How do I care for my curls in the summer?

MOST IMPORTANT: Protect your hair from the sun (If you don’t have time to do everything, just this one tip will cover 90% of the work). Sun protection is a must! We hear a lot about damage from coloring and heat styling, but UV damage to hair is just as intense:

· UV rays break down the hair’s structural proteins. When these proteins weaken, your hair becomes fragile and more prone to breakage.

· Sunlight strips away your hair’s natural oils, leaving curls dry, dull, and frizzy.

· UV rays fade hair color - both natural and dyed - by breaking down pigment molecules.

Every summer, many clients come back with hair that looks like it’s been burnt by heat styling, and they have to cut off a lot of damaged ends. 🙁 I highly recommend protecting your hair with scarves, hats, or caps. If you’re not a fan of covering up, using a UV protection spray is essential. You can apply it on wet or dry hair, just make sure every strand is covered.

Serge D'estel Heat and UV Protection Spray

Avoid sea and chlorinated water

Chlorine causes oxidation, breaks down peptide bonds, removes natural oils, and dries out hair. Seawater also dries hair out and leaves minerals that build up on your scalp, which can contribute to hair loss.

How to prevent damage?

Ideally, avoid soaking your hair in the sea or pool water. But if you can’t, wet your hair with clean water before swimming - that way, less salt or chlorine will soak in. Think of your hair like a sponge: if it’s already wet, it won’t absorb as much water. You can also apply a leave-in conditioner or lotion beforehand as a protective barrier. After swimming, always wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup.

Give your hair some extra nourishment with masks

Not all hair types need masks regularly (check out my previous post, “Curly hair is not the same as dry hair”), but because summer causes extra damage, it’s a good idea to treat your hair to a mask more often.

Bonus tip: When you’re at the beach, the humid air can make curls frizz and puff out more. If you’re styling, I recommend using a stronger-hold gel - unless your hair is super fine!

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE? Enjoy your summer! Take care of your hair with a UV protector or scarf, but don’t stress. If you forget, don’t hide in the shade worried about sun damage. Don’t skip spontaneous night swims just because you’re scared to get your hair wet. And don’t freak out if someone playfully tosses you into a chlorinated pool. Let your curls live their best life - summer comes around too rarely to sacrifice fun for perfect hair!