What You Don’t Do For Your Summer UV Hair Protection

Have you taken care of the Summer UV hair protection? Saltwater, chlorine, surf-side breezes, the warming rays of the sun on a cloudless day – these are the elements of a perfect summer weekend that can play havoc on your locks. But you can still maintain gorgeous hair, and even get a conditioning boost from the sun with these easy summer hair care tips.

Use Moisturizing Products

Fried hair isn’t just a figure of speech in the summer. It’s a reality. The heat of the sun and the exposure to salt, chlorine and sand will open up the hair’s cuticle, stripping it of natural oils and leaving behind scorched strands.

Use shampoos, conditioners and styling products that contain the words “moisturizing” or “hydrating” on their labels.

To protect hair follicle and boost their strength, try to use the shampoos, conditioners and styling products with seaweed extracts. There are not many brands that produce an effective hair care line that truly works magic on the hair.

Look up and learn about these Natural Hair Care products that have been formulated with protective technology of algae, kelp and seaweeds.

The key within these products is Vitamin K which in certain combinations with other vitamins can produce thicker hair.

Shield Your Hair Color

“Just as there’s no such thing as a healthy tan, there’s no such thing as lightening your hair in the sun in a way that’s good for it,” says Beverly Hills hairdresser Jon Patrick.

UV rays pull the warmth from color-treated hair, leaving behind locks that are faded and brassy. Even untreated hair can turn dull under the sun’s oxidizing rays.

If you’re going to be outdoor during the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., make applying a hair care product that contains UV filters – these can be in spray, gel or cream formulas – as much of a daily habit as applying sunscreen.

I provided some of the best sunscreen products for hair below. I’ve been using them throughout the years and have my own favorites for sure.

Besides, to protect your hair color, hair cuticles and the skin on the scalp, COOLA Organic Scalp & Hair Suncreen Mist is one of the easiest ways to do it. Just spray all over the hair, and voila, you are ready for your outing in the sun. I would reapply it during the day, if you remain in the sun. You can buy this product HERE (my affiliate link).

Saturate Hair Before Taking a Dip

Drench your hair with clean water before you dive into the pool or the surf. “Your hair is like a sponge,” says Melissa Herst, a stylist at the DiPietro Salons in San Francisco.

“If you coat it with clear water, it will soak that instead of absorbing damaging chlorine or salt.”

Lasso the Power of the Sun

If you’ve ever sat under the dryer for 30 minutes at the salon while good-for-you ingredients soaked into your hair, you know how heat helps a deep conditioning product go even deeper.

You can get the same dramatic results by applying a deep conditioner when you’re spending an hour or two at the beach or pool.

Just pack your favorite conditioning treatment in your beach bag.

Some of my favorite hair UV protection products are Drybar Heat Protector hair lotion and Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist. Both products offer protection against UVA and UVB rays. I’ve listed my favorite UV protection for hair products in the table below. All links to the products are there as well.

Vitamins for Healthy Hair Growth

Don’t underestimate a good balance of vitamins and minerals in your body. Hair uses them for growth and strength.

Here are the best vitamins for hair growth recommended by hair care professionals and MDs.

Vitamin A is needed for all cells to grow and mature. Hair is the fastest growing tissue in a human body. And like any growing organism, this vitamin is a must. Besides the growth function, vitamin A helps to produce sebum, an oil secreted from hair folicles. All these functions are diminished or impossible without adequate levels of vitamin A.

Biotin which belongs to the B vitamin family is one of the key vitamins responsible for hair growth. It is essential for the production of keratin, a special protein that our hair is made of.

To fight free radicals from sun and protect the hair from aging, make sure you have enough of vitamin C in the body.

Vitamin E belongs to the group of antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress. In this case, in our hair. Free radical cause the hair follicle cells to break down, hence we need to ensure we have vitamins like vitamin E to prevent it from happening.

Unique vitamin D is thought to play a significant role in hair production. To be more specific, vitamin D may help to create new hair follicles from which new hair grows. That is why when a person is deficient in this sunshine vitamin, the hair suffers fro alopecia aka hair loss.

Minerals for Healthy Hair Growth

In addition to the vitamins, these three elements are extremely important when it comes for your hair volume and healthy looks.

Iron boosts blood circulation in the body and allows oxygen to get to your hair’s roots. And that factor is a potent support to the hair growth. Usually, you will see poor hair quality in people who are deficient in iron.

Zinc per se does not boost hair growth. However, zinc will will prevent your hair looking lifeless and lose a lot of locks to brushing. Most of the zinc comes through our diet of nuts, meat, fish, the high-protein food sources.

Protein for healthy hair is not an exaggeration! The fact is that our hair follicles are made of protein. A lack of protein in our diet can promote hair loss. Make sure you have enough protein in your diet to support your hair health, too.

Best Sun Protection Products that Act as A Deep Conditioner

Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protector Frizz Fighter has some actives you cannot ignore! Take this product with you to the beach or into the backpack to reapply during a long day in the sun. The actives in the formula will provide additional benefits while being heated by the sunshine. I adore this product!

• Artichoke leaf extract prevents dehydration and protects hair cuticles in high temperatures. I wish more hair care products had this extract in their formulations!
• Polymer complex protects against heat from hot tools and helps to temporarily seal split ends.

Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protectant Mist boasts of some of my favorite actives like fire tulip extract and marula oil. You can spray your hair with this product before going into the sun.

• Fire Tulip extract protects against heat, leaving your hair looking healthy and restored. Anybody needs this look when we are out in the sun all day long.
• Marula Oil coats strands to deliver protection from heat with a satin, frizz-free finish.

Besides, I cannot emphasize how powerful and refreshing for the hair is Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shots. I would recommend this product to any woman who is on a vacation and spends a ton of time in the sun. The links are in the table below.

These super-concentrated tubes with one of the best sunscreen product for the hair will amaze you how silky the hair will be to the touch. Look, what’s at work in these UV protection shots for hair!

• Apricot Kernel Oil deeply hydrates, focusing on the driest areas of each strand. Promotes scalp health by preventing dryness and flakiness.
• Sage Leaf Extract provides long-lasting moisture and improves hair texture. Extract wraps around the cuticle, providing a film that reflects light for a high-gloss finish.

Put Down the Heat Tools

With all the heat exposure you’re getting from the hot summer sun, you want to keep your use of hot styling tools to a minimum.

Look what professional hair studios do to protect their clients’ hair with added anti-aging hair care routine.

“Blow-drying and flatironing your hair usually does not hold up well in the summer heat and humidity, so it’s better to use a styling cream or mousse and let your hair dry naturally,” says Dana Lulgjuraj, a stylist at The Butterfly Studio Salon in New York City.

For that sexy beachy look, apply a curl-enhancing spray or cream throughout your hair, allow to air-dry. Also, you can speed up the drying process with a blow-dryer set to medium and a diffuser, then work in a light pomade to keep your hair soft and shiny. You can select a hair diffuser that works with your hair dryer HERE (my affiliate link).

Instead of a curling iron, add body or curl to your hair by using rollers on damp hair, says David Kastin, a senior stylist at the Julien Farel Salon. Let air-dry, then remove. My favorite rollers are the ones with a self-grip that create mega-lift and volume. In fact, the Drybar rollers are easy to remove without pulling an tugging! You can get the HERE (my affiliate link).

And remember, accessories can more than make up for less-than-polished tresses. “Get some cool pins and clips and just put your hair up,” says David Kastin. “This also minimizes the amount of hair exposed to the sun.”

Shelley Levitt is the managing editor of The Style Glossy. She has worked as a west coast editor of Self magazine and a senior writer at People.