Summer, and the coinciding festive season, is the time to relax, have fun and let your hair down (excuse the pun!). You should be planning trips to music festivals, outings with your friends and poolside lounging sessions. The fact is that you shouldn’t have to worry about hairstyles or letting your hair hold you back from any activities.
But, if you have natural hair like me, the reality is that summer can sometimes lead to some serious hair concerns.
Summer Hair Concerns
Textured and curly hair, such as my 4C coils, are prone to higher levels of moisture loss during exercise and hot weather, which means you need to put in extra time to care for it, afterwards
Plus, there is sweat and salt water/chlorine water to contend with! If you’re sweating or swimming a lot during summer you may want to wash your hair more frequently, but for those of us who wash their hair once a week to preserve its moisture levels, this poses a challenge.
The Best Protective Summer Hairstyles
Yes, healthy hair is important but, you shouldn’t let it stand in the way of you living your best summer life. So, what to do?
Well, selecting the right hairstyle for summer can make all the difference in keeping your hair moisturised, healthy and convenient.
So, why not try one of these hairstyles this summer to keep your hair healthy and protected?
1. Pineapple updo
If, like me, you like to rock your natural hair, then a pineapple undo is a summer hairstyle you should try.
Not only does it look great on almost anyone, but it helps protect the hair and is also a low-manipulation and easy-to-achieve style. To pull off this look, pull your hair up into a loose pony on top of your head and let your curls do their thing.
If you want to add some spice to the look and accessorise it, try wrapping a headscarf like a loose band around the base of your head. For instance, the Cantu Satin Scarves can be worn during the day to enhance your look or at night to protect your hair while you sleep. As it’s made from breathable satin, the scarves help hair retain moisture and prevent breakage.
2. Cornrows
A very simple, yet attractive and popular style for both men and women, cornrows protect your coils, and they make you look great. That said, it’s important to give your hair plenty of moisture to keep it looking good for longer and to maintain the health of your scalp.
So, before you start braiding, make sure to detangle your hair and ensure that there are no knots or tangles. The Evolve Flow Thru Detangler detangles and smoothes the hair without snagging or pulling. After detangling, apply a leave-in conditioner to lock in moisture, like the Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream, which nourishes the hair, leaving it softer, more manageable and more resilient.
Now, once your cornrows are in place, you’ll need to moisturise both your hair and scalp to ensure its health. To do so, try applying an oil between the cornrows and against the scalp to keep the scalp moisturised, like Jamaican Mango & Lime Original Castor Oil. The oil is not only moisturising and good for your scalp but also promotes healthy hair growth.
3. Twist out
Another one of my favourite natural hairstyles, twist outs are an easy, effortless style to perfect, and they look great in summer.
To achieve this look, you’ll need to part your hair into sections and apply a curling cream to each section. Once done, you’ll need to separate the sections into two parts and twist them around each other, resulting in a two-strand twist.
During this process, it’s important to apply a leave-in conditioner or curl cream that’ll add moisture, strengthen, protect and make your hair more manageable. Also, don’t forget to spritz the hair with water between sections.
One good option is the Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream, which helps to condition, nourish and define your curls.
4. Knotless box braids
I mean, almost everyone is rocking this hairstyle during the summer.
Knotless box braids are a friendlier version of traditional box braids, as they don’t have a tight knot at the base, which makes them gentler on the scalp.
For knotless box braids, you’ll need to divide your hair into four even sections (or more if you have very thick hair). You’ll then need to use hair ties or pins to keep the other sections out of the way while you work on one. Throughout the process, apply a nourishing hair cream like Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream and comb through with a rat tail comb. Create your parts and apply some hair gel, like the Cantu Flaxseed Smoothing Cream Gel, to the roots to help keep the braid in place.
Then, start weaving your three-strand braid and braid down the length of your hair while feeding strands of braiding hair (of the same length as your natural hair). You can also add a bit of gel for hold when you get to the ends.
The bottom line is that summer hair doesn’t need to be stressful, so why not try one of these low-maintenance protective styles and enjoy a carefree holiday season?
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