Don’t fight Mother Nature. Trying to keep your naturally curly, wavy or kinky hair in a state of stick-straight perfection is a losing battle.
DO: embrace your natural texture!
The heat, humidity and increased perspiration means your hair’s natural texture is going to emerge anyways “ so why not just roll with it? Instead of straining and sweating under a blazing hot hairdryer or straightening iron, coil damp hair into a loose bun at the crown of your head and leave it to air dry overnight. Come morning, simply spray your wavy tresses with a texturizing spray or enhance the natural curl by winding a few random bits around a conical styling wand for sexy beach waves in a cinch!
DON’T: get stuck in a ponytail rut
Sure, a perky pony is a classic why to keep long hair off your neck in sticky climates, but sporting one day in, day out looks frumpy not fresh.
DO: embrace boho braids!
Braids are the perfect way to tame your unruly tresses and keep your cool this summer. The flirtatious fishtail braid is a hot runway trend that is also easy to master. Pull hair over one shoulder and divide into two sections. Pull a strand from the outside of one section and cross it over, joining it with the other section. Repeat on the other side and pull tight after each crisscross. Secure with a clear snag-proof elastic band leaving a few inches free at the end. Don’t get carried away trying to achieve plait perfection “ the best thing about the fishtail braid is that the messier it is the better!
DON’T: be afraid to step out with a wet head
You’re not going to catch a cold in soaring temperatures, so don’t struggle to get your strands bone dry.
DO: rock a sexy just showered style!
Wet-look hair is as easy to achieve as it is trendy this season “ keeping hair damp is also an excellent way to stay comfortable at steamy outdoor occasions and festivals this season. Simply run a generous amount of mousse through freshly washed, drenched hair, to keep the wet look longer slather a strong-hold gel on ends. You can either slick your strands back into a sleek and polished chignon or let your tresses tumble freely to gradually transform into a edgy look with chunky texture. One small caveat “ don’t throw your hair up wet too often, trapping moisture close to the scalp can lead to dandruff and itch causing fungal infections!
DON’T: let the sun’s sizzle fry your hair
Intense heat and UV rays can wreak havoc on your coiffure, fading color, drying out the cuticle and encouraging frizz to rear its ugly head.
DO: work with the heat for smoother strands!
Harness the conditioning power of the sun with leave-in conditioners that also boast a hefty SPF. There’s a plethora of protective, conditioning and detangling products designed not only to prevent damage but also use the intense heat to penetrate deeply into the hair shaft for super-powered conditioning. To take advantage of the sun’s hair-healing steam bath, comb a leave-in conditioner through damp hair with a wide toothed comb and pile into a high bun on the top of your head “ this style will also help to minimize the UV exposure on your delicate locks. Don’t forget to protect your scalp too! Avoid parting it and use a retro-chic scarf to shield your vulnerable scalp without greasing it up with sunblock!
DON’T: let summer’s laidback attitude lead you to neglect your hair
With all the swimming and sun you’ll be enjoying, don’t let that casual attitude extend into relaxing your hair care regime.
DO: take a little time to tend those tresses!
You may be on hiatus from harmful heat styling, but the harsh elements of sun, sea and chlorine will still take a serious toll if you don’t take preventative action. Look to natural sources of deep conditioning and indulge at least once a week by letting the product sit in your hair for a minimum of half an hour. An age-old natural hair treatment prized by Indian women (who all seem to have envy-inducing long lustrous locks) is cold-pressed coconut oil. Make sure you choose cold-pressed or virgin coconut oil, it should be solid and white at room temperature an melt easily in the hand “ this miracle product is one of the few oils proven to have a small enough molecular structure to penetrate the hair’s cuticle. Scoop out a generous handful and rub through dry hair as a pre-shampoo treatment “ the longer you let it sit the better. Most importantly, please say no to peroxide-based products that highlight the hair under the sun. They may be a fun and easy way to go lighter, but they’re one of the harshest things you can use and today’s hair bleaches and dyes have been formulated to be ever-so-much more gentle and hair friendly!
