Protect Your Hair All Summer

When the summer season hits, we often worry about taking care of our skin and disregarding our hair. However, just as harmful UV rays can damage the skin, it can also damage your hair and scalp. Several summer factors can harm your hair including sweat, chlorinated pool water, sun rays, and sea salt. Leaving your hair unprotected can turn it lifeless, dry, and limp. Excessive perspiration can increase the chances of dandruff and dry out your hair. The heat can sunburn your scalp and damage your hair roots.
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Moisturize and Protect

​You should start any healthy summer hair regimen by getting a fresh haircut. Regular trims every 4-6 weeks can help damaged hair come back to life. The hair grows faster in the summer, and when split ends aren't cut off, they move farther up the shaft causing you to need to cut more length off.

If you color treat your hair, you must take extra care of it during the summer. The sun can cause the color to fade and maximize dryness. Opt for shampoos and conditioners that are made especially for preserving moisture like Keratherapy’s Moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. This will not only help with keeping moisture in the hair but it also utilizes their kerabond technology which will ensure your smoothing treatment lasts as long as possible. If your hair is already dry, brittle, or damaged, use a deep conditioner like Global Keratins deep conditioning masque several times per week for an intense hydrating result.

**Please note that no smoothing treatment will ever replace a heat protectant. These treatments do not make your hair indestructible and you will need to continue to use a heat protectant in your hair when styling to ensure your hair does not become damaged.
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Keratin Treatments

Keratin hair-smoothing treatments are an excellent way to maintain healthy hair all summer long. They are performed in beauty salons all over the world, including San Diego, and became famous thanks to celebrities. Keratin is a protein naturally found in your hair. A keratin treatment involves a stylist applying a keratin hair-smoothing product and then using a flat iron to seal it in. The process can take up to 2 and a half hours depending on the length and density of your hair. Keratin treatments are ideal for individuals who desire frizz free hair. If you have naturally frizzy, coarse and resistant, or unmanageable hair getting a keratin treatment will ensure your style will last all day long without frizzing up even if you are in a humid environment. Keratin treatments won't cause breakage or damage your hair and will actually aid in restoring the hairs integrity over time. Results typically last 2 - 4 months depending on the treatment you choose. ​
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Sun and Swim Protection

The best way to protect your hair from the sun is to avoid it. However, when that's not an option a hat or baseball cap is your next best bet. You can increase the protection by using a leave-in conditioner or other styling aid that contains UV protection like Global Keratin’s dry oil spray. If your summer plans involve swimming in the ocean or a pool, apply a conditioner or leave in spray that is safe and recommended for your treatment just before jumping in. Our personal favorites are Keratherapy’s Leave in Conditioner, and Global Keratin’s Leave in Spray or Leave in Cream. Swimming in salt and pool water is extremely stripping of smoothing treatments and hair color. The leave in products we recommend will act as a protective barrier between the water and your treatment. Keep in mind that if you choose to submerge your hair in pool or salt water even with a leave in product in your hair you will need to reapply every few hours much like a sunscreen because eventually it will wash out and leave your treatment exposed.

Brazilian Blowout

The Brazilian blowout is similar to a keratin treatment and is designed to eliminate frizz, volume and enhance the hair's natural sheen. It works effectively on all hair types and textures but is best for someone hoping to reduce volume and bulk. In the summer when the humidity affects everyone, a Brazilian blowout will make it significantly easier to manage and style your hair. The biggest difference between Brazilian Blowout and any other keratin based treatment is the Brazilian is protein based and does not contain keratin. Brazilian Blowout uses a plant based amino acid that is not found naturally in the hair and if used consistently can cause over protienization with will make the hair more dry and brittle. If you do decide to have a Brazilian Blowout done it is extremely important to follow up with a B3 treatment with will repair and hydrate the hair or use a hydrating keratin based shampoo and conditioner to maintain the health of your hair. For 2 months after the procedure, your hair will be smooth, and easier to style and manage.

UV Protection

As the temperature rises, it's important to protect your hair from harmful UV rays. The sun will damage your hair just as bad as it will your skin. UV rays burn the outside and the inside of the hair follicle causing it to become lifeless and brittle. Before you start slathering sunscreen all over your head, you'll be happy to know there are many hair products formulated to protect from the sun. There are serums and sprays to protect your hair from UVA and UVB rays. Masks, oils, and treatments that can boost hydration levels and restore your hair back to health. 

Global Keratin has a shampoo and conditioner line specially formulated with UV and UVA to protect your hair from the sun. For an easy refresher you can use their dry oil spray with UVA protection throughout the day as well.

Hair Masks

Before or after a day out in the sun, a hair mask made for damaged hair will smooth out sun-exposed hair. They are also excellent at treating scalps that are prone to dandruff. Keratin hair masks are intense conditioners that contain the same keratin that is found in our smoothing treatments to return moisture and adds keratin molecules to damaged hair resulting in stronger hair.  A deep conditioning mask will repair the dryness the sun and excessive heat cause. 

If you've already damaged your hair from the sun or using excessive heat, an overnight deep conditioning masque or B3 is a good place to start. Sleeping with an intensive product overnight will provide maximum moisture to your hair by allowing the hair a long time to absorb the product. If your hair is breaking off avoid blow drying and hot tools as much as possible giving your hair a chance to breathe. keep in mind all smoothing treatments are thermally activated though and in order to see the most intense result from your treatment you will need to blow-dry your hair to reactivate the product. You can blow-dry straight with tension and a brush or diffuse it to wear your hair with it’s natural curl.

When styling your hair straight with a smoothing treatment already in your hair all you will need to do is apply a good heat protectant that is safe for your treatment in wet hair and simply use your blowdryer and a little tension from a brush to control how it drys. Finish your look by adding a shine oil through your ends for extra gloss, Brazilian Blowout’s dry oil is a nice lightweight product that will do just that.

If you are styling your hair naturally wavy, blot dry with a towel after showering. Use a lightweight heat protectant that also adds moisture like Keratherapy’s 20 in 1 styling cream through the middle and ends of your hair and diffuse dry.
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For styling very naturally curly hair, apply a moisturizer like a leave in spray from Keratherapy of Global keratin and a curl cream like curls defineher by Global Keratin and diffuse dry. Use your hands to separate the curls. Finish your look off with a high-gloss finishing oil like Keratherapy’s argon oil. ​​