If you’re anywhere in Europe right now, I don’t need to tell you how unbearably hot and humid it is. We’re in the middle of one of the most intense heatwaves on record and with this intense heat, our hair is starting to struggle with the effects of the sun and UV damage, sweat, swimming and buildup. So here are four products to protect your hair this Summer, that you can incorporate into your existing washday + styling routine.
AD | This article is sponsored by Innersense Organic Beauty. You can get 20% off your first purchase on their website using code CURLMAVEN and up to 20% off their distributors listed at the end of this article.
Why You Need to Protect Your Hair This Summer
By this point in the Summer, our hair has usually been dealing with weeks of intense heat and sun exposure, sweat, swimming and humidity. The products and routines that were working fine can no longer give us the predictable, consistent results we’re used to or desperately trying to achieve. And for many of us, we’re experiencing signs of buildup: limp, lifeless curls, hair that doesn’t seem to absorb hydration or moisture, making it look dull and feel dry.
So here’s how to protect your hair this Summer against sun exposure and the UV damage that comes with it, as well as sweat, swimming and buildup. There are four products from Innersense Organic Beauty you can incorporate into your existing hair care routine. You may not need all of them, depending on your lifestyle and what your hair needs right now. But here’s exactly what each product does, and where each one fits into your existing hair care routine to protect your hair this Summer.
Refresh Dry Shampoo
Soak up Sweat, Add Root Lift + Volume
Between the heat and the humidity, my scalp has been working overtime this Summer. If you’re exercising, going to festivals, or just spending more time outdoors, yours probably has too. This is exactly where the Refresh Dry Shampoo from Innersense Organic Beauty comes in.
It’s a foam-to-powder formula, so you need to rub it between your palms to “activate” it before massaging it into the roots. It absorbs excess oil and sweat while calming + soothing the scalp. I massage it around my hairline, down my parting, behind my ears and the nape of my neck — wherever I tend to sweat most.
But this dry shampoo isn’t just for refreshing your scalp between washdays. I love to use it for extra root lift + volume too, especially on washdays. There are two ways to do it. If you don’t like the feeling of dry shampoo in your hair, apply it as a wet foam 30 minutes before your washday. Massage in, let it dry, then shampoo as normal. Or for extra root lift + volume in between washdays, warm it in your hands until it becomes a powder. Then apply it to your roots and massage it in. The more you massage, the bigger the volume.
Detox Hair Mask
Hit Reset + Remove Buildup
SPF, sweat and swimming can all take a toll on our hair. That residue and buildup is exactly what stops everything else in your routine from working the way it should. The Detox Hair Mask uses charcoal, kaolin clay and certified organic white vinegar to draw all of that out, without stripping your hair’s natural oils. If you feel like your hair looks dull and is lacking softness and shine, this will be a game changer for you!
After the first use, your scalp feels properly clean, and your hair feels featherlight — like it can finally breathe and absorb. No more weighed down, product-heavy hair. This is one of my favourite products to use to give my hair incredible shine + softness!
Apply it to wet hair from roots to ends, and leave it on for 3-5 minutes. Then rinse and follow with your usual shampoo and conditioner. I’d recommend using this once/week if you’re applying scalp SPF, swimming or exercising a few times throughout the week. Otherwise, once/month. If you have coloured or highlighted hair, avoid using the Detox Hair Mask for a week or so after your colour appointment, to avoid fading.
Hair Love Prep Spray
Most Under-Rated Product + UV protection
This is one of my favourite products from Innersense Organic Beauty, and one of the most under-rated in my opinion. Not enough people know about the Hair Love Prep Spray, how to use it or what makes it so good. I apply it as my first styling product throughout the Summer months, sometimes in late Spring or early Autumn too. Basically, if the sun’s out — this immediately becomes part of my hair care routine.
Hair Love Prep Spray is a lightweight mist formulated to prep, prime + protect the hair from UV, thermal and environmental damage. Studies have shown that UV exposure damages the hair cuticle and breaks down protein in the hair. Resulting in limp, lifeless curls that are more prone to frizz, damage and breakage.
So incorporating this into your hair care routine is a must-have during Summer to protect your hair and prevent this particular kind of damage. It’s a thermal protectant too, if you use heat styling tools occasionally. Apply generously to wet or damp hair as your first styling product. You can also re-apply it to wet or damp hair throughout the day if you’re out in the sun or swimming. It also provides light hold and speeds up drying time, so the Hair Love Prep Spray really is the hardest working styling product in your routine during Summer!
Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner
Essential for Swimming
Use the Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner Spray — either the original or fragrance-free Sweet Spirit — as part of my “soak + saturate method” before swimming. It doesn’t matter whether that’s in the pool, a river, lake or ocean. Wet your hair thoroughly first, then saturate it with this lightweight leave-in conditioner before getting into the water.
Hair that’s already full of water and product can’t absorb nearly as much chlorine, salt or minerals that’s in the water you’re jumping into. Which means a lot less damage to deal with afterwards. One of the reasons I love the Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner so much is that it’s a lightweight mist. It detangles and adds moisture, without any heaviness.
Saturate your hair with it before every time you get in the water this Summer. Rinse it out as soon as you’re out of the water, then re-apply to replenish moisture until you’re ready for your full washday + styling routine. If you wanted to add another layer of protection, especially if you do a lot of swimming in salt water. Then you can follow my “soak, saturate + seal” method, using the I Create Shine from Innersense Organic Beauty as a final step to seal moisture in and lock everything else out.
Where to Shop
You can shop every product featured in this post and save up to 20% using code CURLMAVEN at the following retailers:
- Innersense Organic Beauty (USA)
- Innersense Organic Beauty (Ireland)
- Cult Beauty — (UK + worldwide) with FREE shipping
- Curl Warehouse (Canada)
None of these are meant to replace your usual washday or styling routine. Think of them as the extra layer your hair needs within your existing hair care routine, as and when you need them. A dry shampoo for your scalp between washes. A hair mask to hit the reset button and remove buildup. A prep spray before you walk out the door. And a leave in conditioner to protect your hair before you jump in the water.
Whether you’re more active outdoors, swimming daily or riding out a heatwave, these four products are the perfect addition to your hair care routine to keep you waves + curls healthy, frizz-free and defined this Summer. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about how to protect your hair this Summer. Or tell me what other tweaks you need to maintain curl definition and hold in this heat + humidity.
everything you need to know this season
Summer Hair Guide
This isn’t part of this sponsored article, but I wanted to tell you about my NEW Summer Hair Guide featuring the Four Product Pillars, Diamond Method and Soak, Saturate + Seal Method I mentioned earlier. This is a complete, season-specific system to protect + strengthen your hair.
Suitable for all hair types, this 17 page Hair Guide gives you the exact frameworks, protocols + product recommendations to combat UV damage, master your protein moisture balance based on your hair type. Exactly how to manage humidity + humectants in your styling routine to keep your waves + curls defined all Summer long.
