Top 10 cheap and chic tips for summer hair

Pag-asa declared it just last week, summer is here. This may bring glorious visions of beach days, warm nights, natural highlights and long windblown hair... but my latest salon visit reminded me that the reality is that summer sun, spiraling hot temperatures and related humidity may damage hair, resulting in dry, dull, split, brittle or frizzy hair and ragged ends. “Sun exposure can be just as damaging to unprotected tresses as a super hot blow dryer,” says Jon Bantigue, owner of Azta Urban Salon, a chain of salons dedicated to a trendy but cost-conscious clientele. My own spending on hair maintenance has gone both ways, from splurging on pricey cuts to penny pinching with at-home treatments. With long hair, one can obsess on deep conditioning masks, hair protection products, and various lovely smelling leave-on conditioners. But there are also simple tips that can make all the difference, such as one I’ve stubbornly avoided, rinsing hair in cold water. Jon and his team of stylists revisits the top 10 tips for preventing unnecessary damage and having great summer hair.

1. Give your tresses a summer shampoo break.

Victoria Beckham and Emma Stone are fans of Davines products.

Hair needs to be treated more gently during the summer. Shampoo less often to allow tresses to absorb natural oils. Opt for conditioner only or diluted shampoo washes. Consider switching to a more moisturizing and gentler shampoo formula. Try using a dry shampoo if you need to wash out your hair. One dry shampoo you can use is baby powder, simply sprinkle some onto your hair and use a comb to comb it off.

2 Take cool showers to lock in the moisture.

Avoid taking hot showers or washing your hair in hot water. Use warm or cool water instead; the heat can dry out and damage your hair and skin. After applying conditioner on your hair, finish with a cold rinse to seal the hair cuticle.

3. Go natural.

Limit use of hair chemicals such as bleach, hair color, relaxers, and straighteners as much as possible. Avoid hair care products that contain alcohol or formaldehyde. Consider switching to organic hair care products like the Essential Haircare Line by Davines, which may be indulgent but is worth the cost in quality and efficacy. The Nounou Pak Mask Treatment by Davines protects hair from damage and split ends. It is infused with olive butter, jojoba oil, cherry oil and rhizobian gum, to repair hair and make it softer, healthier and easier to comb.

4. Back off heater hair styling tools.

If you normally use blow dryers, hot irons, or rollers, give your hair a rest during summer months. Air dry whenever possible or opt for easy chic styles like Boho braids or half up/ half down styles. If you’re attached to your blow dryer and can’t give it up, use a leave-in conditioner before blowdrying your hair. And dry on high heat so you expose your hair to heat for a shorter period of time.

5. Schedule deep conditioning treatments.

Hair regularly exposed to the sun needs regular deep conditioning and moisture replenishment. Weekly treatments are highly advisable! Putting conditioner on the frizzy areas of your hair overnight and sleeping with plastic around your hair will help re-moisturize it.

6. Treat fragile ends with TLC.

Jojoba oil applied to the ends of your strands will help soften them. It works wonders on frizzy hair! Jojoba oil can also be used as a pre-shampoo treatment or applied to dry strands for protection throughout the whole day. Prevent static electricity from occurring, which is more common when you shampoo.

7. Cover up and block frizz.

When the summer heat is hottest, block potential frizz by wearing hair up in a knot, bun, or braids. With all the sizzling fashion options, you can opt from a sassy floppy straw hat or go with a cute baseball style cap turned backwards. Jon says, “Buy a hat which allows proper air circulation and blood flow.” If you know you are going to be in the sun for a long time and if you don’t want to wear anything on your head, use a leave-in conditioner with sunscreen in it before you go out.

8. Wash before and after swimming.

Wetting hair before going into the pool or ocean will decrease the absorption of chlorinated/salt water into your hair. Use a clarifying shampoo after swimming to wash out the chlorine/salt and any residues that may be in your hair. Chlorine will severely dry out your hair if it is not washed out.

Try Davines Nounou mask for nourished summer hair

9. Be religious about trims.

Your hair grows faster in the warmer months and frizzies are more common in the summer months due to the heat and moisture. Since summer sun can rob moisture from your tresses, make sure you have your ends trimmed every four to six weeks during the summer months. Hair can get sun burned just like the scalp. The only way to deal with severely burnt hair is by trimming the damaged sections off.

10. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

While it’s important to increase your moisturizing and conditioning duties during summer months, remember to keep your roots and hair hydrated from the inside out.

Drink plenty of liquids to keep roots and strands flush with fluids. Water will also keep your skin soft and plump. While it’s tempting to drink cold alcoholic drinks, keep in mind that they can dehydrate skin and strands. Water is always the best choice for your tresses.

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Azta Urban Salon is offering the Nounou Pak Mask Treatment at slashed-down price of P449 instead of P900 from March 16 to May 31. Branches are at Eastwood Mall, Alabang Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Robinsons Pioneer, Robinsons Metroeast, SM San Lazaro and Tomas Morato. For inquiries call 0917-5078455 and 0922-8489490 or check them out on Facebook.