You’ve made a firm decision to take control of your hair this summer! We’re with you on that! So, we’ve got a few tips and tricks to help!

Solar protection for your hair: a summertime must

Summer is hard on your hair, which is made up of approximately 90% keratin, a highly resistant protein comprised of three layers:

1. the medulla;
2. the cortex, in the centre;
3. the cuticle, on the outside.

The cuticle is made up of very fine scales, stacked like tiles. Its job is to protect your hair from damage while retaining water to keep your hair well hydrated. But tanning, sea water and pool water can all take their toll, because of your hair’s worst enemies: UV rays, chlorine and salt water. In fact, the combination of these 3 makes a nasty recipe that dries out keratin fibers and increases their porosity, which can create dull, dry, brittle hair.

Fortunately, you can help prevent this hair catastrophe from happening by adopting a haircare routine that focusses on protection and hydration.

How to protect your hair from heat

Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to your hair in summer. So, before you head out on a long picnic, a bike ride, an afternoon at the pool or a day by the beach, remember to take the right steps to stay protected.

Choose the right haircare products

Here are a few good practices and products to help protect your hair and scalp from the harmful effects of summer:

• Apply a leave-in hair mask in the morning to nourish your hair and make it more resistant to damage. This is especially important if you have fragile hair.
• Don't forget to cover your head with a hat, scarf or cap, to create an even stronger barrier against UV rays.
• You wouldn’t dream of spending time in the sun without applying sunscreen to your skin, would you? Well, your hair deserves the same protection! So, before you leave, make sure you spray your hair thoroughly with a solar haircare product that features a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF). Then slip it into your bag and reapply throughout the day, especially if you're going swimming or if you sweat a lot. We recommend a non-greasy protective oil or a spray formula featuring a light, non-sticky texture.
• You should also carry a bottle of dry shampoo with you. Just spray it onto the roots of your hair throughout the day to help soak up excess sebum caused by the heat and sweating.

Take special care with coloured hair

Colour-treated (or bleached) hair is even more vulnerable to damage than natural hair. In fact, when the keratin scales are lifted during washing, the pigments in your hair, which act as a protective barrier, can escape or fade away, causing your hair colour to become dull or even change shades altogether.

So, to avoid unwanted altering of your hair colour, it's best to avoid going into the water on the day you colour your hair. And make sure you have the products you need to keep your hair colour from losing its vibrancy over time.

Here are a few golden rules to help protect colour-treated hair during summer:

• Several times a week, apply a shampoo and conditioner created specifically for colour-treated hair. These pigment-enriched products will help restore radiance to your hair while preserving the vibrancy of its colour.
• Pamper your colour-treated hair with a keratin-repair treatment to help restore the richness of your colour by tightening the scales of your hair and making it more resistant.
• To be safe, avoid swimming or spending too much time in the sun on the day you colour your hair, or you could risk changing its shade.

Rethink your shampoo routine

Choose the right shampoo

Since you generally wash your hair a little more often during summer, we recommend using a gentle shampoo, one that’s free from harsh detergents. You should also choose a moisturizing formula, ideally with an SPF (the intensity of the SPF depends on your hair type).

Focus on the after-shampoo

Using a conditioner is the ideal way to prolong the reparative, thirst-quenching action of your shampoo. Just coat your hair with a moisturizing conditioner or use a spray-on, leave-in product (the haircare equivalent of aloe vera gel) to restore its radiance and make your hair easier to comb or brush. It's the ideal way to fight dryness and frizz!

Add a nourishing boost from time to time

This step is especially important if you spend a lot of time in the sun. Apply a mask, hair oil or treatment product to your hair, focussing on the ends, once or twice a week. Leave it on for at least ten minutes before rinsing it off.

Let the night do its work

They say that sleep works miracles. Well, that’s especially true when it comes to strengthening and softening your hair's keratin fibres. So, if your hair has been damaged by UV rays, salt water or chlorine, or if it just seems to be crying out for some TLC, it’s time to pamper your hair with an intensive overnight treatment.

Choose a hair mask that’s rich in vegetable oils, or even a dry oil. Then spread it evenly throughout your hair before going to bed. Remember to cover your hair or protect your pillow to avoid staining. Then, while you're enjoying a good night’s rest, the active emollients in your treatment product will penetrate your hair deeply, nourishing it fully while smoothing out the cuticles. In the morning, just rinse your hair thoroughly and you're good to go!