Summer-proof Your Hair
Email this article to a friend 
Print this Article
Nothing ruins a poolside weekend like a mop of dull, straw-like hair come Monday morning. While it may take more than a few days of summer fun to wreak havoc, all that sun, salt, and chlorine will eventually take its toll, especially if you have color-treated hair. To keep hair healthy all season, prevention is everything (and, luckily, really easy).
Four ways to play it (hair) safe this summer:
1. Hair sunscreen: SPF is an absolute must for color-treated hair, but even virgin hair can become a few shades lighter in the sun. Without it, gorgeous (and expensive!) blond highlights will take on a yellowish, brassy tone, while rich, dark browns will go red. Hair sunscreens fall into two camps: lightweight sprays intended for everyday use—like Pureology UV Colour Defense ($17.99, folica.com)—that often double as protection from heat styling; and heavier formulations like Kérastase Soleil Gelée Aqua-Proof ($34, kerastase-usa.com) that keep hair equally safe but leave it looking wet (obviously, a hard look to pull off at the office). The only effective alternative to sunscreen is a hat.
2. Pre-swim conditioner: Applying a leave-in conditioner, such as Charles Worthington Results Moisture Seal Hair Healer Leave-In Conditioner ($5.99, walgreens.com), before swimming is great for two reasons: First, the conditioner helps seal the cuticle of the hair (the outer layer), which means less salt and/or chlorine can penetrate it. Second, as the sun makes the cuticle more porous, the conditioner can actually seep inside the hair shaft. The end result? More hydrated, stronger, shinier locks.
3. Chlorine detoxer: This is the hardest part—even more so if you’re not a natural blonde, redhead or brunette. A few dips in the pool is all it takes for blond to go slightly green, red to turn orangey, and dark hair to look oddly reddish (the same thing will eventually happen to virgin hair, too, albeit less quickly). Unwanted color shifts aside, chlorine also strips the natural oils from the hair, which is incredibly drying. The best defense? Wear a swimming cap or stay out of the pool. The next best option is to always rinse your hair with fresh (read: non-chlorinated) water after swimming. Club soda (the carbonation helps rinse away the chemicals) or equal parts vinegar (which acts as a natural astringent) and water also help. Or use a clarifying shampoo once a week like Frédéric Fékkai Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo ($19.50, sephora.com).
4. Post-swim conditioner: As the sun, salt, and chlorine rob your hair of moisture, shine is the first thing to go. Use a deep conditioner like Pantene Pro-V Nourishing Moisture Replenishing Mask ($3.99, drugstore.com) twice a week for softer, more resilient, more manageable hair with noticeably less breakage, flyaways, and split ends. So go ahead and have fun in the sun this summer. With a little prep work, your hair will still respect you in the morning.