Summer is synonymous with a lot of things. Relaxing visits to the beach, splashing around in the pool and lounging on a deck chair. Or if it isn't relaxed, you are busy trying to play hide-and-seek with the sun, stressing about the heat and humidity. Either way, your hair bears the brunt.
The result is evident: straw-dry, frizzy and faded locks. So how do you go about maintaining your mane's brilliance and shine?
A few simple changes - distilled through 20 expert tips - can fix the problem. Renowned Dubai-based beauty consultant Malini Ohri, owner, Splendour Beauty Salon, provides advice on the daily haircare regime, along with plenty of quick fixes.
Here goes:
1 Use lukewarm water when shampooing. Hot water can open the hair cuticles, leading to moisture loss and making its texture resemble corn stalks. Hot water also hastens fading of coloured hair.
2 Those with an oily scalp can shampoo daily, but if you have a dry scalp it's not advisable to wash your hair every day. Alternate days work better. On the day that you do not wash, you can brush your hair from scalp-to-ends with a natural bristle brush. This will stimulate the oil glands and allow the natural oils to coat the hair.
3 Choose shampoos wisely. Hydrating, colour-safe and sulphate-free varieties are safest for daily use. Sulphate-free shampoos use natural cleansers to clean; sulphate detergents cause colour or lowlights to fade.
4 Shampoo immediately aftera swim in the pool as the chlorine and bromine can strip hair of moisture and cause loss of colour. In the summer, the sun can amplify these chemicals, increasing stress to the hair, leaving it brittle.
5 If your summer plans include a lot of time spent in the pool, you could prevent ‘green' hair caused by exposure to chlorine by using an anti-chlorine shampoo and conditioner.
6 The principle of rinsing out immediately applies when you swim in the sea. The brine can cause your hair colour to fade. At the very least, you should rinse withtepid fresh water.
7 Opt for a hot oil hair treatment followed by a clarifying shampoo about three timesa month. The oil treatment offers a moisture surge and adds lustre while the shampoo removes any residue from chlorine, salt, sunscreen and styling products. Coconut oil by far is the best for your hair - in any season. You could also experiment witha mixture of olive and coconut oils with a few teaspoons of lime juice. Lime is a cleansing agent and helps clean grime and sweat.
8 Conditioning treatment is vital during summer. Those with coloured hair and highlights must invest in special conditioners. If you have dry hair, use a hydrating conditioner regularly. For extremely dry and brittle hair, after applying conditioner, comb hair to make sure that the entire shaft is well moisturised.
9 Protect your hair. The sun not only bleaches it, but also strips it of its moisture. Keep an eye out for creams and spray treatments that offer sun protection. Try not to use umbrellas and scarves in dark shades as these colours absorb more light as well as heat.
10 Skip styling gadgets this season. Ditch the blow-dryers, hot rollers, straighteners and curling irons. If you absolutely cannot do this, keep the setting low and always protect hair with styling products designed to prep hair for use of styling implements. The hair ends in particular need to be protected against drying.
11 Give your usual hairdosa rethink. Tight or frequent ponytails may cause breakage. Opt for gentle styles that do not need tight headbands, hair sticks or hair clips.
12 Buy tea tree oil-based shampoos. This ingredient has traditionally been used for its health benefits. But it also helps hair care and can combat dryness and dandruff with its natural cooling properties.
13 Weekly deep-conditioning is a must to ensure hair stays moisturised. The market is teeming with inexpensive conditioning masks. You can even make your own by using ingredients like olive oiland/or mayonnaise.
14 Before applying adeep-conditioning mask, rinse your hair with warm water to make it more responsiveto treatment. Once you've applied the mask, wrap a warm towel around your head for ten minutes. Rinse with cool water to lock moisture in.
15 If your hair is blonde and you are really keen on getting highlights, why not try a natural method? You could create natural highlights with kitchen ingredients like chamomile or lemon juice; use them in the last rinse.
16 Make your own protective hair spray by boiling 2 cups of bottled water and 4 tablespoons if sunscreen (SPF 40 or higher). Stir until it is emulsified and cool. Pour into a spray bottle and shake well before use.
17 Treat yourself with a special summer haircut. The shorter the length, the more manageable it will be.
18 Minimise use of hair colour. If you need to cover grey hair frequently, it's best to colour the visible areas. Do not add more colour on hair ends that are already coloured.
19 If you suffer from itchiness or dandruff, make your own treatment. Boil chamomile tea and cool. Use as a last rinse. Another option is to boil the tops of three beetroots in three glasses of water and reduce it to three-quarters of its quantity, cool and use as your last rinse.
20 Sleep. Sleep deprivation could also show up in the form of distressed hair. Similarly, diet plays a role. Maintain a balanced diet, increasing your fluid intake, and cutting down on fried food.
Malini Ohri can be contacted through her website www.maliniohri.com
