Skin

Summer has finally rolled around! Sunshine, warmth, pool days, beach trips, and festivals are all here. The changing of the seasons brings great things, but it can be hard on your skin and hair. Increased exposure to heat, sun, salt, and chlorine can really do some damage. Even turning on the air conditioner can cause your skin and hair to dry out because in addition to cooling things off, it also dehumidifies the air quite a bit. So, what can you do this summer to protect your skin and hair? Here are some tips we have gathered to help you keep your skin and hair looking as beautiful, lush, soft, and smooth as possible:

Hair

Everybody knows that you should protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. But what about your hair? A lot of people don’t think about taking protective actions for their hair when they are going out to lay by the pool or play on the beach. Chlorine from pools, salt from the ocean, heat, and sunshine can all dehydrate and damage you hair, making it frizzy and unmanageable. There is a myriad of things you can do to protect you hair from the summer elements.

1. 1. Cover it up!– If you are planning on spending a lot of time out in the sun, wearing a hat is good idea. Hats help protect both your scalp and hair from the elements and will help keep it healthy.

1. Keep it up!– Put your hair in an updo, braids, or a messy bun instead of leaving it down and parting it. The bun helps trap moisture and also protects your scalp from burning where the part in your hair would normally be.
2. Clean it up! (or not)– Shampooing your hair too much can be counter productive during the summertime. Your body produces oil for your hair naturally that will protect it from the sun. Instead of washing your hair with shampoo everyday, try using a cleansing conditioner or a dry shampoo a few times a week. Rotate between these different types of products to help your hair keep some of its natural oils.
3. Smooth it out!– There are a lot of products out there that you should use to help keep your hair in amazing condition during the brutal summer months. There’s masks, leave in conditioners, dry shampoos, mists, and sprays that can all help rescue your hair from the summer elements. Research the variety of products out there and how they protect your hair from the sun and heat. Find ones that will work best for your hair and the conditions you live in.

Skin

The most obvious thing you can do to protect your skin from the sun is to apply sunscreen. But choosing the right sunscreen can be tricky because there are so many options. SPF stands for “sun protection factor” and refers to how much protection from the sun’s UV rays the sunscreen offers. Using a higher SPF sunscreen will provide better protection.

Some other good things to do when using sunscreen is to apply it often. Sometimes the sunscreen won’t last very long because of water, sweat, or using a towel to dry off. Reapplying sunscreen every two hours is a good practice to adopt. Also, you need to give your sunscreen time to work. It takes at least 20 minutes to absorb into the skin and work effectively. Applying sunscreen with the other lotions or skin creams that you use on a daily basis already is a good way to make sure it soaks in and works well. It’s also important to be cautious when using a tanning bed. Just like the sun, tanning beds can burn your skin and cause a lot of damage.

In addition to using sunscreen, wearing clothes that effectively block the sun is a good way to protect your skin. Long sleeve shirts and pants that breathe well are a good choice. This will protect you from the rays of the sun, but still allow you to stay cool in the heat.

Now you’re ready to head out and enjoy the great weather! If you’re interested in learning more about how to make your hair and skin beautiful check out our cosmetology and esthetics programs. You can also contact us to learn more. Have a great summer!