Keeping your hair healthy all summer can be difficult to do. While it needs to be protected just as much as our skin does, we rarely give it the same amount of attention. It can be affected by harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and chlorinated swimming pools just as much as the rest of our body. To avoid damage we need to protect it from the heat, sun and humidity. Here are some tips how to do so.

1. Cover Up: What is the easiest way to avoid getting too much sun on your skin? You cover up of course. The same goes for your hair. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or a scarf to cover your head when you know you are going to be out in the sun for an extended period of time. The benefits of doing so are two fold: it helps provide extra UV protection, and it helps your scalp retain moisture. It can also help prevent wind damage for hair that is prone to tangling.
2. Wash Less Often: As you know, washing your hair strips your scalp of its natural oils, but many people don’t realize that it also makes your body produce more oil. This just makes you feel like you need to wash it more often. It’s a catch-22 that can be avoided by a simple rinse, or by using a dry shampoo, instead of a full on wash.
3. Heat-Free Styling: Blow drying your hair, and using flat-irons can damage dry hair that has been exposed to a significant amount of heat already. Such as the kind of heat you find on a warm summer day. Your hair will more than likely air-dry quickly anyway in the summer, so unless you really need to, put your equipment away.
4. Use Sunscreen: Many shampoos have UV protection, but there are other hair care products with it in them as well. Another option is to run your hands lightly through your hair after you’ve put sunscreen on your body. After all there will still be a bit on your hands, but not too much to be harmful.
5. Consider Wearing A Swim Cap: We all like taking a dip in the pool, but chlorine can dry out our hair. One way to avoid having to wash your hair too much, yet still protecting it and allowing you to enjoy your swim, is to wear a swim cap. It will keep your hair out of harm’s way.
6. Time Your Salon Treatments: If you are planning on having your hair dyed or highlighted, make sure you do it well before taking a vacation where you plan on spending a fair amount of time outdoors in the sun. This is especially true if you dye your hair blond, because the bleaching process makes it more susceptible to UV damage and chlorine. You should also avoid any type of chemical treatment in the summer such as those used in perms to avoid weakening your hair further.
7. Use A Comb Instead of a Brush: Brushes can pull and tear your hair when it’s wet or oily, and they do next to nothing for tangled hair. Wide-tooth combs on the other hand are more gentle, and can prevent you from regretting forcing out a knot.
8. Change Your Style: If your hair is dry, pulling it tight can damage it. You are better off going for a messy braid. It will help you still keep your hair under control, while being tight enough to prevent too much sun exposure.