7 tips for maintaining healthy hair this summer

With the long-awaited holiday season just around the corner, it’s time to prep your hair for the summer! Whether you’re off to far-flung destinations or looking to stay closer to home, you’ll want to ensure your hair is in excellent condition before setting off on your adventures.

The summer months can wreak havoc on hair, so make sure you follow these 7 tips to prevent split ends and repair damaged hair. Not only will your hair look great during your summer getaway but you’ll also return with healthy locks to match your sunkissed glow!

1. Get regular trims

We’ve all heard the phrase, “a stitch in time saves nine…” Well, the best way to prevent split ends is to get regular trims (once every six weeks is recommended). You don’t need to spend the earth on haircuts – just visit your local high street salon and ask for a trim, rather than a restyle. You can splash out on a big-name salon when you fancy a total change. To stimulate hair growth in between trims, try regular scalp massage. Our Bamboo Silicone Scalp Massager is gentle on the hair and scalp, helping to preserve the integrity of your hair fibre.

2. Heat-style with care

As we all know, heat sources, both natural and mechanical, have the potential to damage your hair and cause frizz. To prevent frizz, split ends and damage, try to keep heat-styling to a minimum. After washing, allow your hair to dry naturally and only use hairdryers, hair straighteners, hair curlers and hair tongs for special occasions. Always ensure you use quality heat-styling equipment that is designed to reduce damage to the hair shaft.

For those times when you feel heat-styling is a must, use a heat protection spray to lock in moisture and seal those tips. It really makes a difference to split ends and frizz.

3. Be gentle

Although hair has natural elasticity, it is still very delicate and should be treated with care – this is especially true for fine hair, which is more easily prone to breakage and damage. Always ensure you’re gentle when towel-drying your hair, as hair is at its most fragile when wet. Just gently pat and scrunch the moisture out of your hair using a towel and let the fabric absorb most of the moisture. Our Nosheen Microfibre Hair Wrap does an excellent job at absorbing excess moisture from your hair after washing. Once your hair is towel-dried, use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush to detangle wet hair. Another great tip is to use a Silk Pillowcase when sleeping. Not only is silk gentle on your skin, it’s also gentle on your hair, preventing tangles and breakage while you sleep.

4. Brush regularly

I know we all have those evenings when we just want to flop into bed or mornings when we simply want to twist our hair up into a crocodile clip and go. Don’t do it! Before going to bed, always give your hair a good brush. This will help the hair follicles to lie flat and prevent damage. Also make sure you brush your hair when you get up in the morning, even when wearing it up. You wouldn’t think twice about brushing your teeth twice a day, removing make-up or moisturising, and the same goes for hair – good hair hygiene will keep your locks healthy and radiant and avoid costly treatments later.

5. Eat and drink right

If we want luscious locks, then it’s vitally important to get our nutrition right. Healthy hair requires a diet rich in folic acid and biotin, so we’re talking dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, fresh fruit juices, nuts, whole grains, cauliflower and banana for a vegan-friendly diet. Include egg yolk and liver if your diet allows.

Healthy hair also needs plenty of moisture. Drinking at least two litres of water a day will help to keep your hair strong, as well as encourage new growth. Eating healthily and hydrating properly are also great for your skin and nails too!

6. Natural is best

Sometimes the chemicals used in haircare products can do more harm than good, so to keep your hair in tiptop condition, stick to using natural shampoos and conditioners, particularly formulas that are free from parabens and sulphates.  Avoid over-washing your hair, as this can also strip the hair fibre of its natural oils, making hair dry, brittle and more prone to breakage and split ends. Try washing your hair every other day or even just a couple of times a week. Your scalp’s natural oil production will adjust to your new haircare ritual over time – find what works for you!

Regular use of a hair mask can also help to prevent damage and split ends. If you have time, consider making your own hair mask – read our March blog for more ideas on natural haircare treatments from around the world.

7. Oil up

You can’t fix split ends, so, as you now know, prevention is better than cure. One way to prevent split ends in the first place is regular use of a hair oil. Natural oils you have stocked in your pantry, such as olive oil or avocado oil can be pretty effective. Or try using our award-winning Nosheen Hair Oil. Made using a secret family recipe handed down over generations, its exclusive blend of oils, including castor, coconut, almond, black seed, argan, vitamin E and cedarwood, prevent hair from drying out, the very process that can lead to damage and split ends. Beneficial properties such as lavender, rosemary and ginger stimulate or soothe the scalp, delivering a repairing action or promoting new hair growth.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading these 7 tips to prevent split ends and repair damaged hair – I certainly enjoyed writing them. Keep them in mind, and, not only will your hair be looking great this summer, you’ll also have healthy-looking hair all year round. I hope your summer gets off to a great start! Until next time…

Love, Nosheen xxx