NEW YORK—The summer is almost over, which means among other things, fading tans, retrieving coats from storage, and steeling the mind for the holidays. Changing seasons also require proper adaptation in personal upkeep. While intuition tells us when to upgrade to a thicker face cream, how the seasons affect our haircare routine might not be very clear.
Having seen plenty of sun- and surf-damaged tresses in his career, celebrity stylist Federico has plenty of advice for seasonal hair care. He has worked with Eva Longoria, Nicole Richie, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Katie Couric, and many others. His studio will be the official stylist for the New York Couture Fashion Week.
Summer Hair Woes
“A common mistake is to take the summer lightly and neglect proper hair care,” Federico says. “Sun changes the color and texture of the hair, and causes a lot of damage, especially if the hair has been treated.” The heat of the sun opens up the cuticle of the hair shaft to allow in pollutants and drying agents such as salt water and chlorine in the pool.
For the summer, use a good shampoo. Before heading to the beach, condition well and apply hair sunscreen with UVA/UVB protection and an SPF of about 25. Don't forget to cover the scalp as well. Two brands he recommends are Phyto and Frederic Fekkai.
After the beach, use a clarifying shampoo to remove salt.
When the summer ends, go to the salon for a deep conditioning session. “Throughout the summer you lose a lot of protein through sun, pool chlorine, and pollution,” Federico said.
Winter Hair Woes
Dry air, wind, static, and tangling are common problems associated with winter time. All of these are symptoms of dry hair. “People tend to over-rinse when they condition,” he says. So, leave some conditioner in the hair, or add some leave-in conditioner after you towel dry.
The way the hair is cut may also contribute to tangling. Softer layers and avoiding blunt cuts is one of the ways to prevent little birds' nests from tangling, because when there are fewer hairs of the same length, they can't fight with each other.
Proper headgear in severe weather is a good idea.
Rule of thumb: Always keep your hair protected and moisturized.
