Summer is much looked forward to after the harsh winter months but along with it brings in hair woes. Hair being our natural accessory and the crowning glory to our beauty special attention and a little extra care has to be taken during these months. Here are some essential tips to keep your hair happy and healthy this summer.
HAIRSTYLES
Summer is the season to try out new short hairstyles. You can try a chic haircut keeping it short and stylish. If you prefer long hair keep it tied up in a bun, ponytails or a loose braid to avoid sweating on the nape of the neck. Make sure that the hair is away from the face as sweaty hair makes your skin greasy and can cause breakouts.
CONDITION ALWAYS
As the summer heat can dehydrate, cause dryness and make your hair frizzy it is important to use a conditioner that is mild and silicone free. Silicon based conditioners can cause acne break outs when it comes in contact with the neighbouring skin such as the face and forehead so its best to avoid them. Deep conditioning treatment once a week will help to keep your hair problem free.
AVOID
Hair is more prone to damage during summer so avoid chemical treatments such as hair colouring, streaking, bleaching, straightening, and perming as they break chemical bonds of the hair causing damage. Styling techniques such as blow drying and hair irons dry the hair further so it is best avoided.
SHAMPOOING
In summer you can switch to a daily defence shampoo which are gentle having a cleansing effect but might not lather enough, that can be used every alternate day. Try to avoid oiling of the scalp during summer as it causes folliculitis which is a bacterial infection of the hair follicles, commonly seen in summer months. Oiling also causes overgrowth of fungal elements leading to scaling and dandruff. Therefore, instead of using oil to hydrate the scalp, make use of a gentle shampoo and conditioner.
DIET
In order to compensate for the excessive dry heat do not forget to hydrate with plenty of water minimum of 10- 12 glasses everyday. Also, it is essential to eat a balanced and nutritious diet rich in protein and omega 3 fatty acids such as flax seeds, walnuts, almonds, fish. Do not forget to include high water content fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, muskmelon, cucumbers and tomatoes to keep your system cool and in turn your hair healthy.
PROTECTION
Protect your hair from the direct effects of the suns rays by covering with a scarf, wearing a hat or using an umbrella as the UV rays of the sun causes hair damage making it vulnerable to breakage, split ends and dryness.
