Summertime tends to be rough on people’s hair. Whether you dyed it, bleached it, swam in the pool, forgot to use UV protection, or heat-styled it, your hair might be showing strong signs of wear. However, with these tips and tricks, you’ll be ready for the fall and whatever it throws your way.

Start with a trim

Breakage and split ends are more common with already-damaged hair, and a damage control session might be just what you need as summer winds down. Trimming those split ends lets your hair start healing and growing again. Everyone’s hair is unique, and your stylist will be able to look through your hair, see what problems you’re experiencing, and give you a specific set of recommendations so that you can get on your way to a healthy head of hair again.

Replenish moisture

One of the biggest problems that tend to arise from the summer is simply a lack of moisture. Deep conditioner, hair oil, and leave-in conditioner can be a helpful way to add moisture back into your hair. Here’s how to use all three of these:

• Deep conditioning: Put a thick layer of conditioner on the hair after shampooing for at least 5-10 minutes. Use plastic wrap or a shower cap to keep the moisture deep within your hair.
• Hair oil: Add to the hair after it’s dried. Put a bit of oil on your fingertips, then run your fingers through your hair until it’s deposited throughout your hair.
• Leave-in conditioner: After towel-drying clean hair, comb the leave-in conditioner from root to tip, then air dry.

Heal from the inside out

Sometimes, you need to nourish the rest of your body so that it can nourish your hair. Your hair is one of the things that your body will stop focusing on if you’re not getting enough nourishment, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and eating lots of food. Some great foods to help your hair grow long and strong include blueberries, which are loaded with antioxidants, salmon, which is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, and walnuts, which contain biotin, which can improve your hair growth and strength.

Prep before you cannonball

One great way to keep your hair healthy during summer is to use a spray-in shield, which can protect your hair from salt, chlorine, and other chemicals in pools and the ocean. Mix your favorite conditioning mask with warm water in a ratio of one tablespoon to one cup. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle, shake well, then cover the hair and twist it into a bun. This mix helps keep your hair moisturized and prevents your hair follicles from soaking up the chemicals.

Beat the heat

Your hair is likely to experience lots of heat damage just from being outside, so why add even more stress with heat styling? Use a high-quality heat protection spray or serum to keep your hair safer from heat styling, or even avoid heat styling throughout the summer and try out some modern braids, simple ponytails, and surprisingly chic updos.

Stay beachy year-round without the damage

If you’re the type of person to look longingly at the summer days as they leave, there’s good news: a sea salt spray can be a great way to create those beachy waves. Many formulas also include UV protection, which can keep your hair looking gorgeous, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.

Anyone who’s looking for more hair tips or trying to repair their hair from the summer months should look no further than your nearest Ogle School. We can help you keep your hair goals on track, even if they’re looking a little unattainable due to the summer months.