Temperatures are set to hover between 45 and 49 degrees this week, according to the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS), but as UAE residents know, those extremes can take their toll on our health.
One area that many don’t think about, however, is sun damage. Much like the sun damages skin, it is important to know that the sun can damage hair just as much during the summer months.
We asked Asgar Saboo, celebrity hairstylist to the likes of Cindy Crawford and Eva Longoria, how to prep and protect our hair this summer. Here are his top five tips.
Protect that parting
The first step to is always to protect your hair/scalp from the sun: If you've ever burnt your scalp on holiday you will know that it hurts. To avoid this you can use special sun screen moose or spray to prevent burning in susceptible places like the hair line and the parting, where the hair is finer.
This will also protect against moisture loss and cuticle damage. An added bonus is that it also gives body to limp locks and guards coloured hair from UV fading.
Oil up
After being in the sun, oil treatments are a fantastic option to repair dry, damaged hair. They are simple to do at home and infuse damaged hair with moisture and shine.
How to: Apply the treatment oil of choice to clean, towel-dried hair and proceed to cover your hair with a shower cap and apply heat by using a hot towel or using a blow dryer. After heating the oil, allow the hair to cool, and then rinse out with cool water. These oil treatments can be done one to three times per month on damaged hair depending upon the damage. Proper use of these treatments can increase elasticity to damaged hair and create shine, but be careful as overusing oil might cause your hair to look greasy.
Say goodbye to colorants, chemicals and heat
If your hair is extremely damaged, you should rethink any form of chemical processing, at least for the moment. If you cannot resist the dye, then try gentler approaches to hair colour, such as ammonia-free and semi-permanent formulas.
Heat is equally bad for your hair if used over a prolonged period of time. If you want to rescue your hair using a strong setting lotion or spray used with rollers can produce a beautiful curl and bounce with without being harmful to the hair.
Moisten with a mask
Moisture masks do exactly what they say and if you use olive oil, protein or shea butter this will create healthy, glossy hair.
How to: Apply the treatment or mask and leave it on for a full hour or longer, using a plastic shower cap over the top to help the product penetrate. Once a week you can apply the mask treatment in the shower after shampooing. Leave it on for three to five minutes for quick hydration and then rinse it out.
Opt for an egg yolk
An egg yolk is bursting with natural fats and proteins, making it a potion of life for summer damaged hair.
How to: First separate the yolk from the white and put the yolk in a cup. Whisk gently in order to break it up and then apply to clean, damp hair and leave the yolk on for 30 minutes or longer is desired. Finally rinse off with cold water. This will leave your hair invigorated, energised and in much better condition.
