It’s nearly upon us... Everyone’s favourite season. Summer.  

As our summer holiday plans are edging closer and closer, we keep finding ourselves daydreaming about those long sunny days that just seem to go on forever, dipping in and out of the pool to cool off and sand between our toes as we walk barefoot on the beach. Feeling like our best selves as the days are slowly getting longer and warmer. There is nothing quite like it.  

But let’s be frank, it can be an absolute nightmare for our locks! From constantly explaining to people the reason you look like a lion is because of the humidity to that underlying fear throughout summer of what damage saltwater or chlorine might have on your hair – it’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster! Our holiday hair needs a little more TLC than usual. 

We are here to talk you through all the best summer hair care routines and tips you can put in place to keep your hair looking and feeling as healthy and happy as you do in the summer months. Yay! 

ROUTINE: How to look after your hair when swimming. 

Let’s kick things off with protecting your hair when swimming. Whether you are relaxing in the pool or surfing in the sea, it is vital you protect your hair. Salty water and chlorine can be super drying for your hair and can make it even more susceptible to breaking than normal (eek!). A little bit of pre-planning never hurt anyone, and if you know you are going to be swimming having a good pre-swim hair protection routine can go a long way.  

Step 1: The night before you are going into the water, you can pop on a hydrating scalp treatment, this will help your scalp not get too dry from being exposed to the sun and water all day long.  

Step 2: Then just before you are going to dive into the beautiful crystal-clear water, wet your hair! This may sound silly since your hair is going to be getting wet anyway, but getting your hair wet before entering the water stops your hair from absorbing as much salt water or chlorine.  

Extra: You can even take this one step further and apply a hair mask or leave-in conditioner before you swim, this locks in all the moister in your hair and stops your hair from being stripped of all its luxurious natural oils.  

So, you've done all your hair prepping (so far, you’re smashing it!) and you've had the best day swimming and catching a tan, but what do you do with your hair after all this??  

Step 4: The most natural feeling might be to fully wash your hair, however, unless you know you won't be swimming again the next day it is better to just rinse it. Shampooing your hair every day can be damaging, so if you know you are swimming the next day simply rinsing your hair will help get rid of any chlorine or salt water that you might have. To help lock in any extra hydration, we would suggest squeezing out (no rubbing now!) any excess water after your rinse and applying hair oil.  

Extra: A final tip for any of you bleached babes out there… we’ve all been there, you've just had your fab new blond highlights done only to go on holiday and end up looking more Grinch than glamour.  

This is going to get a little science-y here so specs on gals... You know that green tinge you get in your hair? This is actually caused by the copper algaecides that are found in most chlorinated pools. Fun (slightly gross) fact, these are there to prevent any algae growth in the pools. To help stop this from affecting your brilliant balayage, you should use a waterproof protective hair product or even wear some kind of cap. 

TIPS: How to look after your hair when it is wet  

Now, what about hair care for wet hair? So, you've finished your day in the pool, and you’ve decided to wash your hair to get it looking fresh and fabulous before you head out for drinks at sunset - doesn’t that sound like heaven? However, looking after your hair when it is wet is often something people can overlook, as they tend to think their hair care routine is all done and dusted once they step out of the shower. *Ta-daaa!* But hold on a sec, as this really isn’t the case. Listen and learn ladies. 

Your hair is at its most fragile when it is wet. This is because when hair is wet, the proteins that make up hair strands, called keratin, form weaker *technical words alert* hydrogen bonds. Which basically means they are more prone to being damaged.  

Tip 1: Now, this wet hair care tip might not suit everyone, but, if you can, brush your hair when it is dry before you get in the shower. When wet, our hair doesn’t naturally ping back into place like it does when it is dry, so dragging a brush through it can snap your precious hair. Make sure you never brush your hair too aggressively and start from the ends of your hair and work your way up.  

Tip 2: Hot tools, these things have such a hold over all hair fanatics, they can give you salon-worthy hair in the comfort of your own home. As tempting as it can be, we should never ever ever use them on wet hair. If you think about it this way, if your hair has water on it and you heat that water up, you are essentially boiling the water that is on your hair, which in turn will cook your hair! This is why GLOWWA always recommend leaving your hair to air dry or if you want a big bouncy look, towel dry partially and then blow dry with a good quality hair dryer. 

TIPS: How to protect your hair from the sun  

Let's be honest, you can’t beat the feeling of the sun shining down on you. As much as we all love the sun, its UVB and UVA rays can be super damaging to our hair, so it is essential that we put steps in place. These rays weaken our hair's protein structure, drag moister out of our hair cuticles, and reduce the elasticity that we naturally have in our hair, leading it to break more easily. *Great...* 

Just like we wouldn't sit out in the sun without sun cream on our skin, we shouldn't really be out in the sun without applying an SPF to our hair.  

Tip 1: Choose a heat protection spray or a conditioning mask that protects against UV rays, this way your hair will be protected from discolouration, dryness, split ends and frizziness. It is always a good idea to apply a little extra product on the ends of your hair, as the ends are often much more fragile.  

Tip 2: And let’s not forget about your scalp. It can burn so easily in the sun so make sure you apply SPF powders to your scalp. There are loads of great translucent SPF powders on the market that you can use just like using dry shampoo! Or there is always the trusty old baseball cap if you're looking for a laid-back look.  

TIPS: Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Hair 

We know you have heard it all before, it all starts from within *as cliche as it sounds*. Yet, it is so true, if you are healthy on the inside it will show on the outside! 

Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be long-winded it can be simple, quick and easy.  

Tip 1: Make sure you are staying hydrated and drinking water. A simple trick to remember is to always carry a water bottle on you, this way you have it to hand, and it will slowly become a habit.  

Tip 2: Make sure to keep on top of your fruits and veggies and eat a nutritional and balanced diet. Why not try adding a portion of fruit to your breakfast or having a smoothie as a snack?  

It is never a bad idea to give your hair a little boost, GLOWWA hair food can help to give your hair the nutrients and support it needs to stay healthy all summer long. GLOWWA capsules have the perfect blend of hair-specific ingredients including, Biotin, Zinc, L-Lysine, B5&B6, Niacin, MSM, Vitamin C and Coconut water to help your hair be healthy and happy all year long.  

So, there you go, all your summer haircare tips and routines for keeping your hair as radiant as you are in the summer months. Remember to always protect and nourish your hair, it is after all the crowning glory that helps to make you who you are.