Going out in the sun
A second heatwave already in such a short time! And the air is so dry especially here Gauteng. I thought mt hair only needed survival tactics for winter but it seems we are having a rather dryer summer and my hair needs all the TLC I can give it including well planned methods of making my hair does not suffer from unnecessary breakage this summer. Here are a few pointers I compiled that you too can look at for your hair to thrive in the scotching heat.
- Moisture is key: If you are in a humid area, well lucky you. Count your blessings. Otherwise, if you in a relatively dry area like me, you need to make sure your hair has enough moisture always. Spritz your hair at least twice a day and make sure you seal that moisture. You still need to minimise the use of humectants until the air is more humid because humectants will also draw moisture from the core of your hair to the outside.
- Hydrate your body. Up those glasses of water for the sake of your hair and skin. Our bodies need enough water to stay healthy. If you were drinking 8 glasses of water, consider adding two more or three.
- If you work out, you need to drink even more water to replace all the water you lose from sweating. Staying hydrated will also help you not to get heat stress.
- Cover up. Hats on or scarf on when you’re going out in the sun in order to protect your hair and scalp against UV damage which acts as bleach on the hair. The rays oxidise and degrade the disulphide bonds that hold the hair together, reducing cystine content. This causes brittle, dry hair that breaks easily. A wide brimmed hat also serves to protect your face from sunburn, UV rays that may cause skin cancer. If you can’t wear a hat, then apply a leave-in conditioner or mask that has UV protection.
- Maintain a clean scalp free from build-up so that you are not constantly scratching your scalp from irritation after sweating. A clean and healthy scalp produces healthy hair. A clean scalp will also not be host to bacteria, fungus and any unpleasant things. If you work out, all the sweating will need to be rinsed off your scalp more regularly before your hair starts to stink.
What steps are you taking to make sure your hair stays healthy in this hot climate? What hairstyles allow you to slap a hat when you need to?
I am wearing this one this week which I saw on Neno Naturals video at the weekend.
Blessings. Stay cool, stay safe
