It’s just about summer time and the temps are rising here in LA– we are hitting the 90’s as I write this post. Given that everyone in LA and across the country will be experiencing a lot of hot weather including humid heat and dry heat– it’s important to give your hair and your hair color some TLC so that it isn’t fried or showing color shifts due to summer heat damage.
According to Les Haverty, FHI Heat Artistic Director,
“The beach, swimming pools, and many outdoor activities are about to cause aggravation because they can adversely affect your hair’s moisture and color. These days the nice thing is that we have many helpful options to protect our investment in our hair. I will outline my recommendations or strategy to maintain your hair’s brilliance and shine through out the summer season.”
Here are some tips from Les that can keep you in hair heaven over the summer and you won’t have to call Hair 911 as a result of some mishap.
***Shampoo with hydrating, color safe, sulfate-free shampoos.
“These are usually the safest for daily use. I recommend sulfate free shampoos because they use natural cleansers to clean the hair without using the harsh sulfate detergents that are responsible for degrading the color or lowlights you spent your hard earned money on. I would also recommend an acidifying conditioner. These are usually citrus-based conditioners which have a pH value between 3.0 and 3.7, and remember that hair’s natural pH is 4.5 to 5.5. Acidifying conditioners help seal the cuticle around the color molecules on the hair shaft and allow for the color to last longer!”
***Wash hair with tepid or lukewarm water.
“I recommend that one use tepid or lukewarm water when shampooing to get it clean. Washing with too hot water can actually open the cuticle removing the hair’s natural moisture and further dry out the hair making it feel like card board or a corn stalk. It also contributes to color loss. Also nobody likes the extremely cold water in the shower–burrr. This can be done daily (for oily scalps), but if you are one with a dry scalp, every other day is okay as well. On in between days, try using a natural bristle brush and brush the hair from scalp to ends allowing the natural oils or sebum to cover the hair, after all this is your body’s custom conditioner for your hair. “
*** On vacation or out having fun in the sun– beach or pool-side
“Very IMPORTANT, make sure you shampoo immediately following swimming in the pool! The chlorine and bromine used in today’s pools can strip hair and discolor it. In the summer, the sun can amplify these chemicals increasing the stress to the hair, leaving it very brittle.
Wash hair right after pool time and ocean time. The oceans contain massive amounts of salt, which can cause your haircolor to fade as well. Add the sun’s solar energy into the mix and you will start to see the bleaching effect on hair, the sun is like a bleach factory. At the very least, one should rinse the hair off with tepid fresh water after pool and ocean swims.”
***Conditioning hair in the summer months is very important.
“I stay stick with the acidifying type for daily use if you have color and highlights. The pH is usually between 3.0 to 3.5 for these conditioners. The acid helps keep the cuticle closed while holding onto the hair color. For this type of hair I would also try a hydrating conditioner once every two weeks to maintain the softness and condition of the hair. If unsure as to your conditioner’s pH, I recommend giving the manufacturer a call. For extremely dry and brittle hair try keeping a comb in the shower as well. After applying the conditioner to the hairs ends and mid strand, comb the conditioner through the hair. This makes sure that the hair, which needs the most help, absorbs it.”
***Style hair with alcohol free and silicone-free products ( this one is so crucial!)
“Some manufacturers claim that the alcohol dries the product and not the hair…but if your hair is already on the dry side naturally, I would stay away from mousses, gels, and sprays containing alcohol.
The non-alcoholic products work equally well or better than alcohol ones because they eliminate the damage potential.
For example, if you are using hairspray, once the alcohol in the hairspray dries and attaches to the hair, it forms a bond and that bond is strong. When shampooing, the alcohol is also going to strip some color and moisture from the hair. Currently, we have such a great selection of natural hair sprays, shampoos and conditioners that are fantastic! I think it’s worth the shopping time.
For styling products, I recommend serums that contain no drying silicone, but instead natural moisturizers, such as FHI Heat’s Hot Sauce which contains jojoba crystals. Silicone leads to brittle hair, and when heat is applied, the silicone melts and embeds itself into the hair shaft, causing color not to stick to hair!
***Finish hair with UV enriched sprays.
“Use a spray or pomade that has a UV protectant and use just enough to get the desired look. With pomades in the summer months, be careful not to apply too much as it will weight the hair down and the sun’s heat may actually make the hair look greasy.”
Hair model — before styling
****Use gentle heat styling tools featuring far-infrared heat (gentle, healthy heat). Blowers, flat irons, curling irons, all hair tools that utilize ceramic, tourmaline, and far-infrared heat can help prevent heat damage.
Stay away from metal irons and blowers that produce infrared heat (non-healthy heat). As you know, tools have come so far in the last few years. Once upon a time, the harmful infrared rays of curling irons and blow dryers did actually damage, fade, and even burn and scorch hair. to Ceramic heater technology and the introduction of tourmaline gemstones in the construction of these tools has eliminated many problems.
Ceramic heaters produce a soft, smooth heat wave pattern known as far-infrared heat which is very gentle to the surface it penetrates like hair. Add the semi-precious gemstone tourmaline to the mix and the result is an ionic effect on hair that helps it retain moisture and look and feel much shinier after even one use.
We at FHI Heat have gone even further down the technology line to add our proprietary Nano-Fuzeion technology. This is FHI’s advanced combination of three distinct nano technologies (Nano Ti + Nano TiO2 + Nano Ag), which result in unmatched styling and health benefits for one’s hair.
Nano Titanium enhances the ionic effect, allowing the hair to absorb more moisture for superior conditioning and shine.
Nano Titanium Oxide helps remove chemical pollutants and toxins, which build up in your hair from normal exposure to the elements.
Finally, Nano Silver removes harmful or damaging bacteria from the hair. The moisturizing elements of Titanium work together with the cleansing and purifying characteristics of Titanium Oxide and Silver to leave your hair healthier, shinier, and more vibrant. So you can see we have come a long way from using a clothes iron on our hair. “
Hair Model- post-styling
Here’s a HOT tip from Les Haverty!! His special recipe for an athome summer beach hair and skin spray!
–Summer beach hair and skin spray
– Boil 2 cups of bottled water
– Add 4 tablespoons of SPF 40 or higher sunscreen (lotion or cream works best)
– Stir until well emulsified
– Let cool
– Put into a clean spray bottle with sprayer nozzle.
“I use this on my hair at the beach and also my skin for a recharge in battling the suns harmful UV rays…it also gives my hair that nice shiny look!”:
“The last thing piece of advice: stay out of the sun whenever possible or at least wear a hat when prolonged outdoor exposure is in the forecast.”
Thanks to Les Haverty, FHI Heat Artistic Director for these great summer hair tips. Now you will have great looking hair year-round!!
The new technologically advanced FHI Heat products are available at fine hair salons and professional beauty retailers nationwide, via toll-free number at 877.FHI.HEAT (877.344.4328) and online at www.fhiheat.com.
Stevie Wilson
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