Summer Hair Care

It is officially the time of year for hot weather, barbecues, pools, vacations, and fun! But while summer brings all the sunshine and good vibes, it can also be one of the harshest seasons for your hair, especially if you wear extensions. From sun exposure and chlorine to sweat and saltwater, the beautiful summer weather can quickly cause dryness, tangling, and buildup that shorten the life of your extensions. In this blog, we’ll share essential tips to keep your extensions looking fresh, smooth, and flawless all season long.

Preventative Care

When it comes to taking care of your extensions in the summer, preventative care is key. If you protect your hair beforehand, you will avoid emergency revival treatments altogether. Obviously, during the summer we all are wearing sunscreen, which is great, but making sure you are wearing the correct one for your hair is also important. Avoiding sunscreens with Avobenzone and Octocrylene is crucial. These two ingredients can cause extensions to turn pink! Mineral sunscreen is the best bet for body and scalp wear to avoid this outcome. Another important preventative step is prepping your hair for salt water and chlorine. These can dry out your extensions, causing breakage and a lower lifespan. Avoid the water if at all possible; if not, we have a video on Prepping Your Hair Before the Water to show the steps before wetting your hair! Another important essential is that if you are traveling, make sure you stock up on your travel-size friendly products to care for your extensions while on vacation, so you come back with your hair looking just as good as it did when you left.

Styling and Handling

Summer means time outdoors and nice weather! It is also the perfect time for heatless and protective styles. Although you may want your hair styled every day, you may not have the time or want to avoid the heat damage. Consider heatless curls or even a protective style (low braid, low pony, loose low bun) to keep your hair looking great and protected without the heat. Another important thing to remember is that you still should be brushing gently and more often, especially if you are in the water. Matting and tangling are so common during the summer and can ruin your extensions along with your natural hair. My top tip is a travel-sized brush to keep in any bag you carry to brush your extensions out throughout the day and avoid the stress of detangling at the end of a long day. 

Maintenance and Daily Care

Lastly, let's not forget the importance of daily care and maintenance. Being outside or on vacation can put maintenance and daily care on the back burner, but there are ways to avoid this! If you are planning a trip or leaving town, plan your maintenance appointments ahead of time and book out the summer to avoid the stress of not being able to see your stylist. Plan out your move-ups, color appointments, and haircuts so you have your appointments ready and can focus on the fun! Plus, if you find yourself having an issue with your extensions, you will already have a date that you are going to see your stylist to express that concern. Also, make sure you are keeping up with daily hair care. It can seem like a burden after a long, fun day in the sun, but taking out that 5 extra minutes to brush and oil your hair before bed can save your hair in the long run.