How to care for your hair in the summer? Hair care secrets

Summer is the time when we want to look and feel beautiful from head to toe. Healthy and shiny hair is an essential part of our beauty, so it's worth taking care of it, especially during the summer. However, long hours at the beach, swimming in salty water, or sun exposure can negatively impact the condition of summer hair.

But don't worry! In this article, trichologist and medical scalp micropigmentation specialist Łukasz Budzyński, M.A., will share his best hair care tricks and secrets that will leave your hair radiant, smooth, and full of life.

The impact of UV radiation on our hair

Excessive UV radiation, especially in the summer, has a negative impact not only on the scalp but also on the hair. Too much sun exposure contributes to dryness, frizz, loss of disulfide bonds, and consequently, brittleness. Lightened hair requires special care, as the sun further intensifies this process.

To protect your hair from the sun's rays, ensure you regularly moisturize it with appropriate cosmetics and incorporate UV protection products, such as hair mists, into your daily care routine. When swimming in the sea or pool, protect your hair from salt and chlorine. If this isn't possible, remove these substances through regular daily washing to reduce the risk of dryness and dehydration.

Proper hair cleansing in summer 

Summer is a time when our hair requires increased care and protection. Sun exposure is longer, and warmer days cause the scalp to become oily more quickly and produce more sebum. Therefore, remember to cleanse your hair regularly and properly and use a scalp exfoliator.

Some good tips on how to care for your hair:

• Before washing your hair, comb it to remove tangles. After washing, also comb your hair without excessive tugging;
• Apply the shampoo to your hand and then to your scalp, massaging it gently;
• The water temperature should be moderate. At the end of your treatment, you can rinse your hair with cold water;
• Rinse your hair and any products you use thoroughly;
• Don't go to bed with wet hair! Moisture is the perfect breeding ground for fungi, which can lead to dandruff.

How often should we wash our scalp in summer?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Hair washing frequency and care depend on individual needs and various factors, such as:

1. everyday routines (e.g. practicing sports, the conditions in which we live every day),
2. scalp type,
3. hair length and type,
4. care products used.

Therefore, hair should be washed as often as needed. However, the general rule of thumb for hair care is to wash your scalp more often in the summer due to the heat, which causes excess sebum, and atmospheric pollutants.

Remember that individual factors, such as physical activity, humidity, and hair styling, can influence the need to wash your hair more often. Just because your hair looks "clean" after a few days doesn't mean it shouldn't be washed. It comes into contact with various pollutants every day, and dust and dirt accumulate on it.

Should women and men take care of their hair equally?

Women typically wash their hair every other day; double washing is recommended, meaning we shampoo, rinse with water, and repeat the process. Remember, shampoo should be tailored to our scalp, not our hair.

If we feel the need to wash our hair more often, choose shampoos that are intended for daily care and do not cause severe irritation of the scalp.

Men generally wash their hair daily to refresh it, using gentler shampoos.

Important!

When using hair products (conditioners, masks, etc.), remember to apply them to the hair itself without rubbing them in or contacting the scalp. These products are good for the hair, but not necessarily for the scalp itself.

Scalp peeling

The condition of your scalp is very important, so don't forget to regularly exfoliate your scalp (use 2-4 times a month). A properly performed exfoliation removes not only dead skin cells but also residue from hair products, such as styling products, which are difficult to remove. Well-cleansed skin functions better, and it also stimulates microcirculation. A good scalp exfoliator is an enzymatic or mechanical-enzymatic exfoliator (with delicate microparticles).

By the way, scalp peeling is a very pleasant and relaxing treatment.

Summary

Proper scalp care is essential to maintaining beautiful, healthy and shiny hair.