9 Expert Tips for Taking Care of Your Hair During the Holiday Season

During the holidays and summer vacations, hair faces its worst enemy: the combination of intense sun, high humidity, salt, chlorine, excessive sweating and heavy use of hair dryers and straighteners.

The result usually shows in the mirror in January, with extreme dryness, breakage, faded color and uncontrollable frizz.

“It is in summer that hair suffers the most loss of water, lipids and proteins. Everything accelerates during this period,” explains trichologist and hairstylist Letícia Motta.

Below, she answers the top questions and teaches how to keep your hair healthy even during beach days, pool days, and parties.

Summer means damage

According to Letícia, summer concentrates the attacks which act simultaneously on the hair fiber. UV rays degrade pigments, high temperatures remove natural lipids, sea salt crystallizes and stiffens hair, and chlorine oxidizes essential proteins.

“Hair loses its structure very quickly. It dries out, becomes rough, opaque and more prone to breakage,” he explains.

The scalp also feels the impact and may become oilier, irritated or flaky.

To use without rinsing or spray with a UV filter before sun exposure and reapply every two hours or after entering water

Sea x swimming pool: what does each cause?

Hair suffers from both, but in different ways.

“Sea water dehydrates hair through osmosis, and crystallized salt leaves hair stiff and brittle,” he explains. Additionally, the combination of salt and UV radiation accelerates fading.

Swimming pool chlorine acts as an oxidizing chemical agent, breaking down lipids and proteins. In blonde hair, this can cause the classic greenish look.

“Salt dries. Chlorine oxidizes. Both strongly weaken the fiber,” summarizes the trichologist.

The sun and the salt dry out. Moisturize every week with masks rich in active ingredients and moisturize with vegetable oils to nourish

What to do before diving

Prevention starts before entering the water: “Hair works like a sponge. If you wet your hair with fresh water, it absorbs much less salt and chlorine,” he explains.

Then, it is essential to apply a without rinsing or a cream with UV protection, and reapply after each dive. Buns and braids reduce friction and exposure.

Before going to the beach, apply hair oil or without rinsing to protect hair from salt

After the beach: the saving ritual

The ideal is to rinse your hair after getting out of the water, even if it is with a bottle of mineral water.

Then wash with a mild shampoo and use reconstructive moisturizers.

“In summer, the loss of water and protein is so intense that wearing a mask every other day, or even every day if you are at the beach, makes a real difference,” he says.

THE without rinsing finishes, sealing cuticles and helping to preserve color.

Parties, hair dryers and straighteners: where we go wrong

With the calendar full of holidays, the use of heat tools is skyrocketing, and hair is already weakened.

“The biggest mistake is using a straightener on dry or damp strands. This literally fries the hair,” he warns.

Excessive temperature and lack of thermal protection are also among the most common errors.

“Above 200°C, the internal structure of the wire suffers irreversible damage,” he emphasizes.

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Wash your hair with fresh water and a mild shampoo to remove salt and chlorine, which cause dryness and breakage.

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Use gentle shampoos and a monthly scalp exfoliant to prevent dandruff and oiliness.

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Always use conditioner to seal cuticles after washing

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Avoid hot water, which opens cuticles and dries them out. Use cold or lukewarm water to wash and rinse

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Reduce the use of hair dryers and straighteners to avoid drying out your hair even more.

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Thermal and solar protection: do they really make a difference?

They do it a lot.

The thermal protectant reduces water loss and protects keratin. Sunscreen prevents fading, drying and oxidation.

“They are essential in any summer routine, especially for those who use heat tools or have colored hair,” he explains.

Chemically Treated Hair Requires Extra Care

Bleached, straightened or chemically treated hair already comes from a weakened structure, and summer increases this wear.

“Constant hydration, without rinsing with a UV filter reapplied throughout the day and protein replacement are essential,” explains Letícia.

She recommends avoiding wetting your hair daily in the sea or swimming pool and minimizing the use of heat sources, such as straighteners and babyliss.

The practical routine for traveling

For those who do not want to carry a lot of products, the trichologist suggests a light but effective routine:

“Take a quality shampoo and conditioner, heat/sun protectant and, if possible, a nutritional ampoule. This combo will cover the entire trip.”

Applying sunscreen to your hair daily reduces most typical vacation damage.

The scalp suffers

Summer is a critical time for the scalp. Increased sweating intensifies the oily feeling and itching; the direct sun ignites; and salt and chlorine irritate and dehydrate.

“The scalp is skin, and one of the most sensitive. It suffers as much as the hair,” he recalls.

Peeling, sensitivity, unregulated oiliness and even inflammatory loss can appear.

Letícia reinforces a warning: “Always protect yourself with a cap or hat, but not a visor, it does not protect the roots.”

Protect yourself from the most intense rays with hats, caps or scarves

When it’s time to seek professional help

If your hair no longer responds to basic care, this is a warning sign.

Excessive elasticity, rubbery hair, breakage when combing, extreme porosity, constant tangling, severe discoloration, burning or flaking of the scalp, and loss of volume are signs that the damage has exceeded the limit.

“When the thread exceeds its self-recovery capacity, only personalized treatment will solve the problem,” explains the specialist.

Summary: 9 essential tips for taking care of your hair in summer

Wet your hair with fresh water before going to the sea or swimming pool to prevent the hair from absorbing salt and chlorine.
To use without rinsing with UV protection and reapply after each dive.
Rinse your hair immediately after getting out of the water, even with mineral water.
Moisturize frequently with a reconstructive mask — in summer, even daily, if you’re at the beach.
Never use straighteners or babyliss on damp hair and avoid high temperatures.
Always apply heat and sunscreen to your hair before exposure to heat and sun.
Take special care if your hair has been chemically treated or bleached, with protein replacement and UV.
Create a convenient travel routine: shampoo + conditioner + thermal/sun protection + a nourishing ampoule.
Protect your scalp with a hat or cap: a visor does not protect the roots.