Seven Tips to Rescue Sun Damaged Hair

Chlorine damage and sun over exposure are two culprits for wrecking havoc on hair, according to Joey Noufal, owner of Noufal HairColor Studio (www.noufalhaircolorstudio.com).

With warmer weather more people are beginning to enjoy outdoor activities,” Joey says. “Caution though as sun exposure lightens hair and lounging poolside leaves hair with chlorine build up.”

Thanks to Mr. Noufal, help is available to cure summer damaged hair. It is not too early to help treat hair and even incorporate some prevention methods to rescue summer damaged hair.

Tips by Joey Noufal to rescue sun damaged hair include:

Use a Shampoo/Conditioner with SPF

To help protect hair from sun elements, choose a shampoo/conditioner such as Goldwell’s Definition that contains an SPF. As women are outside more during summer months, it is important to protect hair since the sun lightens hair even more if your hair is color treated.

Take a Cold Shower

As summer months might lead to more showers due to increased activity, beware as showering can damage hair as there is chlorine even in household water. When taking a traditional shower, hot chlorine is being activated and this has a higher intensity level than cold chlorine. A cold, slightly warm shower is best to further protect hair.

Conditioner to the Rescue

A deep moisturizing conditioner can help restore hair’s natural healthy elements and protect color treatments. Conditioners, such as Redken’s Smooth Down, is great for curly hair in summer months to help control the frizz. Leave-in conditioners are effective where you spray on about 10-12 squirts and massage through hair.

Don’t Forget the Scalp

Be sure to apply an SPF treatment such as Redken’s UV Rescue for scalp and hair. This is especially great for those with very short hair as scalp areas might be more exposed.

Balance Your Color

To help keep hair color in proper condition without damage, having a color balancing treatment applied every six to 12 weeks is recommended. If hair is a lighter color, the color treatment will fade out faster. With Goldwell coloring, the color is pulled through the ends, not just the roots. Since no ammonia is involved or color processing, this technique does not damage hair.

Controlling Humidity

In summer months, it is recommended that a woman dry her hair 100 percent of the way through as this will help combat humidity. Other techniques to help manage humid conditions include using a flat iron, as it helps control ends in humidity, and using straightening serums or linear creams to help straighten hair.

Cold Not Hot

When a woman has color-treated hair, she needs to be cautious of hot Jacuzzis. For women who are bleach blond or have heavily highlighted hair, it is advised to not get into a hot Jacuzzi for any length of time as their ends can turn green even in just two minutes. If a woman decides to enjoy the Jacuzzi, be sure the hair is up and out of the water. It is best to swim in a cold swimming pool when worried about retaining color.