Not metaphorically — I mean that faint snap that occurs when you run your fingers through your ends after spending a lengthy time in the sun. This happened to me one sultry July afternoon. I had just returned from brunch and my hair was in a loose braid. When I let it down, the dry ends produced a sound akin to the grinding of sand. This is the moment it dawned on me; the heat was not only styling my hair but also slowly damaging it.
You might think that fades only happens to hair in summers. A cost of care free wavy locks or skin that is kissed by the sun. But that is a lie; damage inflicted from heat on hair is something that can be avoided and at times, fixed too. The salon grade routine or a collection of serums is not needed — understanding the issue at hand is more than enough.
In this post I’ll share what I have done ever since I took heating protecting seriously. The changes made, habits that were ditched, and new rituals to fix my split ends. Each secret shared will be tested, simple, and honestly, enjoyable.
Why Heat Breaks Hair (and It’s Not Just the Sun)
This is the part that surprised me the most: The flat iron was not the only thing ruining my hair; it was also the weather. There was no need for a socket to power up during summertime.
Overlooked Assassins
We focus on the obvious sources of damage to hair like blow dryers, curling wands, or the sizzling sound of hair meeting an iron. Hair also suffers from heat drying, UV rays, sweat, and harsh pool chemicals which steadily damage the outer layer known as cuticle. Once the shield is porous, the layers lose moisture and become fragile, then the damage begins.
What astonished me the most? Dehydrated hair also tends to break dry regardless of cleanliness. And while beach waves are liked, saltwater adds microscopic fractures to the hair shaft. After weeks of summer fun, you end up with a shattered recipe for brittle ends.
Indications that you’re experiencing breakage instead of dryness:
- Spawned short and frizzed flyaways that did not exist previously
- Hair exhibiting the roughness as compared to dryness
- Ends are shapeless
- Greater quantity of strands on the brush or pillow
Having a breakage is more of a structural issue and not merely a textural issue. Understanding this helped me change my approach and I shifted my focus from chasing softness to focusing on rebuilding strength.
My Hair Rebuilding Solutions That Were Effective
This is the point of change.
There are no radical changes here. No salon detox or expensive 200 dollar treatments. These revolve around changing the order of approach to hair; damage control to damage prevention.
Change to Protection as a Priority Instead of Stylist First
Earlier, my routine involved washing, towel drying, and blow-dryer or straightening. My new routine starts with heat protectant application and don’t mind spending 60 seconds on it. Behind the scenes, moisture retention has been increased.
Night care > morning = rush
Oil application along with a loose silk scrunchie bun helped mitigate some tangles while allowing my ends to feel feather soft during mornings.
3. More mindfulness, less manipulation
I stopped wet brushing without detangling spray. I replaced tight ponytails with low ponies, clips, or braids. Small things that nudged my hair, telling it, “I see you. I’m trying.”
Give it 7 days. You don’t need a perfect system, just a consistent one.
What Provided the Most Relief: My Summer Haircare Staples
This began with trial and error—lots of it. But, I discovered a few products that worked exactly how I needed them to. And no, not all are pricey.
Hair Summer Protection: My Essentials Table
| Product Name | Type | Price 💲 | Why I Love It |
|---|---|---|---|
| L’Oréal 6 Oils | Lightweight Oil | 💲 | Feels like silk without the grease |
| Olaplex No.3 | Treatment | 💲💲💲 | Literally revived my post-pool hair |
| Garnier Fructis SOS | Leave-in Spray | 💲 | Easy to reapply mid-day, smells like summer |
| Kérastase Nutritive | Leave-in Cream | 💲💲💲 | Heat + UV protection with zero buildup |
Tip: I keep the spray in my tote. Think of it like SPF for your strands. reapply while outdoors regularly to maximize protection.
My Mistakes In Hair Care and How I Corrected Them
It started with a towel.
I remember my hair-washing routine vividly. First, I’d wrap my hair in a towel and let it soak for a bit. Then, I’d proceed to scrub it similar to how one would scrub dirty dishes. This led to instant friction and subsequently, unforgiving frizz alongside a host of split ends.
Here’s more hair care-related mistakes I had to fix:
Common Hair Errors That Lead To Breakage During The Summer
- Brushing wet hair without a wide tooth comb along with no leave-in conditioner
- Cotton pillow cases while sleeping (because they’re known to tug)
- Allowing saltwater to dry in the strands
- Sunglass UV shields when not at the beach
In fact, even the strongest tresses cannot withstand persistent micro-tearing. And once I switched to mindful hair care, I started noticing changes in about two weeks.
My One Week Reset Hair Routine After Noticing Breakage
This is my wish care guide from last summer.
As the adage says, prevention is the best solution but in this case, if you’ve opted for a reactive approach to hair care and are noticing any signs of damage, your first step must be embark on a reset. In my case, I designed everything around a no-rule philosophy to make gentle rehab effortless for my hair. Overall, stress was at an all-time low with care being my only focus.
7 Day Breakage Reset
- Days 1 and 2: Braid and mask your hair while ensuring to avoid heat entirely.
- Day 3: Apply a fortifying mask ensuring all focus on balanced nourishment. Remember, too much protein is also counteractive responsible for yielding stiffer strands.
- Day 4: Scalp massage with oil. You can tell it brings pleasure so good, and help blood flow.
- Day 5: Protect UV while outside. Don’t forget to spray before leaving.
- Day 6: Care when air drying. Brushes shouldn’t be used until hair is 90% dry.
- Day 7: Clarifying gently to remove buildup then deep conditioning.
The outcome? My hair not only felt healthier, but also less frizzy, stronger, and revived in movement.
Would you consider a reset like this? Be sure to save it for your hair SOS moments.
Small Details That Changed Everything
This is the part that surprised me the most and was beyond the product: the habit.
These are a few of the things that silently changed my routine:
Transformative Help I Didn’t Expect
- Using satin pillowcases
- Consuming more electrolyte water (water = dehydration = brittle hair)
- Adding collagen powder to my smoothies
- Wearing a hat or scarf while going for long walk in the sun
- Not touching my hair all day
My perspective shifted from seeing hair as something to “fix” to “care for” like skin. That change was priceless.
Key Takeaways (and Some Soft Nudges)
Shedding some hair during summer is not the only option. A healthy head of hair can be maintained with some tweaks in routine.
While I may not have flawless hair, my hair is in a healthier state than it has been in years. This has come from simple routines carried out consistently.
How will you shift your routines?
Save this post or pass it along to someone who wants to give their hair some TLC in time for summer. 💛
Share your summer hair rescue secrets, and let’s keep the topics coming!
