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How does your hair care routine change in warmer weather?

Frankly, my routine doesn’t change at all during the year (it’s pretty simple!), but I thought it would be a useful question, because I imagine it does for many of you 🙂 I look forwarding to hearing about your routines!

— Christine

40 Comments

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A Avatar

Mine doesn’t change much either. In winter I’ll use more deep conditioners to deal with static, (or I just use the old dry sheet trick) but I don’t radically change anything by season.

Nancy T Avatar

Well, with summer here in AZ basically having 2 components; one very dry and increasingly hotter, and the other, Monsoon, being not only very hot but humid, too, it changes*slightly*. But my natural hair texture is thick, curly and humidity affected. Dry, hot season, I use more deep conditioning treatments and have more freedom with wearing it up or down. But for the wet, humid, thunderstorm-prone monsoon, I use defrizzing serums more often, and dry shampoo on my roots becomes more of a thing I need to do. Also, I keep it up in a high ponytail or bun just about continuously during those months!
I am seriously thinking of going just-past-shoulder length layers!!!

Tracey E. Avatar

I wear my hair short all year round. In the high humidity months, I wear it almost shaved in the back & on the sides, very short on top with cute ‘framing’ wisps around my face. In the very cold months, I let it grow longer in the back (relatively speaking), and fuller all over,

Nati Avatar

My routine changes quite a bit! First of I don’t use much heating tools in Summer and leave my hair to air dry a lot more. Hence I do not use as much styling and heat protectants products as in Fall and winter. I usually go for an easy to carry easy to maintain length and wash it much more often (I’m more outdoors, and sweat and workout more!) and I also use antipolluants or protectants agains UV damage, which I don’t care at all during winter.

Julia Avatar

I am pretty low maintenance with my hair – I blow dry with a round brush each morning regardless of weather or time of year, but I do change my product. I really like easy, leave-in conditioning sprays. When the weather is dry/cold, I use Beauty Protector’s Protect & Detangle (from Birchbox), and then when it gets warmer and more humid I switch to Aveda’s Brilliance Damage Control spray because it’s a lot lighter.

Erica Avatar

My routine doesn’t change in terms of washing. It is dry and course-ish as it is in the winter. But in the summer it is frizzier so I smooth hair oil on my hair. Use a flat iron.

chelsea Avatar

My hair is very long and thick hair with loads of natural body to it. So my struggle is to keep the frizz away. Where I live humidity is high in the summer so it’s more of struggle to maintain. What I found works is to use a smoothing serum when damp and to dry it with a high quality hair dryer (I use a salon quality ION dryer and it’s pretty much the key to keeping fly-aways at bay but maintaining fullness).

Lacey Avatar

I don’t change much unless the humidity is really bad or I’ve been swimming. I use a stronger anti-frizz product or take more care to heat style if the humidity is really strong. If I’m spending lots of time on the beach or at the pool, I use a deep conditioner and a leave-in oil with UV protection to help repair damage chlorine and salt water and sun can do!

Gillian Avatar

It doesn’t really change at all during the year. I wash and condition my hair three or four times a week, one of those times using a clarifying shampoo. I also use a hair treatment once or twice a week, mainly on the mid-lengths and ends of my hair.

As for the actual products I use I change it up all the time. I don’t tend to go for expensive shampoo and conditioner, I quite like the L’Oréal Elvive range for that.

As for the clarifying shampoo I use KMS California Headremedy Dandruff Shampoo. I don’t have dandruff but I like how clean my hair feels after using it.

I’ve tried a number of different treatments and I really love the Philip Kinsley Elasticizer and the milk_shake Integrity Repairing Hair Treatment. Both of those make a really big difference to the look and feel of my hair. I’ve tried others but didn’t notice much of a difference, mostly hair masks. I totally recommend those two though. ?

Holly Avatar

I try to wear my wavy hair straight in the cooler, low-humidity months. I use Pillow-Proof, shine serum, and heat protectant. In the summer, I don’t bother to blow-dry or flat iron. My hair will instantly curl and pouf as soon as I walk out the door anyway. So, I wear lots of braids, buns, and beach waves in the summer. I will apply oils and deep conditioners before I braid it. And Sea Salt Spray for nicer waves.

Summer styles are easier and quicker, but winter styles last for more days. I’ve learned to enjoy having variety in my hair from season to season.

Stephanie Avatar

Very little, except I’m more likely to keep it up (since I live in Humidity Central) and I’m less likely to do anything involving a hairdryer or straightening iron (since it’s hot enough here already without adding heat styling to the mix).

Astrild Avatar

I tend to let my hair air-dry in the summer months so I use a styling product that help me define my waves that I lose the rest of the year because of blow-drying my hair.

Kat Avatar

Really the only thing that changes is that I introduce a frizz-taming deep conditioner (Aussie 3-minute-miracle in the frizz version). I don’t really do anything with my hair normally since it has a nice mild wave naturally, so I usually wash it every 3 or 4 days with Head and Shoulders Almond Oil dandruff shampoo, use either the Aussie deep-conditioner or an anti-breakage conditioner, then when I get out of the shower I wrap my hair in one of those hair towels. Once it’s about half dry, I put a few drops of argan oil on my hand and run it through my hair. I then let it air dry.

Eileen Avatar

My routine doesn’t change due to the weather. My hair has always been wash ‘n wear and the weather doesn’t seem to affect that. When I change products it’s because of something special I’m going to be doing with my hair. For example, if I’m going to be wearing my hair up or tousled, I’ll use a mousse to add some bulk or if I’m going to blow dry my hair, I’ll use a heat activated conditioner.

Mimozagirl Avatar

I try to avoid blowdrying my hair in the summer as it gets hot here and my hair dries quickly anyway. In the winter it’s very cold here, so blowdrying is a must and I use hair masks more often.

KJH Avatar

air dried it today, the first warm/sunny day for weeks. Come real heat, shorten/shave the back and cut up the sides to just under the ear. My hair is similar to Wendy’s, but plainer, less styled, less thick, less chic. Oily skin and scalp mean less post shampoo product, as it can trap up every mote in the air. Lots of salt water exposure and sun can lighten it some, and can be good for scalp psoriasis. Use tar shampoo for the summer for that issue, maybe. I am always amazed by people who can do hair. A new coworker who is pale pale native Irish, actually has her drabbing red hair in dreads. I am astounded at the work involved.

Bon Bon Avatar

I started wearing a shirt wig about 10 days ago. Love it and the ease of use. However going to the store in the Florida heat today makes me know I’m going to have to lightly tosslemy short hair. My wig bangs got slightly damp from a sweaty brow. Not going to be that person, lol.

Alisha Avatar

I have to use a less moisturizing shampoo because my scalp gets oily if it is hot and humid. If I blow dry I use cold air instead of warm. I deal with frizz in the summer so I’m always fighting that. I seem to use more oils rather than leave in moisturizers or whatever I feel like in the winter because my hair isn’t as dry and doesn’t soak it up like it does in the winter and it being fine I don’t want to make it greasy with tons of product and light oils and serums are better I guess.

Charlotte Avatar

Much shorter cut, chin length bob at front angled to a much shorter cut at the back. This means I can blow dry it fairly quickly on a low-ish setting and not have to use my straighteners. Thank goodness! I don’t need that extra heat. Shaves 20mins of my getting ready time too!

shannon Avatar

My hair texture: I have SUPER thick, curly (think ringlets) long (to my hip bones) hair!! It’s NOT colour treated. But it’s very dry at the ends (as most curly hair textures are)

I also live in NORTHERN Ontario. SO it’s winter here from September to April/May.

So my hair routine is basically, I wash with a gentle shampoo (i use got2b’s oilicous shampoo!! it’s super gentle and it smells awesome like MAC lipsticks!!) Then i take like six to seven pumps of Aussie’s Moist conditioner and i work that through my hair and let that sit for as long as possible!! Then rinse, and gently comb my hair, and rub some Garnier leave in conditoner, from my ears to my ends. Then i’ll take some HASK hair oil and rub that into my ends!!! Then i go to sleep with my hair in a pony tail. and BAM the next morning I wake up with soft, shiny, ringlets!!! 😀

My hair routine for the summer is basically the same, but i’ll use more frizz defying serums!! (I really like this bottle of L’oreal one i got gifted!!)

Judy H. Avatar

My hair care routine doesn’t really change much in the summer. Due to some medication I MUST take, I cannot spend more than an hour or so in the sun, even with high power prescription sun block. When I do take advantage of that hour here and there, I always make sure to wear a large brimmed hat. 1) it protects my face and 2) my hair color is protected from fading and my hair doesn’t get dried out from the sun. Oh, I do use a pomade or some kind of anti-humectant to keep the frizzies down whether in or out.

Denise Avatar

I change it up somewhat during the hot humid months. I am off work during the sum to mer, so I try to keep my styling low key. If I am hanging by the pool, I wear a hat and pounds of coconut oils. I use anti-frizz by Living Proof and blow dry with a ion dryer by Harry Josh. It really saves the texture of your hair and reduces frizz. I also cut back on styling products that tend to weigh the hair down during the hotter months. But no matter how hot it gets, anything is better then winter. LOL

Cat Avatar

I have naturally curly hair so, on hot and humid days, I use a curl enhancer and allow my hair to mostly air dry. I always use a hair dryer on the bangs and crown, and usually the roots (unless it’s unbearably hot/humid). I don’t need to use as many conditioning treatments during the summer months, only using one about every four weeks. I always use a product to protect my hair from heat, and I will often use oils on the ends of my hair.

Dianne Avatar

I wear my naturally curly hair in its natural state during the summer than during the school year when I’m working. Usually co-wash, condition, oil on the ends, and some curl cream or leave-conditioner and let it air-dry.

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