5 Top Hair Care Tips for Healthy Summer Hair

Summer brings longer days, warmer weather and more time spent outdoors, but while we are often mindful of protecting our skin, hair care is frequently overlooked. Exposure to sun, heat, chlorine and salt water can all take a toll on the hair shaft, leaving it dry, porous and prone to breakage. During this time of year, it is very common to notice changes in the condition and manageability of your hair.

This guide has been created to help you better understand how to care for your hair throughout the summer months, with simple, practical steps that can help maintain strength, hydration and overall hair health.

1. Style It Right

The bright and inviting summer days are perfect to flaunt those tresses. Whatever our style may be, some basic understanding of hair care can go a long way. Something as seemingly harmless as aggressive backcombing or using tight hair bands can really damage the hair.

Continuous stress on the same area of hair, especially if you wear your hair in the same style each day, can simply rub the hair away. To counteract this, you could try something like ‘invisibobbles’ hair bands, which spread the tension that is put on the hair shaft. Minimise both blow-drying and the use of hair straighteners. While I appreciate that a large majority of readers will already have a heat protection spray or serum, consider this: when you apply something containing a high concentration of oil, how can it actually protect against the heat of up to 270 degrees (a typical straightener temperature)? This invariably causes the condition Fragilitas Crinium, or more commonly known as split ends. These will not heal themselves and will need to be cut off. To prevent this, try using a towelling hair turban to start the drying process without harm. If absolutely necessary, use a cool dryer briefly and ideally only to finish off the styling process.

2. Prevention Versus Cure

It is far easier to prevent hair damage than to fix broken hair.

We often want to wear our hair a lighter colour in summer. However, in doing so, we ‘strip out’ colour from the hair, and the ingredient used for this is essentially a kind of bleach. Then, when you are in the sun with this treated hair, the sun further acts as a bleaching agent and permanently lifts colour out of your hair. This causes the hair shaft to become porous and often leads to breakage and frizzy-looking hair.

This can be prevented by scheduling colour correction during the winter months, when SPF levels are lower. I suggest using an intensive conditioning mask such as Elasticizer by Philip Kingsley. Used weekly on damp hair, it can help reduce porosity, improve strength and elasticity, and prevent further breakage. An obvious but important point here is that regular trims throughout the year will also help prevent hair damage.

3. Avoid Long Sun Exposures

It’s wonderful to enjoy the feeling of the sun on our skin, but prolonged exposure to harsh, direct sunshine can have some of the most damaging effects on the hair. We have all been there, stepping outside for a short task and ending up staying in the sun for hours without realising.The effect is amplified while driving, as the sun’s rays are literally magnified, leading to long-term burning and hair damage. Wearing a hat will help, but do remember to tuck your ponytail under, too. The older part of the hair (the ends) actually needs more care than the younger hairs near the root.

This advice is particularly important for highlighted hair, as this is already considered “damaged hair”, making protection even more essential.

4. Nutrition

We are all aware of the importance of drinking 2–3 litres of water a day as a regular habit. In the summer, or when exercising, this level should increase. The body needs adequate hydration to metabolise the nutrients we consume, which in turn benefits the hair. Diet plays a significant role in the strength and repair of the hair shaft from within. Healthy, resilient hair is better able to withstand environmental stress. Here is a guide from the Institute of Trichologists, of which I am a member:

• Non-vegetarians: Two portions daily of animal protein, such as 200g of chicken or 250g of salmon, can benefit hair formation for up to six hours per portion. This also provides essential amino acids that support processes such as iron absorption.
• Vegetarians: Protein sources such as nuts, seeds, tofu, hummus and soya are valuable. However, because these do not store as effectively as first-class animal proteins, they need to be consumed more frequently. For example, a handful of nuts (even those rich in selenium, such as Brazil nuts) will benefit the hair shaft for up to two hours per portion, so planning intake throughout the day is key.

5. Hair Protection in the Pool

An interesting fact: wet hair is more vulnerable to damage. Use a comb and gently detangle, starting from the ends and working upwards through the mid-lengths. After swimming, you may notice a greenish tinge in the hair. This is caused by a reaction between the hair and copper ions found in chlorine. It is most common in naturally blonde or bleached hair. Chlorinated pools often contain copper algaecides, which prevent algae growth but can affect hair colour. To avoid this, you could wear a swimming cap or use a waterproof protective product such as Swimcap Anti Chlorine Cream by Philip Kingsley, originally formulated for the USA Olympic swimming team. If you already have a green tinge, a lemon juice rinse can be quite effective.

We often associate SPF with skincare, yet hair protection is frequently overlooked. This cream works similarly to a swim cap and can be applied like a serum to the ends or throughout the hair before swimming in the sea or pool. It is also suitable for children.

After a sea swim:
Salt is hygroscopic, meaning it draws moisture out. After swimming in the sea, rinse and wash the hair thoroughly and ideally shampoo and condition it as soon as possible. Allow the hair to air dry where possible.

If you would like professional help and support: 

If your hair is becoming dry, brittle, frizzy or harder to manage this summer, early support can make all the difference.

As a Consultant Trichologist MIT with over 20 years of clinical experience, I provide bespoke, holistic hair and scalp assessments for women across West Sussex, East Sussex and online. Book your consultation here, and let’s understand what your hair really needs.

Conclusion

Looking after your hair in the summer is about being proactive rather than reactive. By making thoughtful choices, whether that’s reducing heat styling, protecting your hair from prolonged sun exposure, or supporting it through proper nutrition, you can significantly reduce the risk of damage. If your hair is already showing signs of stress, such as excessive dryness, breakage or changes in texture, it may be worth exploring this further with a professional assessment. Understanding the root cause is key to achieving long-term improvement.

With the right care and attention, your hair can remain healthy, resilient and manageable throughout the summer season and beyond.

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