How to Care for Your Natural Hair This Summer

You may love the summer. The warm weather, the cute clothes, the fun activities, the time with friends and family. For a lot of people, it’s the best time of the year, but for your hair, the changing weather can cause damage and dehydration. Fortunately, a solid hair care routine can help you care for your natural hair this summer. Here’s everything you need to know!

Get a trim

Both winter and summer weather have their own challenges for natural hair. When you’re preparing for the summer, head to the salon and get your ends trimmed so you can start fresh. Your ends are the oldest part of your hair and may become split over time. Once they’re damaged, it’s impossible to revive them. Cutting off the dead ends periodically will allow you to maintain healthy hair and prevent you from having to chop more hair later on.

Use a clarifying shampoo

Summertime means spending your days at the pool. If you love outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, and working out, then you’ll want to factor this into your haircare routine. Swimming, in particular, can damage hair because of the chlorine and other chemicals used in the pool water. You may want to deep condition prior to swimming and then use a clarifying shampoo afterward. Clarifying shampoos also help to rid your scalp of the salt (from your sweat) that builds up over time. This causes your natural hair to dry out if it’s not washed correctly. Co-washing can also help retain natural moisture (keep reading for more on this!).

Incorporate a co-wash

Co-washing is the process of using a conditioning cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and build-up from your hair. Warm weather is the ideal opportunity to integrate
co-washing into your hair care routine because it allows you to up your moisturizing. Co-washing cleansers have more conditioning properties and also skip the harsh detergents that can strip your hair of its natural oils. You’ll still get that clean feeling you want without drying out your hair. Say hello to hydration!

Use a leave-in conditioner

The summer sun is damaging to both your skin and hair due to UV light. It can easily strip your hair of the moisture it has, which makes it appear dry and dull. Kiss that goodbye with a leave-in conditioner. You can think about it like sunscreen for your hair. Spritz it on before heading outside for the day or going to lay out at the pool. You can also spray it in your hair after returning from a day in the sun, and it will replenish the moisture in your hair and also make it more manageable.

Avoid heat styling and drying techniques

Summer is often a time that we take vacations and take a break from the more rigorous schedules of the work and school year. So, this summer, give your hair a break too. Since your hair will be exposed to more heat during the summertime, it’s always a great idea to avoid heat styling and other similar techniques that can cause your hair to lose moisture and become damaged. Use this time to experiment with protective styles that don’t require heat and minimize damage.

Hydrate your hair

Did you know that what you consume on a daily basis has the potential to impact your hair? Stay hydrated throughout the summer by drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fruits and vegetables. These essential vitamins will be reflected in luscious, moisturized hair. Most doctors recommend at least 64 oz of water per day, but this can also change based on your weight. Consult a trusted medical professional to see what your recommended water intake is.

Embrace shrinkage

Natural hair has a tight curl or coil which exhibits itself in shrinkage. Depending on your hair’s type and porosity, your curls may shrink up to 90 percent. This means your hair will appear shorter in length once it dries. While you may not love shrinkage, it is a normal and healthy occurrence. Especially during the summer, you should embrace shrinkage because it means that your hair is properly moisturized as it protects itself from drying out. Embrace shrinkage and keep all that moisture in!

Evaluate your climate

While you may think that “heat is heat,” it’s just not true when it comes to hair care. Humid and arid climates have different impacts on natural hair, and thus you should alter your haircare accordingly.

For humid climates, you’ll want to use humectants, which are substances that are used to reduce the loss of moisture. Humectants are useful in humid climates because they draw some of the moisture from the air to your hair to help moisturize it. Natural humectants include honey and glycerin. Although, beware that humectants can cause frizz, so you should avoid them (even in humid climates) even if you’re trying to minimize that. 

For arid climates, dry air will pull the moisture from your hair. Therefore, it’s better to avoid humectants or use anti-humectants to protect your hair from drying out. Some natural anti-humectants you can try are olive oil and jojoba oil. These can help protect natural hair from losing moisture in the summer heat.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize

While there are numerous products that can help prevent damage and dehydration, if you know you’re going to be outside for a long period of time, it’s a good idea to use an accessory to prevent damage. For example, a scarf or hat can be the perfect item to pop on your head to protect both your face and your hair from getting sun damage.

Final thoughts

There you have it! Nine great ways to care for your natural hair during the summer. It’s all about preventing that sun damage and locking in moisture. Visit Taliah Waajid for all the top natural hair products to help you achieve the healthiest hair.

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