Guest Post: Summer Has Landed – look after that mane!

Right so, summer has arrived – best to start lashing out all the how to’s  and do’s and dont’s and style guides and whatshotandwhatsnot and trendcasters and forecasters and sure we’ll throw some Venn diagrams in for good luck.

Us Irish are an unfortunate lot – prone to pastiness, crippling sunburn, frizzy hair, weak ankles, pot bellies, varicose veins, Hobbit-feet, pale eyelashes and poor sartorial choices under pressure.

Let us guide you through the tricky terrain of coping with sunshine after the Long Winter (like in Game of Thrones, it never ends) Our Summer will be brief, it will be fleeting, but you have options – OPTIONS

First up, some practical advice on how to get the best out of your unruly mane courtesy of Alexis Thompson

1. Moisturize. During summer, heat takes so much of the water in your skin, and in your hair, too. Dry hair tends to be brittle and is more prone to split ends. Find a proper moisturizer for your hair that will suit its type and needs.

So pwetty - but requires MILITANT attention

2. Shampoo less than usual in order to allow natural oil to be absorbed by your tresses.

3. Hydrate. Like the skin, hair also feels dehydrated when it becomes dry and frizzy. Drink plenty of water and eat more green leafy vegetables and fruits to supply nutrients to your hair and lock in hydration. (DO NOT put leafy greens in your hair. It is not festival season yet)

Messy - but managed - grooming

4. Be easy on hair products. The last thing you want to do is to overcook you hair with XYZ products. Don’t use them unless abso-frickin-lutely necessary. Remember that hair products such as gel, foam, and mousse also clogs the roots of the hair. Put down the dry shampoo ladies.

5. Limit the use of hair dryer or curlers. Having an affair with your hair dryer? Sit outside and let the sun do the job for you. Let your hair breathe once in a while to avoid stressing it too much. Avoid using hair dryer, curler or iron unless you really need to. It’ll save your leccie bill also.

Scruffy chic requires intense conditioning - NOT dry shampoo

6. Use wide-toothed comb after shower to separate well the hair strands. Dry hair completely in front of an electric fan as mentioned in tip 5, with the aid of a towel and a comb. Use natural bristled hairbrush only when your hair is completely dry. 

7. Schedule deep conditioning treatments and don’t forget to check labels. This should be included in every girl’s routine whether it is summer or not. But since the heat strips off adequate moisture of the hair, it is best to make sure that you have a deep conditioning treatment at the salon or at home once a week. Of course, chemically treated hair or hair that is suffering serious breakage need more than conditioning, it needs professional hair conditioning treatment. Be sure that when you buy your treatment over the counter, check the labels first before buying. Some treatments claim to “add shine” but not necessarily moisture to the hair.

A lesson in curls - embrace, but smother it in love first

8. Tie hair up or use hats. Just like the skin, too much exposure to sunlight can damage your crown. Use hats or tie your hair up or cover it using a scarf to serve as protection to your hair.

9. Avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day (10am to 3pm) depending on your location as these hours are said to be the hottest and harshest to the hair and skin – particularly if you’re off on your holliers to the sun-soaked Continent.

But above all these, the most important is prevention, meaning you have to always take care of your hair no matter what the season is. Just always remember to cleanse your hair everyday and do not regularly use chemicals on your hair.

Author bio:

Alexis Thompson  – Follow her escapades on her Twitter.

Images courtesy of:
welikehair.tumblr.com
lovemaegan.com
witanddelight.tumblr.com