Regular summer activities and hair care routines could be making sun damage worse, such as sunbathing after swimming and using shampoo with sulphates in it.The beauty gurus at Hairtrade.com have shared their guide to repairing sun-damaged hair, including ingredients to look out for alongside some helpful hacks.
The beauty experts point out that rinsing with cool water and applying a natural conditioner are just some of the ways to revive hair after too much time in the sun. They reveal that natural ingredients can be added to your daily hair regime for extra moisture, including avocado and aloe vera. Using popular products in different ways also features in the guide, with deep conditioner helping to prevent harmful rays.
Some of the tips seem simple but are often forgotten, from making the time for a trim to avoiding the stress that a ponytail can put on your hair.
Joanne Dodds, beauty expert at Hairtrade.com, said: “People tend to stock up on SPF during the summer months but completely forget that hair needs protecting, too. It’s easy to skip the UV spray on your hair and lay out in the sun for long periods of time.By the end of a fortnight away, hair can often feel dry, frazzled and in need of a good trim due to sun damage. After time in the sun, your hair needs time to heal and these tips make sure your locks are back to normal in no time.”
Here are Hairtrade.com’s top 10 tips for repairing hair that’s frazzled from the sun:
1. Rinse with cool water
Rinsing your hair with cool water after washing will seal up the hair cuticles that have been opened by the hot water, therefore locking in the much-needed moisture gained from conditioning.
2. Opt for a sulphate free shampoo
Sulphate is a common ingredient in shampoo but can cause problems for damaged hair, as it strips beneficial oils. Minimise additional frizz by avoiding this ingredient as much as possible.
3. Go for a trim
Making sure you get rid of split ends is the key to shiny hair, especially important if your hair is dry from heat damage. Cutting off the ends will get rid of the most damaged parts of your hair.
4. Wash hair after swimming
Leaving chlorine in your hair after swimming is a definite no, as it dries it out further. Make sure you wash your hair before sunbathing to avoid additional damage.
5. DIY avocado mask
When blended with oil, avocado is a fantastic ingredient that adds nutrients to the hair, making the ends less frazzled and hair shinier.
6. Try warm coconut oil
Heating up coconut oil until it’s a liquid consistency can make a fantastic natural repair mask for your hair. Run this through the ends but avoid the roots as much as possible to avoid greasy looking hair.
7. Use aloe vera
Although we tend to associate aloe vera with skincare, its repairing effects are also beneficial to your hair. This is a wonder product if your scalp and hair are sun damaged – apply it to both and let it sooth and revive.
8. Apply deep conditioner before sun exposure
If you’re heading to the beach, avoid worsening the damage by applying deep conditioner before you go out. This will soak in to your hair, rather than sitting on the surface like other products do, so will help to protect it.
9. Use black tea in dark hair
If your dark hair colour is looking a little lackluster, rinsing it in dark tea will help to bring back the colour that the sun has taken away.
10. Avoid ponytails
Wearing your hair down as much as possible will prevent the additional breakage that using a bobble can create. If you do go for a ponytail, make sure you wear it at slightly different heights each day to avoid too much pressure.
Main image at the top of the article image credit: pixabay.com
