How To Take Care Of Curly Hair This Summer

by Hayley Alexander

How To Take Care Of Curly Hair This Summer

28 May 2024

Is it me or has the summer heat finally hit us in the face? Ladies, the season of glowing skin, pool days and flowy clothes is here, for a few months. For those of us blessed with bouncy curly locks, it can also mean battling frizz, dryness and all-around hair woes. With the right care and a few expert tips, it is not too late to rock your curls all summer long.

First things first, just like your skin, curly hair craves moisture, especially in hot weather. As the temperature rises opt for hydrating shampoos and conditioners formulated specifically for curly hair. Look for ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter and glycerin to lock in moisture and keep your curls soft and bouncy. Just like you protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays, your curls need protection too. Invest in a leave-in conditioner with SPF to shield your hair from UV damage. You can also rock a stylish wide-brimmed hat or a fun scarf to protect your curls while adding a touch of summer flair to your look.

Curls most often come with tangles, and what a daunting task this is, especially in the summer when humidity levels are high. Start by applying a generous amount of leave-in conditioner to damp hair to help soften and detangle your curls. Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers to gently work through knots and tangles, starting from the ends and working your way up to the roots.

Your curls need some TLC this summer, make a day of it, have a slow Sunday and deep condition your locks. Choose a deep conditioner that is rich in moisturising ingredients like argan oil, avocado oil, or honey. Apply the deep conditioner to clean, damp hair and leave it on for at least 30 minutes before rinsing out. For an added moisture boost, cover your hair with a shower cap and apply heat from a hair dryer for 5-10 minutes to help the conditioner penetrate deeper into the hair shaft.

Photo: Taisiia Stupak

While the temptation to straighten your curls may be strong in the summer months, resist the urge. Excessive heat styling can damage your hair and lead to dryness and breakage. Embrace your natural texture and give your hair a break from heat styling tools, you’ll be thankful in the long run. Instead, let your curls air dry or use a diffuser on a low heat setting to enhance your natural curls.

We caught up with hair specialist, Sam Carpenter, Hair Artist and Educator at EIDEAL to get his top tips for maintaining healthy curls in the heat.

Photo: Leandro Crespi

According to Sam, “Keeping curly and coily hair looking and feeling fabulous tends to be more challenging compared to straight hair for multiple reasons. First of all, unlike straight hair, curly hair tends to lack moisture, which can lead to dryness, frizz, and brittleness. This is because the natural oils produced by the scalp find it more difficult to travel down the hair shaft in curly hair strands. For this reason, I tell all my curly clients to use cold water when washing the hair to retain moisture and strength. Hot water tends to strip the hair of its natural oils.

To care for curly hair effectively and ensure it looks its best, it is vital to choose the right products. The Love Curl range by Davines is a winner by adding volume and keeping frizz at bay. The Love Curl range also includes a Primer, which is an anti-humidity, heat protecting moisturising milk that gives definition to the hair, untangling it and making styling easy; as well as leave-in products such as curl revitalizer and curl cream.

Source: eideal.com

The enemy of curls are heavy formulations and product build-up as these will weigh the curls down. To remove product residue, I advise my clients to use the LOVE CURL Cleansing Cream every three hair washes. This all-in-one shampoo and conditioner is ideal for wavy to very curly hair. It looks like a light cleansing cream that gently removes impurities and makes the hair extremely soft. For an extra boost, the Love Curl hair mask gives remarkable softness and hydration also to very thick and unruly hair to leave curls nourished and elastic.

The way curly hair wraps around itself makes it difficult to separate the strands without causing tangles. But another no-no for curly is to use a brush. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb, and if you use it in the shower, it is great to detangle knots. A product I recommend to clients is The Divider by EIDEAL. The consistent non-sagging teeth allow for an even distribution and glide through the hair easily causing minimum to no breakage and because it is made of tourmaline, it eliminates any static electricity, giving you a neat and precise finish”.

Source: eideal.com

So there you have it—your ultimate guide to maintaining healthy curly hair in the heat. With a little love and care, your curls will be thriving all summer long.

by Hayley Alexander