How to Prevent Summer Hair Damage From Sun, Salt, Chlorine, & Messy Buns

Going to the pool, beach, and just plain being outside are the best parts about summer! But something that most people don’t know is that a lot of these activities can actually cause damage to your hair. So in this post, I’ll break down the 4 main ways that you could be damaging your hair during the summertime, as well as what you can do to avoid it without staying indoors all season long!

While hot weather isn’t exactly bad for your hair, some factors that come along with hot weather can cause hair damage. So it’s important to make sure you know what to do to keep your hair healthy in the summer season. I actually recommend not getting your hair done prior to going on vacation! Keep reading to learn why.

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1. How Chlorine and Saltwater Cause Hair Damage

First up, the water you go into may be causing hair damage. This may be the most obvious reason because we ALL know that chlorine is not good for your hair or skin. If you can feel your skin dry out after stepping out of the water, just know that it’s doing the same thing to your hair.

And not only does blonde hair run the risk of turning green from the chemical combination in pool water, but it’ll ruin brunette hair as well. Chlorine is a form of bleach. So if your hair is freshly colored, be prepared for it to be drastically different once you dip it into the water.

But what about saltwater pools, you ask? Saltwater pools are not quite as bad as a highly chlorinated pool, but they are still harmful. They still contain some chlorine, just not as much. And remember, the ocean is on this list as well.

And while saltwater won’t turn your hair green, that doesn’t mean that it’s not causing any hair damage. Salt is abrasive and dehydrating. So saltwater will still dry it out and fade the color.

How to protect your hair from chlorine and saltwater

1. Avoid getting your hair wet. If you can, wear your hair up in a LOOSE braid or ponytail. I like to throw mine up into a big floppy hat when I know I’ll be outside to avoid getting it wet when dipping into the water to cool off.
2. Douse your hair in conditioner prior to getting in the water. If you know that you won’t be able to avoid getting your hair wet, there are still options. If you soak it in conditioner or a leave-in conditioner prior, your hair will absorb the conditioner and not as much of the chlorine or salt. This will help stop your hair from drying out, as well as turning green! Putting it in a braid helps as well.
3. Shampoo your hair ASAP after getting out of the water. Whether you prepared beforehand with the conditioner or not, you MUST shampoo your hair after getting out of the water. Allowing the chlorine to sit on your hair for longer than necessary will only make things worse. I recommend using a mineral diminishing shampoo to remove all traces of chlorine.
4. Blondes should use purple shampoo and conditioner afterward. If you have blonde hair, you’ll want to use a purple shampoo, conditioner, and treatment after a day out in the sun. This will help to neutralize any brassiness that the sun and water may have caused from your toner fading.

My favorite leave-in conditioner that actually is made to minimize the effects of chlorine can be found here.

2. How Sun Exposure and Tanning Beds Damage and Fade Hair Color

Our hair is an extension of our skin. That being said, UV rays are harmful to our hair just as they are to our skin. Hair can get sunburned too–except it doesn’t repair itself. When the damage is done, that’s it. It will either need to be cut or it will break off.

Lighter colors and highly processed hair are at the highest risk of being burned by the sun, similarly to pale skin. If your hair is already fragile, then the sun can cause some severe damage.

Like chlorine and saltwater, UV rays also fade your hair color extremely quickly. Have you ever left a black shirt in the sun for too long, and it faded to a purple color? Well, the same thing happens to your hair.

Except when hair color fades, it generally exposes the brassy underlying pigment. So, depending on the level of your hair, it will take on a red, orange, or yellow hue after a day outside in the sun.

Now, tanning beds are even worse than the sun because they are much more direct. This isn’t something most people think about before getting into a tanning bed.

If you’ve gone to a tanning bed and ever wondered what the towel is for, this is it. Wrap that towel around your hair like a turban to keep your hair protected. This will reduce the effects of the rays, but those lights are strong, and it won’t take them away completely.

How to protect your hair from the sun and tanning beds

1. Cover your hair from the sun. Whether you cover your hair with a hat, turban, towel, bandana, or even a shirt, wrap it up. At the bottom of this section, I’ve included a video where I show you how to wrap your hair into a turban using a small towel.
2. Stay in the shade. I know that no one wants to hear this one, but sitting in the shade works too, so you don’t look like a weirdo with your boyfriend’s shirt wrapped on your head (guilty). Sit under a cabana if you take your hat off for a little while. Your hair and skin will thank you later!
3. Use a UV blocker (for your hair). Yes, they make UV blockers for your hair too! I would still recommend covering your hair, but this is good to use if you aren’t going to keep it covered all day long, and it’s also good for everyday use–especially if you live somewhere sunny like Arizona or Florida!

My favorite leave-in conditioner with UV blocker is Nevo Intense Therapy made by Pravana. If you notice, I listed this product in the section above as the leave-in conditioner that I recommend for before the pool. This stuff is my ultimate go-to to avoid hair damage during the summer months! It’s the jack of all trades when it comes to hair care.

3. How Hair Ties, Sunglasses, and Messy Buns Cause Hair Breakage in Summer

While it should go without saying, anything that puts a lot of tension on your hair isn’t good for it. If you wear your hair up in a messy bun or tight ponytail every day, I guarantee that you are causing breakage from it.

I notice this very frequently in clients’ hair. There are times when I can pinpoint exactly where the hair tie, elastic headband, or clip regularly sits on their head by the breakage patterns.

Messy buns are the worst because the hair hits the elastic multiple times throughout one strand of hair. So you’re not just damaging one section, you’re damaging ALL of it.

And sunglasses–especially aviators–can cause damage as well. You shouldn’t put glasses that have disconnected nose pads on top of your head because they can rip and pull your hair. This can break your hair off right at the top of your head!

Hair can also get stuck on the sides where the hinges are at the frame of the glasses. So you should be really careful putting sunglasses on and taking them off to be sure you aren’t catching your hair.

How to protect your hair from tension damage

1. Wear your hair down more often (or low ponytails). I know this is hard to do in the summer, but if you’re inside, try to leave your hair down as much as possible. If you need to pull it back, wear it in a low ponytail. Due to gravity, there will be less weight pulled against your hair than when the pony is high up.
2. Wear loose braids. Loose braids get the hair off of your neck, but aren’t putting a whole lot of tension on the main sections of your hair. A hair tie at the ends of your hair does not have as much tension as one that’s holding up the weight of all your hair. This is also a great way to create heatless waves!
3. Switch up the position of your ponytail. If you must wear your hair up, whether it’s for work or comfort, try not to wear it in the same section every single day. Switching the position of your pony frequently gives the high-tension areas a break. You can even alternate between using a large clip and hair ties to give it some variation. Bonus points if you use scrunchies!
4. Avoid putting your sunglasses on your head. Not only can your hair get caught on sunglasses, but putting them on your head actually stretches them out and can make them not fit as well. If you can, get in the habit of not setting them on your head; hold them, set them down, or attach them to your shirt if you need to take them off for the time being. And if you absolutely cannot stop yourself from setting them on your head (guilty), wear plastic ones without the detached nose pads!

4. How Wet Hair Is More Fragile and Prone to Breakage

Summer activities typically involve water. Whether it’s from the pool, ocean, a hose, or even just showering more frequently.

And your hair is much more fragile when it’s wet. ESPECIALLY when it’s wet with chlorine or salt water.

So this means you need to be extra careful with your hair when it’s wet. No tight tension, vigorous brushing, or rough drying with a towel.

How to protect your hair from damage when it’s wet

1. Don’t try to brush hair that is wet with chlorine or salt water. You shouldn’t ever attempt to brush your hair upon getting out of the pool. Wait until you can shampoo your hair before attempting to put a brush or comb in it at all.
2. Use a deep conditioner at least once a week. During summer months, I recommend at least weekly conditioning treatments, OR every time you wash your hair if you’re spending a lot of time in the sun or the pool and ocean. Your hair will need the extra moisture and strengthening.
3. Be extremely careful brushing wet hair. Even if your hair wasn’t just in chlorine or the ocean, it’s still more fragile when it’s wet. Spray it first with a leave-in conditioner and start at the bottom, working in small sections.
4. Blot your hair dry. Rough drying your hair with a towel can cause unnecessary breakage to fragile hair. Rather than aggressively rubbing it dry, blot it gently so that the towel absorbs the water from your hair.
5. Use a small towel for a turban, not a large one. Rather than using a large bath towel or beach towel to twist your hair up into a turban on your head, use a smaller hand towel. A large towel will become extremely heavy when wet, and this puts a lot of tension on your fragile hairline. You can even purchase microfiber hair towels that are specifically made to be gentle on your hair.

Protecting your hair from damage during the summer

I know what you’re thinking, I basically just listed every reason why you shouldn’t go outside this summer and just become a hermit instead. But if you follow my recommended tips, you’ll be able to spend as much time outdoors as you please without it damaging your hair.

The four main ways our hair becomes damaged in the summer are:

1. The sun and tanning beds
2. The pool and ocean
3. Hair ties and sunglasses
4. Wet hair

To prevent your hair from becoming damaged while partaking in these activities, you can:

1. Avoid getting your hair wet.
2. Douse your hair in conditioner prior to getting in the water.
3. Shampoo your hair ASAP after getting out of the water.
4. Blondes should use purple shampoo and conditioner afterward.
5. Cover your hair from the sun.
6. Stay in the shade.
7. Use a UV blocker (for your hair).
8. Wear your hair down more often (or low ponytails).
9. Wear loose braids.
10. Switch up the position of your ponytail.
11. Avoid putting your sunglasses on your head.
12. Don’t try to brush hair that is wet with chlorine or salt water.
13. Use a deep conditioner at least once a week.
14. Be extremely careful brushing wet hair.
15. Blot your hair dry.
16. Use a small towel for a turban, not a large one.

Now if your hair already has been damaged from the sun, chlorine pools, or the ocean, see my post here where I’ll teach you the best routine to fix it!

If you have any further questions for me on this topic, be sure to leave them for me in the comments. And as always, Have A Good Hair Day!