With the lazy, hazy days of summer upon us, the first signs of "summer hair" appear: dull, brittle locks with split ends or out-of-control frizz. Fortunately, there are a slew of new products intended to keep hair looking healthy and sleekly styled.
Volume Control
Those blessed with curly mops know all about the dandelion puffball shape hair naturally assumes during our city's humid summers. And even a slightly wavy mane will take on a life all its own when the heat's on.
Paradoxically, it is dryness that's to blame for such bad-hair behaviour, according to Montreal hairdresser Alain Larivée, a Canadian creative consultant for John Frieda. "The sun and wind dry the hair and make it more porous," he said. "So it then soaks up the moisture it needs from the environment."
To keep your coif serenely under control, the co-owner of Cajh Maître Coiffeurs on Atwater Ave. suggests switching to a shampoo and conditioner that shield hair from the elements. "Look for one that seals the hair cuticle and locks out the humidity." The key words to look for on labels are "anti-frizz," "silicone" or "smoothing." Adding a serum, or leave-in ultra conditioner, after you rinse can add to the benefits.
Fine hair, on the other hand, goes
noodle-limp once the humidity rises. Larivée suggests going with moisturizing shampoos and conditioners that promise volume, then apply styling products with a light hand, concentrating on the ends of the hair.
Taking a Shine
Lolling by the pool or sipping cocktails on a sun-drenched terrace, you naturally reach for the sunscreen. But what about your hair?
"Protecting the hair becomes crucial in summer," said Deborah Crouse, who is responsible for training in Canada for Kérastase Paris. The company has been making the Soleil line of hair products since 1992. "Prevention really is the best way to avoid summer hair."
Like using a hair product made to go on just like sunscreen for skin. Simply spray one of the liquids, such as ultra-light Kérastase Micro Voile Protecteur (spray, $36) or Schwarzkopf Professional BC SUN UV Protection Spray (spray, $14, shown) or apply a cream or gel product with your hands.
And, just like your skin protection product, she suggests applying hair protection religiously before sun exposure and reapplying every few hours. Bonus: These products provide added moisturizing and gloss-enhancing benefits similar to a leave-in conditioner. "So hair can actually become shinier and more healthy looking after a day in the sun, providing you don't overdo the sun exposure," she said.
Hair Conditioning
A growing number of hair products, including shampoos and conditioners, include UV filters. And for those with colour-treated hair, that's a good thing, according to Clifford Albert, medical director of the Canadian Institute for Laser Surgery and a clinical instructor at McGill University. "If you have dyes in your hair the colour will be affected by light," he said. "Because there will be unwanted chemical interactions."
To keep dyed locks looking better for longer, he feels products with UV protection or that say "for colour-treated hair" can be beneficial. And if your hair colour has not been chemically enhanced, it may prevent the streaks or highlights that naturally occur after being in the sun a long time.
Don't forget that the chemicals in pool water and the salt in sea water can further strip hair of moisture. They're both forms of chloride, which is a bleach and has a drying effect, says Albert. Try an old lifeguard trick and douse your hair with freshwater just before and after a dip in the ocean. Alternatively, wear a swimming cap so water doesn't touch your tresses.
The best sun protection of all might be an old-fashioned wide-brimmed hat. "You'll not only protect your hair from the sun, but your face as well," he said.
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