If there's ever a time for shiny, vibrant, luscious hair, it's summer. But the harsh elements like sun, salt water and chlorine can be damaging, leading to faded color, split ends and a brittle, dry texture. Not exactly the sexy summer strands you want to be rocking this season! However there are plenty of tricks to protect your hair so that you can enjoy the warm weather without having to spend the rest of the year repairing the damage. Celebrity hair stylist Richard Collins shares his favorite tips for protecting your locks now and well after the summer has passed.
UVA and UVB rays are just as harmful to your hair as they are to your skin. Repeated sun exposure will leave your hair damaged and dry, while fading your dye-job. Collins suggests using Schwarzkopf essence ULTIME Diamond Color and Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner throughout the summer months to protect against ultraviolet rays. Similarly, salt water and chlorine can wreak havoc on hair - drying it out, causing split ends and stripping color. To help prevent this, he recommends lathering on Schwarzkopf essence ULTIME Omega Repair and Moisture 11-in-1 Hair Beautifier before hitting the pool or ocean.
With the combination of the natural elements and chlorine, summer takes its toll on your hair, so why add more stress to it by blow-drying it? Collins says air-drying is the way to go all summer long. Apply Schwarzkopf styliste ULTIME Elastin Curls and Moisture Curl Defining Cream to your damp hair, comb it through and then twist your hair with your finger tips to get a soft curl. To get curlier tresses, he suggests braiding sections of hair, letting air-dry, and then removing the braids. Smaller braids produce more curl, while larger braids produce bigger waves.
Be conscious of how tightly you style your hair. Styles that pull too tightly on your scalp can lead to hair breakage and even loss. Instead, Collins suggests loose braids, buns, and ponytails, using thicker elastics, which are gentler on your hair. And it’s important to alternate the way you put it up so you're not always stressing the same strands. Using treatment products religiously throughout the summer will prevent sun abuse, which causes dull color and dry, brittle hair. But you shouldn't treat your hair only when you're in the sun. Collins recommends applying Schwarzkopf essence ULTIME Diamond Color and Radiance Illuminating Mask weekly before bed. Put it on dry hair and sleep with it on, then wash the hair in the morning and your hair will become very moist and shiny, says Collins. If you're concerned about dirtying your pillowcase, wear a shower cap.
Finally, lay off the washing. Collins says women tend to over-shampoo hair in the summer, stripping it of moisture. So instead, he suggests rinsing your hair every other day, rather than shampooing. He suggests using Schwarzkopf Biotin+ Volume and Texture Fresh Up Dry Shampoo in between regular washings.
Keep your locks looking gorgeous all summer long, while the sun is shining and the temperature is rising. Load up on your favorite Schwarzkopf products and follow our hair care guide with Richard Collins’s expert tips to have heads turning up and down the beach!