In the summertime, people get excited about a cool summer cocktail, golden-hued skin, and warm evenings spent outside with good friends. Hardly does anyone even contemplate the effects of overexposure to the sun on our hair.

Nana Gries, a senior colorist at the Neville Hair and Beauty claims that one of the biggest complaints regarding hair that they receive from customers in the summer is the unintended change in hair color. She further added that hair color tends to receive unexpected warmth, revealing orange tones that range from medium to dark colors; and brassy or green tones for people with blonde hair. She further said, ‘Excessive exposure to the sun, as well as poor preventive measures, also mean that our team does confront concerns about dry conditions of the hair and scalp frequently."

The pool, the sun, and the sea may negatively impact our hair in various ways, so we went to the experts to find out what we should be doing to minimize the sun's damage to our summer locks.

1. Heat does not affect hair health negatively

Heat from the sun in and of itself cannot damage the hair. This is because hair is very resilient to high temperatures and may even withstand 180 degrees of heat before Keratin starts to deteriorate. Summer heat, however, comes along with summer light and excessive amounts of ultraviolet radiation. The UV radiation is very dangerous to the hair fibers. This is because hair is made of 18 different protein chains (amino-acids) that are very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. It therefore follows that when hair is exposed to the summer heat for long periods of time, it becomes weaker and duller.

2. Outdoor pools may be turning your hair green

Swimming in an outdoor pool may predispose you to the danger of the infamous slight green hair tint. Indoor pools, on the other hand, won’t have any such adverse effects. That’s because the ‘green hair phenomenon’ does not occur in indoor pools unless your hair is porous or processed. The green tint is brought about by the copper in the pipes which transports water to the pools, not the chlorine that is in the water. In hot weather, the water evaporates, leaving behind a concentrated solution of copper salts which are, in turn, easily absorbed by the damaged and porous hair, and which subsequently makes it green.

3. If the pool is stinging your eyes, it's also drying out your hair 

Pools that have high levels of chlorine present in the water can be very damaging to your eyes, as well as your hair. This stems from the fact that chlorinated salts, which originate from your body through sweat, skin, or sebum, then dissolve in the pool, bind to the chlorine and in turn, cause our eyes to sting. The higher the number of dissolved debris, the more severe the stinging sensation. This may intensify the drying effects on the hair, as well. A paddle in the sea may also make your hair drier, given the fact that sea salt can leach water from your hair. As the hair that is saturated with salt water dries out, more moisture is taken away, thus making it feel dryer.

4. Pre-treat hair to prevent damage

During the summer months, make it a priority to treat using a quaternary ammonium conditioner, which can help to ward off ‘green hair syndrome.’ This bars copper from binding onto the hair. Purchase a moisturizer or a bond-restructuring treatment to make sure that the wellness of your hair is upheld at all times before you expose it to sunshine or swimming.

5. Use a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) to shield your hair from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation

If you're not a big fan of hats, consider using an innovative ultraviolet protector and SPF that is specially created for use on wet hair. This product is intended to care for, revamp, and beautify hair that is exposed to the sun. Make sure to reapply it each time your hair becomes wet. 

6. Rinse or Condition your hair to lock in the moisture

To effectively repel chemical-filled water and dissolved salts, it is advised to pre-treat hair with an oil or conditioner before you take a dip. Then, ensure that your hair is thoroughly rinsed after each swim.

7. Use plenty of lemon on your hair

Contrary to popular notion, lemon is, in fact, healthy for your hair. It contains a very mild acid that has the ability to close the cuticles of your hair and in so doing make it shinier and smoother. 

There are many, natural ways you can protect and revitalize your hair during the summer months. It does take a bit of planning, but with the right products, you can make sure your sun-kissed locks look luscious whether on the beach, boat, or poolside.