. “And the longer chlorine is in your hair the worse, especially when sitting in the sun.”

PRO TIP....Wet hair stretches and breaks more easily, so when combing wet hair, be extra gentle. Consider applying conditioner or spraying in a leave in conditioner first to help tangles release more easily, and start at the bottom of your hair, combing from the ends to the roots. Steves recommendation:

BEAT THE HEAT (NOT JUST THE SUN).

Seems like just about everything is out to get our hair doesn't it? Well dont worry, theres even more. While humidity itself isn't damaging, its frizz-inducing consequences mean you're more likely to style hair with hot tools in the summer. When we turn up the heat on flat irons and curling irons and use multiple passes to get hair super smooth, we can literally scorch hair and destroy the fibers that make up our strands, not so good right?

Thats where Kevin Murphy comes and saves the day. Steve has selected HEATED.DEFENSE particularly as it provides both heat protection and helps restore lost proteins. “The serum can help replenish up to a week’s worth of protein loss in one use,” he says, “I separate hair into four or five sections and apply roots to ends.” For extra benefits, you can reapply it throughout the day and also right before you touch up with hot tools before a date or on the second day of a blowout.

A GOOD EXCUSE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW?

Whether you love braids and space buns or are just an easy topknot kind of person, a cute updo is an easy fix, and it also feels good to get your hair up and out of your face when it’s steamy outside (it gives a whole new meaning to sun’s out, buns out, doesn’t it?)

But, says Steve, repetitive styling can leave you with patches of damage. “The high points of braids get exposed to more sun damage and you see wear and tear from friction and hair ties,” he explains. Instead, switch up your hairstyle, give your hair a break from tight styles sometimes, and use products that replace proteins as well as rebalancing hairs natural protective layer of moisture.

FEED YOUR HAIR, IT GETS HUNGRY.

Ironic right? Feels like wherever we look for solutions to life whether it be our skin, mental health, energy, and in this case hair, what we eat is brought up as a major contributor to the solution for all of them, but thats because it’s true. Just like your body your hair also lives on the nutrients you feed it, so give it the nourishment it craves with a healthy diet. Picture your meals as fuel for your hairs growth and vitality. Load up on fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins to give your hair the vitamins and minerals it needs to shine, they provide essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, E, and biotin, which promote healthy hair growth and strength.

Remember to stay hydrated too! Drink plenty of water to keep your hair and scalp hydrated from the inside out.

Oh, and did you know that Scandinavian countries actually rank highly in the undesirable list of most cases of skin cancer per capita list....so please, don’t forget to stay covered up and regularly apply sunscreen to all parts of your body exposed to the sun.

We truly hope this read has helped you in at-least one way to keep your hair in its healthiest possible state for the summer, all thats needed now is for you to go out and enjoy it.

XOXO - Steve Terry & the Youtime team.