5 Summer Hair Care Tips to Keep Your Hair Looking Healthy and Beautiful

It's summertime again, and here at ANTIDOTE we're itching to get out and soak up the sun as much as possible. Are you feeling that too?

Remember that your hair needs protection this season just like your skin does. Beautiful hair starts with a healthy scalp, so don't forget that your scalp isskin.  

Sometimes it can be hard to know what products to buy. There are so many options out there; how do we avoid buying the ones that end up doing more damage than good? How do we find natural products that are effective as well?

This is the very question that led us to where we are today. And we've compiled our top 5 healthy hair tips to give you shining, hydrated hair all summer long. 

The Best Tips for Healthy Hair This Summer

Follow these tips to ensure that your hair is clean, beautiful, healthy, and moisturized this summer without having to resort to toxic products.

1) Get a good leave-in conditioner.

Yes, summer hair requires this. You're going to be more susceptible to dryness from head to toe, and your hair is no exception.

What does leave-in conditioner do? It detangles, provides extra hydration during the hot months, and it helps to guard against sun damage and outdoor pollution.

Here's how to use your leave-in conditioner: apply it to the mid-length and ends of your hair when your hair is damp. Avoid the roots, especially if you have thin hair. If you must brush, use a wide-tooth comb. Let your hair air dry or style however you'd like.  Not sure where to start, try ANTIDOTE Avocado Styling Cream.

Be sure to use your leave-in conditioner after you shower and after you've gone for a swim.

Choosing the right leave-in conditioner is so important! If you don't do a little research, you could risk doing more damage to your hair than good.

First, figure out your hair type. Ask yourself:

• Is my hair oily or dry?
• Is my hair fine or thick?
• Is my hair damaged? Do I use a lot of heat styling tools?
• Is my hair straight, wavy, or curly?
• Is my hair color-treated?

If you have thin hair, you'll want to look for a lightweight conditioner. If you have curly hair that needs a lot of encouragement, you may go with a heavier leave-in.

Pay attention to the labels and find a conditioner that's made for your hair type.  For example, at ANTIDOTE we formulated Ginseng for moisture, Baobab protein to add strength, Jojoba for dry and damaged hair, Chamomile for sensitive skin.

Second, you'll want to know which ingredients are safe and which are unsafe. The safe ingredients are typically the ones with familiar names, and the unsafe ones usually look like they came out of a chemistry lab.

Look out for these ingredients for moisture, protection, and safety.

• Aloe Vera
• Wisconsin Ginseng
• Baobab Protein
• Shea Butter
• Jojoba Oil
• Grapefruit Oil
• Vitamin E

And steer clear of these ingredients when shopping for a conditioner.

• Sulfates
• Parabens
• Silicones
• Isopropyl Alcohol
• Polyethelyne Glycol
• Diethanolamine and Triethanolamine

If you want to be ready for the summer right now, click here to check out our plant-based summer hair bundle featuring clean, safe ingredients. You'll get shampoo, a conditioner that doubles as a leave-in, UV hair protection, and a natural styling cream.

2) Get overnight heatless curls.

Heat damage undermines your curl pattern, and your hair is more susceptible to this in the summer. Embracing heatless curls will help you cut back on your hair-dryer use.

There are tons of ways to get overnight heatless curls. Here are a few of our favorite methods.

For loose, soft waves, sleep in a low, loose bun on a silk pillowcase 

• Gather your hair at the nape of your neck
• Twist your hair and secure it to your head with a no-crease hair tie

Pro-tip: David Mallett told the NY times to give your bun a little steam by showering before bed.

For curling up already wavy hair, try hair plopping 

• Work a little product into your damp hair
• Lay a microfiber towel on the floor in front of you
• Lower your hair onto the towel and wrap it around your head like a turban
• Leave for twenty minutes, or leave overnight

Pro-tip: Don't have a microfiber towel? A cotton t-shirt will do just fine. Lay it on the floor, plop your hair down, and tie the sleeves together around your head.  

For heatless curls for short hair, try pin curls.

• Run a little product through your damp hair
• Take one section at a time, as small or large as you'd like
• Curl the section of hair until it lays flat against your head
• Secure it to your head with two bobby pins
• Leave until dry, or overnight
• Remove the bobby pins and brush with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb

Pro-tip: Start at the hairline and work your way to the back of your head so you can see what you're doing.

3) Protect your hair from the elements.

As with skin, the best way to prevent sun damage is to stay out of it. Hair follicles are affected by the sun just like our skin is.

If you have color-treated hair, this is even more important because the sun can cause your color to fade.

Chlorine and salt-water can also damage your hair. Chlorine is a chemical that strips your hair of its natural oils, leaving you even more vulnerable to sun damage. Salt-water leaves your hair dry and brittle.

To protect your hair from the sun, follow these guidelines.

• Wear a hat when you can. The floppier, the better.
• Use a natural leave-in conditioner to moisturize and protect your hair.
• Find safe products with natural UV protection.
• Make a DIY sunscreen by combining coconut oil, rosewater, and a little zinc oxide powder and apply on long, sunny days.
• Don’t wash your hair as much. Your hair's natural oils provide natural protection from the sun, and when you wash, you strip away those oils. To keep from looking like a total grease ball, use a dry shampoo in between washes.

To protect your hair from chlorine and salt-water, follow these guidelines.

• Rinse your hair before swimming. Dry hair will absorb more chlorine; so  getting it wet before you dip in will actually prevent damage.
• Coat your hair with a protective oil like jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil.
• After swimming, mix a little apple cider vinegar with water to rinse your hair with. Apple Cider Vinegar is a wonderful detoxifier, detangler, and clarifier. If you're prone to dandruff, it will also help to keep your scalp from flaking up post-swim.

4) Eat A Healthy Diet

It's no secret that a nutrient-dense diet is essential to beautiful, healthy hair and skin. The right nutrients encourage hair growth, increase shine, prevent dandruff, and set the stage for a healthy scalp.

Look for foods rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin C, and niacin. Also look for minerals like folic acid, iron, and zinc.

The Best Foods For Healthy Hair

This summer, incorporate these hair-loving foods into your diet. 

• Eggs
• Fatty Fish
• Avocados
• Spinach
• Berries
• Nuts and Flaxseed
• Algae

5) Cut Your Hair

What better season than summer time to give it a chop?

Even if it's just a trim, be sure to visit your stylist often this summer. Removing damaged hair will keep your hair looking and feeling healthy, and if you have a lot of it, this is a great time to give it a chance to start over.

Short hairstyles like the bob, the pixie cut, and the shag are trendy this summer. If you have a lot of heat damage and you've been thinking you need to hit the reset button, now is the time.

If you're in love with your long locks, be sure to tend to them by giving them a trim or two this season. You'll see the results immediately. By getting rid of damaged hair, you leave room for new, healthy growth.

Now you have everything you need to keep your hair healthy and beautiful this summer. Don't forget to wear your hat and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

If you liked these tips, click here to check out what experts told us last summer.

Now we'd like to hear from you. What are your summer must-have products and practices?

Comment below!

Abigail + David

Check out last year's summer hair tips: