Summer brings its own share of hair woes. With greasy hair and a flaky scalp, your entire confidence does a nosedive. If you’re found scratching your dry scalp more than usual, you need to take your summer hair care seriously. Scalp irritation is a sign that your hair health isn’t in a good condition. This can give birth to many hair problems like dandruff, hair fall, and dull hair.
To know more about summer hair care, Health Shots got in touch with Shahnaz Husain, the beauty mogul and expert, founder, and chairperson of The Shahnaz Husain Group.
According to Husain, “Your scalp has many oil glands that secrete sebum to keep your hair moisturised. While the hair is considered clinically dead but the follicles that hold the hair in place and provide nourishment are alive. Poor hygiene and ill effects of sedentary lifestyle reflect on your hair. This results in weakened and damaged hair that are prone breakage.”
An itchy scalp and falling hair should be considered as a warning indication of more serious hair health issues. As a result, One should invest their time in taking good care of their mane and adopt a healthy summer hair care routine.
To get rid of your hair woes, follow the steps below in your summer hair care routine:
1. Exfoliate your scalp
Do a proper scalp exfoliation at least once a week. It will help in increasing the cell turnover on your scalp and clear all the sebum and dirt. Use a light scalp scrub or a scalp brush and rub your scalp gently. Turn to sulfate-free products that won’t coat your hair and clog your pores.
You can also make a DIY scrub using oats and brown sugar. Mix them together in your regular conditioner and use as a hair scrub.
2. Massage your head
Massaging your head not only increases blood circulation but also helps to nourish a dry scalp. The flush of fresh oxygenated blood to the scalp makes your hair grow faster, stronger and healthier. It helps in carrying more nutrients to your hair follicles that regulates the sebum production during the summer. Choose from coconut oil, almond oil or olive oil to massage your scalp.
3. Moisturize scalp
The impact of harsh sun, sweat and humidity during summer season can irritate the scalp. Introducing moisturising products in your summer hair care routine is bound to give you lustrous and voluminous hair. Use a hydrating serum on your hair, especially emphasizing on your brittle hair ends. Also, follow a deep conditioning routine once a week.
To maintain moisture in the scalp, one must avoid these dehydrating habits:
1. Hot shower
Hot water ruins and scalds the hair structure. Avoid taking a bath during the afternoon time when the water supply gets heated up during the summer. Washing the hair with hot water may remove the natural oils from your scalp, leaving them brittle and frizzy.
2. Organic products
Husain advises to seek hair care products with ingredients like honey, aloe vera, olive oil, bhringraj, and coconut oil. These ingredients are hydrating and moisturising for your hair shaft and leaves your hair smooth and shiny. Switch your chemical based hair products with herbal variants during summer is advised to soothe the scalp.
3. Heating appliances
Restrict the use of styling tools like blow dryer, curler or straighteners. Give your scalp a break from all that heat as it scalds your hair and makes it frizzy and unmanageable. If necessary, spray a heat protectant spray before getting on with it.
4. Usage of shampoo
“Strike the balance between washing your hair too much or too less. Using a shampoo every day can wash off the natural oils on your scalp and throw its pH out of order. This will result in a dry and itchy scalp during summer. On the other hand, not washing your hair often may result in product buildup and increase the chances of infection due to sweat, dirt and germs. Thereby, it is suggested to wash your hair twice a week.,” says Husain.
5. Watch what you eat
Nosh on foods that ensure a good supply of omega-3 fatty acids. One may also include food with a good amount of Zinc and vitamin A content in it. Zinc aids in cell turnover and helps repair the tissues in your scalp, hair and nails. Eat fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin A. It will prevent the dryness in scalp and hair and aid hair growth.
Nourishing your scalp topically is as important as eating the right diet. Follow the above mentioned summer hair care tips to maintain long, bouncy and shiny hair.
