Hello, my dear curly-haired friends 

Over the past few days, I’ve received lots of messages from you all about summer, sun, and water—and how they affect our curls. So I’d like to use this post to share some helpful tips on how to properly care for and protect your curls during this time of year. 🌞 

Sun protection goes beyond the hairline

The UV rays that we protect our skin from with sunscreen also affect our curls. As you probably know, curly hair needs more care and attention than straight hair. This is especially true in the summer, when the heat strips moisture from our curls—which is far from ideal for us curly-haired folks. In addition, the sun’s rays can damage the hair’s keratin structure, making it brittle. And as if that weren’t enough, UV rays also generate free radicals that further damage the hair.

So how do we keep our curls looking great throughout the most beautiful season of the year?

The most important thing is to keep our curls well hydrated. The best way to do this is to use a moisturizing leave-in conditioner or regular conditioner and seal it into the curls with a little oil. Argan, avocado, jojoba, almond, and coconut oils provide a mild but natural sun protection, as they contain vitamins that shield our curls from harmful rays. Among these oils, grapeseed oil has the highest sun protection factor. Another benefit of oils is that they protect your curls from free radicals.  

Click here to find a selection of protective oils 

There are several heat-protectant products designed to shield curls from heat damage during blow-drying; these products are also excellent for protecting your curls from the summer heat and preventing them from drying out. More on that below.     

However, the most effective way to protect your curls is definitely a sun hat or a headscarf.

Curls protect against salt and chlorinated water  

When we go swimming in a pool with chlorinated water, we should first thoroughly soak our curls with “fresh water.” That’s because curls are like a sponge—they soak up water, and that water should definitely not be chlorinated. The same goes for saltwater. After soaking your curls, comb in a leave-in conditioner that protects them and seals in a little oil.

You can find a selection of protective leave-in treatments here 

Even though curls create those beautiful beach waves in the summer at the beach—especially with fine, wavy hair—this is anything but good for your hair, because salt roughens up the outer hair structure. While this may feel nice and give your hair texture, it’s actually harmful to your hair, especially for dry, damaged curls, as salt leads to split ends and breakage; the curls also lose their strength and elasticity. It’s best to rinse your curls with fresh water again after swimming.       

I prefer to use a leave-in conditioner made with oil or fat, and I work it into my curls after showering to protect them from drying out and from chlorine and saltwater. 

I hope this helps you and your curls stay safe and healthy all summer long!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out—I'm always happy to help.

Warm regards 

Rosa Maria