How to get your hair summer-ready

Summer poses some unique hair care challenges – think sun, sea and chlorine! Without proper precautions, you could end up with dehydration and frizz, or even breakage. We asked the team at INOAR some of our most pressing summer hair care questions.

What are some of the challenges that summer poses to our hair?
Your hair is like your skin: it needs protection when spending time outdoors. Summer can be a really damaging time for your hair and scalp, just like your skin, they can burn if not protected. Saltwater & chlorine can also take a toll on our hair, with a not-so-pretty outcome: A few weeks into summer, hair that was shiny & manageable looks & feels fried. And, the dryer hair is, the more likely it is to suffer from a the dreaded f-word: frizz.⠀

Is the sun as harmful to one’s hair as it is to one’s skin?
If your hair has prolonged exposure to the sun, UVA and UVB rays can damage the outside cover of the hair strand, called the cuticle, leaving the hair vulnerable. The sun weakens your hair’s protein structure, de-moisturizes it and reduces elasticity so your hair breaks more easily. It is of course also important to look after your scalp, which, like the rest of the skin on your body, should be protected from extended sun exposure.

There are two great options to shield your hair from the sun: Option 1 – break out that beautiful sun hat! A hat will shield your hair from the harmful rays of the sun whilst protecting your scalp & ears, areas that are vulnerable to skin cancer. Option 2 – make a daily habit of applying products that contains UV filters, such as Inoar’s Argan Oil. It will protect hair from sun damage & help keep colour-treated hair from fading.

A lot of people believe that the chlorine in swimming pools can turn blonde hair green. Is this true? Unfortunately, this phenomenon called “SWIMMERS HAIR” is real!  While the perfect blonde shade (be it bleached or naturally flaxen) seems especially perfect for the light-filled days of summer, being blonde does not come without seasonal perils— namely brassy tones & green-tinged ends, courtesy of the sea, sun, and chlorine! Those vibrant blonde hair strands can quickly become lifeless & dull in the summer without the correct maintenance.

The dreaded green hue happens due to exposure to chemicals in a treated pool or the ocean. Copper is the main culprit behind the most damage. Copper compounds are used to prevent the growth of algae, microorganisms, and invertebrates in pool water.

Your hair naturally absorbs water, so when you’re swimming in chlorine or salt water, your hair will suffer the drying out consequences.⁠⠀⁠When hair is drenched with clean water or leave-in conditioner before swimming, it won’t absorb as much saltwater or chlorine while swimming. ⁠⠀
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INOAR TIP: apply any INOAR hair oil or leave-in Treatment such as INOAR Argan Oil or Lotus Flower Oil or our Afro Vegan leave-in before swimming!⁠

What effect does salt water from the ocean have on one’s hair?
Swimming in the ocean provides a number of benefits to your physical and mental wellbeing. However for hair, the activity can be a double edged sword as it highly depends on your hair type and current condition of your strands. The salt in sea-water is hygroscopic: it attracts more water to your hair forming more salt crystals, but this process wicks away the moisture from the inside of your hair strand – making it dry and brittle, a process that also reduce the crosslinks between cysteine bonds making it more fragile. If your hair is chemically treated (colouring, chemical treatments etc), the sea water can adversely affect your hair’s condition its condition. Chemical treatment already  stripped your hair from the nutrients and artificially changed the crosslinks within your hair strands. The hygroscopic properties of salt water already takes away moisture even from healthy hair, but it worsens it further for chemically altered strands.

Your hair naturally absorbs water, so when you’re swimming in chlorine or salt water, your hair will suffer the drying out consequences.⁠⠀When hair is drenched with clean water or leave-in conditioner before swimming, it won’t absorb as much saltwater or chlorine while swimming. ⁠⠀
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INOAR TIP: apply any INOAR hair oil or leave-in Treatment such as our Argan Oil or Lotus Flower Oil before swimming and invest in a purple range of products, such as Inoar’s Absolut Speedblonde range. Why purple? It’s directly opposite yellow on the colour wheel, meaning when the purple pigments in the product are absorbed by the hair follicle, it covers and cancels out any warm, brassy tones, leaving your locks with the cool ashy tone you paid big bucks to get. Our Absolut Speedblonde range is infused with Argan oil, Cornflower, Chamomile oil and Rosemary extract to hydrate and revitalize the both chemically treated and natural blonde hair colour. ⁠⠀

Do you have to wash your hair after every swim?
It is always advisable to not shampoo your hair too often, ESPECIALLY for hair that is colour damaged, dry or dehydrated and ESPECIALLY if not using a sulphate-free shampoo. If you follow the advice of saturating your hair with a leave-in conditioner before swimming, you should be able to lightly rinse you hair only after swimming. If you however need to wash your hair, be sure to use a sulphate-free shampoo or opt for a co-wash (i.e. using a Conditioner as a shampoo) and be sure to apply a good amount of conditioner / leave-in or a mask to the hair afterwards.

TOP TIP: ALL INOAR CONDITIONERS ARE CO-WASH FRIENDLY! HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS:

Inoar DIVINE CURLS range: Specifically designed for curly hair textures, including the most curly, the Divine Curls Collection washes, styles and protects each and every curl with the benefits of Antioxidants, Golden Flaxseed and Pequi Oil for a perfectly frizz-free bounce.

Inoar Absolut DayMoist CLR™ range
The ABSOLUT end to damaged hair. With maximum soothing power and ultra-hydrating action to repair damaged hair and restore the hair’s elasticity. For intense conditioning and glow, restoring ultimate shine. The action of the synergic complex of the Cornstarch and the Beetroot Extract, along with the exclusive Daymoist CLR™, restores the hair protecting the integrity of the Alfha Helix in charge of the keratin maintenance. It increases hair elasticity, preserves colour and shine, protects from discolouring and prepares the hair for high temperature treatments. INSTANT SHINE AND RESTORATION. THE THE ULTRA-HYDRATING FINISHER. Perfect for Chemically damaged, Damaged, De-hydrated, Dull Hair.

Can you use the same hair care products all year long or should you change them up in summer?During summer, your body and hair easily loses moisture. Retain as much moisture in your hair as possible by using a moisturizing conditioner, or, better yet, invest in a deep conditioning treatment for your hair once a week – you deserve it!⠀

Beach waves are a big summer trend just about every year. Is there an easy way of achieving this look at home?
Yes, there are some great TO DO’s for getting beachy curls without the frizz! We love these tips for getting our curls super bouncy, with zero frizz. Consider this your ultimate guide to getting healthy, bouncy spirals:⁠

• Ditch the “shampoo” – rather opt for a co-wash method, and don’t wash your hair too often!⁠⠀⁠
• Steer clear of heat! Rather let your hair dry naturally. Try bending forward and “blotting” the hair and cupping it with a towel to encourage bouncy curls.⁠⠀⁠
• Throw in the towel! The fluffy texture and dryness of a cotton or towel can cause damage to the hair. Wait, what? Yep it’s true! Cotton towels can worsen split ends and cause small craters along the hair shaft, weakening the hair and creating frizz. Opt for wrapping your hair in a soft cotton t-shirt instead!⁠⠀
• Don’t be afraid of leave-in products! The right products will ADD to your curl, not weigh it down! For very curly or coily hair, wrap the hair for a moisture boost for 15 minutes.⁠⠀⁠
• Always comb your hair from the bottom up⁠. This allows gentle detangling of each knot, rather than compounding knots toward the bottom. Be sure to use wide-tooth comb, never a brush! ⁠
• Try the “pineapple trick” to keep curls defined overnight.⁠ “Pineappling” is a technique in which the hair is loosely gathered at the highest point of the head, usually before sleep. This protects the curl pattern while helping your hair maintain natural volume while also preventing excessive bedhead. Simply take the pony out and give hair a shake when you’re ready to wear it down.

RECOMMENDED CURL PRODUCTS 

INOAR AFRO VEGAN range
A new range of VEGAN products developed specifically with afro, natural, curly hair in mind! Formulated with vegan ingredients: Shea butter, a powerful moisturizer that soothes and protects and leaves hair supple, and castor oil, rich in vitamin E, minerals and has antibacterial properties, to nourish, hydrate, replenishes nutrients, seal the cuticle and leave the hair soft and shiny. The combination of Shea Butter and Castor Oil also assists in reducing hair loss and stimulates hair growth.

INOAR DIVINE CURLS range
Specifically designed for curly hair textures, including the most curly, the Divine Curls Collection washes, styles and protects each and every curl with the benefits of Antioxidants, Golden Flaxseed and Pequi Oil for a perfectly frizz-free bounce.

What are some of your most important summer hair care tips?

• Start summer with a trim⠀
  Don’t skip the cut because you want to grow your hair long – that can lead to even thinner strands that are more prone to breakage and split ends, which, in turn, would make you cut more centimeters off your hair! ⠀

• Shield your hair from the sun⠀
  Option 1 – a hat will shield your hair from the harmful rays of the sun whilst protecting your scalp & ears, areas that are vulnerable to skin cancer. Option 2 – make a daily habit of applying products that contains UV filters, such as Inoar’s Argan Oil. It will protect hair from sun damage & help keep colour-treated hair from fading. ⠀

• Saturate strands before swimming⠀
  When hair is drenched with clean water or leave-in conditioner, it won’t absorb as much saltwater or chlorine while swimming. It’s also a good idea to try to rinse your hair after a swim! ⠀

• Switch to moisturizing shampoo & conditioner ⠀
  During summer, your body & hair easily loses moisture. Retain as much moisture in your hair as possible by using a moisturizing conditioner, or, better yet, invest in a deep conditioning treatment for your hair once a week – you deserve it!⠀

• Skip hot tools⠀
  Give your hair a break from heat styling to ensure minimal moisture loss and damage. Opt for a microfiber towel to blot your hair dry. This will help avoid frizz and absorb as much water as possible. Next, opt to air dry while you finish the rest of your morning routine.⠀

• Outwit frizz⠀
  Hair that’s healthy & well-maintained is your best defense against frizz. Along with regular trims and conditioning, a drop or two of an anti-frizz oil or serum can help smooth hair and add shine, like our Argan Oil.

What is the one hair care product you should always carry in your bag / take on holiday?
A big sunhat, your SPF and a leave-in treatment or hair oil to saturate your hair before swimming and protect it from the sun’s rays!

Inoar is available nationwide at Inoar partner salons and all homecare products are available on their online store. Follow them on Instagram or Facebook to stay up to date with the latest trends and launches!

One lucky readers will win an INOAR Résistance hamper consisting of a shampoo and conditioner duo kit, a Lotus Flower Super Ampoule and a Lotus Flower Oil (7ml)! To enter, simply complete the form below.

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