Five Summer Hair Care Myths Debunked

What you might believe is the perfect summer hair care routine could be damaging both your natural hair and extensions. Many commonly accepted routines are, in fact, myths that can lead to unintended hair issues. Here are the top five misconceptions about summer hair care that many people mistakenly follow, potentially harming their hair in the process. Understanding these myths will help you avoid damaging routines and keep your hair healthy and vibrant all summer long.

• Myth 1: You don't need to protect your hair from the sun
• Myth 2: Washing your hair every day is necessary in the summer
• Myth 3: Chlorine is good for your hair
• Myth 4: Saltwater can make your hair healthier
• Myth 5: You can tame frizz with water

Summer hair care myths are everywhere, social media being a common place to get misleading or unreliable information. You're sure to have heard or read inaccurate advice, but how do you know the facts? Getting the wrong advice can mean you are not providing sufficient protection for your hair, which can lead to damage to your hair and hair extensions. We're about to debunk these myths and provide you with the most recent and trusted information to ensure you are well-informed on best practices when caring for your hair and hair extensions during the warmer weather. 

Image credit @Treehugger / Sanja Kostic

Myth 1: You don't need to protect your hair from the sun

Intense summer sun can damage your hair; the UVB radiation can cause your hair to feel dry, brittle and coarse. The powerful rays are linked to protein loss in your hair, as the heat encourages the production of free radicals which break down protein molecules. The sun can also reduce the amount of natural oils found in hair, which provide much-needed moisture to your hair, the sun can contribute to significant dehydration of the hair. Adequate sun protection is recommended for intense or long periods of hot sun exposure.

Myth 2: Washing your hair every day is necessary in the summer

Daily washing is not necessary for most hair types. Despite the likelihood of frequent sweating in the hot sun, persistently washing away these natural oils is detrimental to your hair's health.

Resist the urge to wash your hair every day when enjoying the hot sunshine; opt for tied-back hairstyles like a Messy Bun or use a high-quality dry shampoo to help delay daily washing. A clip-in bun is ideal to pop in your hair on hot days when you want your hair up but still want to feel glam.

"Looks so good takes no time to put in the mum bun, and is great for holidays." - Jennifer Callaghan

It's important to note that your hair extensions do not benefit from the naturally moisturising oils produced by your scalp so it's even more important to avoid the daily washing of hair extensions. Daily washing of hair extensions will lead to the quality of the hair deteriorating much more quickly, Pro-long the life of your hair extensions by limiting washing and using professional products. 

Myth 3: Chlorine is good for your hair

Chlorine is a powerful chemical commonly used to clean swimming pool water. However, its strong cleaning properties do not translate to being beneficial for hair hygiene. Chlorine can be quite damaging to your hair. It can cause extreme dryness, brittle texture and even colour discolouration. Where possible keep your hair away from chlorine, if contact occurs rinse thoroughly when you get out of the swimming pool, this will wash off the chemicals and limit damage. 

Image credit www.goldielocks.com

When taking a dip, keep your hair tied up out of the way. You can still look glam and confident while doing this, use a hair scrunchie to add volume and style to your hair. The curly-styled pieces can boost your hair volume and create a poolside look that requires bearly any time or effort.

Myth 4: Saltwater can make your hair healthier

We all love the benefits mother nature can provide, with honey, avocados and coconut oil all being natural substances which are beneficial for your hair, but don't let this information mislead you into thinking saltwater is found in nature, this must be good for your hair. Saltwater is high in you guessed it; salt, which is extremely drying.

When soaking your hair in salt water and then exposing your hair to the sun, the salt acts as a magnet for the sun intensifying the drying process of the sunshine, leaving your hair feeling and looking damaged. If you come into contact with saltwater we recommend avoiding intense sunlight, if possible wear a sunhat to protect your hair from the heat until you can wash your hair. 

Model wears shade 10/16 Vanilla Bomb in 16" One Piece Flicky

Myth 5: You can tame frizz with water

During the summer your air can become frizzier than usual, this is due to the hot temperatures extracting moisture from your hair, or contact with chlorine, saltwater and direct sunlight, which all have frizz-inducing effects on your hair. The simple answer you may assume, is to put water on your hair to add moisture and tame frizz, however, this is not the answer.

The water will not tame the frizz long-term, it may initially dampen the hair making it look less frizzy, over a short period the water will be absorbed by the sun and cause more frizz. To avoid frizz use deep moisturizing shampoo and serum which will keep the hair hydration through the summer sun. 

Hair Myths Debunked

Now we have debunked the common hair care misconceptions you are well informed to provide the best protection for your hair and hair extensions during the summer months. Ensuring your hair and hair confidence are in the best possible condition while you enjoy the summer sun. For more haircare advice visit our trusted blog posts.