8 Tips for Healthy Hair This Summer

Hair care should be constantly on your priority list if you want to have a healthy head of hair when you are older (yes, we know genetics plays a part too). Summer’s heat and humidity present unique challenges for hair health. From UV damage to chlorine and saltwater exposure, your strands need extra TLC during these months. In this blog, we will take you through the key factors affecting your hair in hot weather and give you our best 8 actionable steps to maintaining a shiny, glossy, strong and healthy head of hair in the hottest months of the year.

"I really didn't expect the (Tea Tree) shampoo to work and feel so nicely! My hair feels clean!" - Wendy H.

Does Sun Exposure Damage Your Hair?

In short, yes, sun exposure can indeed damage your hair. Just like your skin, your hair can suffer from the effects of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause a decline in your hair health, leading to dry hair, brittleness, breakages and even discoloration. Here are four ways that sun exposure can damage your hair:

1. Keratin Breakdown: Hair is primarily made of a protein called keratin. UV rays can break down this protein, weakening the hair structure in the process, and causing increased breakage and split ends, dryness and brittleness, and a loss of elasticity.
2. Lost Color: The color of your hair is dictated by the amount and presence of melanin, which is the pigment that gives hair its color and shade. When your hair is exposed to UV rays, a chemical reaction called oxidation occurs. This process breaks down the melanin molecules in the hair shaft. As the melanin breaks down, the hair loses its color, resulting in a lighter appearance.
3. Scalp Damage: The scalp is very susceptible to sunburn when exposure to the sun is severe and extended. This can damage the scalp leading to redness, irritation, flaking and peeling and in some severe cases, increased risk of skin cancer.
4. Lipid Extinction: The lipid layer of the hair is essentially a protective, oily barrier that coats the hair’s outer layer, the cuticle. The lipid layer is made up of lipids, which are natural fats such as fatty acids, ceramides and cholesterol. When your hair is exposed to the sun for a sustained period of time, it can lead to a temporary extinction of the lipid layer of your hair. Without the lipid layer of your hair, you can end up with frizziness and dullness.

"I tried the OMH shampoo. I'm never going back to bottled shampoo." - Laura M.

Should You Use a Different Shampoo During the Summer?

The general consensus is that you should match the products that you apply to your body, skin and hair to the season that you are in, and the nutrients and support that is needed to help you maximize self-health. So you should consider adapting your hair care routine in the summer when compared to the winter.

In winter, the air is typically drier both outdoors and indoors which can lead to extreme dryness and brittleness. This means that using heavy moisturizing shampoos is imperative to replenishing moisture. In the summer, while the sun’s rays can lead to dryness in the hair, any increase in physical activity can lead to more oil and sweat build up on your scalp, and therefore a shampoo that focuses on oil control, and lipid and UV protection is more important.

"I had dandruff so bad that I could literally see it falling in front of my eyes. Dermatologist gave me a prescription for special shampoo. It would work for a while then the dandruff would come back. I started using goat milk stuff (Almond) shampoo bars and their soap. I have not had dandruff since!" - Michelle E.

This winter focus of prioritizing hydration, and summer focus of prioritizing cleansing and protection means that you should be changing your haircare routine seasonally.

How Does the Sun Impact Dyed/Colored Hair?

The chemical processes involved in hair coloring can make hair more porous, meaning it is more susceptible to damage from external factors like sun exposure. This is mostly because artificial color pigments are often less stable than natural melanin making it easier to damage. Some of the key impacts to dyed/colored hair in the sun are:

• Color Fading Faster: UV Rays can break down the artificial color molecules in your hair, leading to rapid fading. This is especially noticeable in vibrant or darker shades. Red hair dyes, in particular, are known to fade quickly under sun exposure.
• Changes In Tone: Sunlight can cause unwanted tonal shifts in colored hair. For example, blonde hair may develop a brassy or yellow tone, and brunette hair may take on a reddish or orange hue.
• Increased Dryness: Coloring processes are already known to weaken the hair structure, in isolation from outside weather pressures, so when combined with the drying effects of the sun, this can lead to increased brittleness and split ends.
• Oxidation: The sun’s UV rays cause oxidation to hair naturally, however the chemical process of oxidation is exacerbated on colored hair, which can cause significant loss of vibrancy.

"I am using your Unscented shampoo bar and I love the way my hair feels after washing. It's the best shampoo bar I've ever tried." - Lottie C.

8 Tips for Healthy Hair In Summer

Despite all of the talk of damaged hair and chemical imbalances, it isn’t impossible to keep your hair healthy, gleaming and luscious during the summer months. It just needs a little more hard work and discipline than you may typically apply the rest of the year. Here are our top 8 tips on how to get and keep healthy summer hair.

1. Hydrate your Hair. Keep your hair hydrated during summer, as the heat, especially if dry heat, can dehydrate your hair making it dull and prone to breakage.
2. Rinse after Swimming. It can be so easy to get drawn in by the temptation of a swimming pool in hot weather, but chlorine and other heavy-salt chemicals, if not rinsed from your hair, can cause damage and brittleness.
3. Sunscreen your Hair. It may sound strange, the thought of applying sunscreen to your hair, but most sunscreens have UV protection and compounds that may help protect your hair.
4. Wear a Hat. Another way to protect your head, scalp and hair from the sun is to shield your hair with a hat. This is one way of preventing the sun’s natural impact of drying out your head and hair.
5. Wash less Frequently. The sun can damage the natural lipid layer, and natural oils that compound your hair growth and health. Washing your hair too frequently can actually diminish your hair’s natural ability to rehydrate.
6. Drink Lots of Water. There are obviously overall health benefits to drinking lots of water, especially in the heat of the sun. But drinking water is as essential for your hair and scalp as it is for your body and skin. It aids in rehydration and enables keratin production which will push new hair growth.
7. Use a Natural Shampoo. While washing your hair too much isn’t going to help your hair fortify against the damage of the sun, making sure that you are shampooing with natural ingredients is key to amplifying that rehydration process, and giving the body what it needs to re-establish natural oils after the sun has set.
8. Stop Heat Styling. Avoid using curling irons or blow driers when you have experienced high levels of sun exposure, as these extreme temperatures dry out the natural moisture in the hair and worsen the damage done by the sun’s UV rays.

"I love it (Lavender Shampoo)... my hair feels clean and fresh and helps with the itching." - Debra R.

What Goat Milk Stuff Shampoos Should You Use in the Summer?

Protecting your hair in the summer with the aid of Goat Milk Stuff products is really easy as all of our Shampoo Bars are made of natural and gentle ingredients. They are made to provide a gentle and natural cleanse without the chemical impact of stripping essential oils from the scalp and hair.

Therefore, the whole range of natural Shampoo Bars we make are suitable for use on summer hair. Our favorites, however, include the Unscented Shampoo Bar, Oatmeal Milk & Honey Shampoo Bar, and Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar which are also available in a Travel bar size.

"I love this Rosemary Mint shampoo bar! It lathers nicely and rinses clean. My hair is soft and full, not weighed down at all. I’ll be using this for a long time! A definite favorite!" - Leah H.

Natural shampoos can help support your hair and scalp during the summertime because they provide a gentle cleansing without stripping natural oils. And they help maintain a healthy scalp and moisturize your hair.