10 Tips to Care For Your Natural Hair this Summer

August 02, 2024 Ellisa Oyewo

As the sun shines and temperatures soar, you need to make sure you’re taking care of your hair so it remains healthy, hydrated, and luscious! Here are 10 tips to care for your natural hair during the summer.

Deep Condition

Deep conditioners are typically thicker and contain a higher concentration of conditioning agents than regular conditioners. They're designed to penetrate the hair shaft, and provide moisture and nutrients from the inside out. This is particularly important for natural hair, which tends to be low porosity and is prone to dryness.

Avoid Using Excessive Heat Styling Products

You should avoid exposing your natural hair to excessive heat styling products in the summer because high temperatures can damage hair and make it more susceptible to breakage. Heat can cause dryness, split ends, frizz, and loss of curl pattern. It can also damage your hair’s keratin, making it more vulnerable to the sun's heat.

Get Regular Trims

Trimming removes damaged ends caused by heat styling, chemical treatments, or daily wear and tear. This can help prevent breakage and thinning, and improve hair's quality and texture over time. Trimming your hair every 6–8 weeks can help prevent split ends and encourage faster hair growth.

Protect Hair Before Swimming

Before you jump into the swimming pool or lake, be sure to thoroughly wet your hair with water. By doing this, you’ll minimize the amount of chlorine and salt⎯from beach water⎯that your hair absorbs so this doesn’t cause dryness or breakage. You can even add a little bit of conditioner as well. Another thing you can do to protect your hair is to wear a hairstyle that prevents tangling.

Cleanse Your Scalp

Moisturizing your scalp, just like you do the skin on your face and body is also important in the summer months to make sure the heat and sun don’t leave your scalp dry, which can negatively impact your hair follicles. A scalp detox can help remove buildup and rebalance your scalp.

Wash Less Frequently

Washing your natural hair less frequently in the summer can help keep it in good condition by avoiding stripping it of its natural oils. Washing too often can cause hair to become dry and frizzy and can damage curly hair, making it more fragile.

Apply UV Protection

Much like your skin, your hair needs protection from the sun's UV rays. Learn more about sun protection for your hair and scalp in this blog post.

Add Hair Oils

Adding hair oils to natural hair in the summer can help protect it from sun damage, dehydration, and frizz. The hot and humid weather can make your scalp dry, flaky, and itchy, which can affect your hair's health and growth. Hair oils can also nourish your scalp and make it less likely to be damaged.

Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking enough water each day helps:

Your hair from becoming brittle and having split ends, which can lead to breakage and damage.
Your hair stays hydrated, which can help it grow.
Strengthen your hair from root to tip, which can help it grow.
Your body absorb vitamins, which are important for hair growth.
Regulate your circulatory system, which delivers nutrients to your hair follicles.
Prevent scalp issues like itchiness, dryness, and dandruff.
Flush out toxins, which can reduce the risk of hair loss.

Cover Hair

One of the easiest ways to protect your hair and scalp from sun exposure is to cover it. So much of the damage we see in the summer comes directly from sun exposure. Covering your hair can block UV rays from your skin and scalp, which can help prevent sunburn and hair damage.

By following these tips, you can maintain healthy, beautiful natural hair throughout the summer months and easily transition into a fall haircare routine.

Here are EDEN products we recommend to add to your hair care routine during the summer: