Summertime fun can do a serious number on our hair and scalp, especially when there is a heatwave involved. If we're not careful, we could end up with very (very) dry and damaged hair by September thanks to chlorinated pools, bleaching sunshine, and stripping saltwater. Fortunately, we don’t have to end the season with brittle hair if we take steps to moisturise and protect your hair from the sun and other damaging elements, starting right now. We asked the pros at Leonor Greyl for their top summer hair care tips:
1. Oil up to create a protective barrier
The best summer routine always includes taking a break from hot styling tools (hair doesn’t need the extra heat!) and treating your hair to botanically-based L’Huile de Leonor Greyl. The iconic pre-shampoo treatment has incredible properties that create a barrier that resists water and protects the hair from the sun while instantly hydrating.
2. Stop 'swimmer hair' before it starts
Did you know that wetting your hair with tap water before diving into a chlorinated pool or salty sea can stop the hair shaft from absorbing harmful elements like a dry sponge?! Neither did I... until now!
3. Sun protection to keep hair colour from fading fast
Your sun-kissed highlights – natural or salon-created – can quickly turn brassy and dull during the summer. Luckily, you can protect your hair colour by applying products such as Leonor Greyl’s Lait Luminescence, a leave-in detangling and heat-protecting spray enriched with plant extracts and botanical oils. Toss it in your bag and spritz it as needed.
Other Leonor Greyl products with naturally derived sun protection include L’Huile de Leonor Greyl, Éclat Naturel protective styling cream, and Sérum de Soie Sublimateur protective styling serum – which also is great for controlling humidity-related frizz.
4. Quench your beauty waves
Summer is the thirstiest season for hair, especially if you spend a lot of time at the beach. Saltwater can aggressively dry hair out and dehydration will ultimately cause breakage, split ends, and a dry scalp, resulting in dandruff.
Leonor Greyl recommends using their line of deeply hydrating masks to help quench parched hair. The Masque Fleurs de Jasmin for fine hair, the Masque à l’Orchidée for thick hair, and the Masque Quintessence, their ultra-rich treatment for desperate hair.
5. Protect your scalp
I hope you never experience the pain, itch, and flaking that accompany a scalp burn. But if you ever do, swap your usual shampoo for a while and use a soothing cleansing cream like Leonor Greyl’s Crème aux Fleurs, with calming sage and chamomile. If discomfort really has you distracted (I wouldn't blame you), apply Huile Apaisante to your dry scalp, before washing your hair. Leonor Greyl tip: Huile Apaisante soothes insect bites, too! For the rest of your body, Huile de Magnolia will help you moisturise dry and sunburned skin. It’s also great for prolonging that gorgeous post-vacation tan.
6. Wash gently
Hair gets washed more often in the summer, so go easy on your locks and use a gentle shampoo like our Douceur Végétale. It also doubles as a body wash, making it a must-have in your gym bag. For especially dry and frizzy hair, try the Shampooing Crème Moelle de Bambou for softer and more manageable hair.
And speaking of going gently, avoid brushing wet hair after a wash. Remember wet hair is more vulnerable to breakage so use a wide-toothed detangling comb instead.
