Summer Hair Care Grease is the New Shine
For years, shampoo commercials have been telling us that we needed shiny, silky, bouncy hair. And actually, shampoo commercials will probably continue to do that. The fashion world, however, may not agree.
The new styles are leaning toward something a little more dirty: frizzy clouds, stringy, separated locks, teased pompadours. The super-straight hairstyles that have been popular are still in, but because flat ironing causes considerable damage, many women are waiting between washes so that their hair doesn’t have to be fried as often.
In many ways, washing hair less often makes sense. Shampoo has always taken the necessary oil out of hair, which means the scalp produces even more oil than it normally would. After hair grows accustomed to being washed less often, the oil production goes down and recycled hair is less grungy. (For many people, though, this means going even longer between washings.)
For some people, it isn’t even a matter of style or hair health – it’s just easier. People with curly hair who prefer the straight look might spend two hours washing, putting in product, drying, putting in more product and straightening. It’s a long, complicated process that leaves hair full of chemicals.
This style seems tailor-made for summer. Summer hair has always been a problem. The sun dries it out and makes it frizzy or straw-like. In humid places, it curls where it isn’t supposed to or goes frizzy. Gentle shampoos and curling products can help, but why not work with the style at hand? Avoiding situations where hair has more opportunity to dry out (blow-drying, flat-ironing) minimize the damage already being done by the sun.
Finding ways to use the frizz to a stylish advantage can make this summer more carefree and less expensive. However, eschewing all shampoo is a bad idea. Some women have decided that shampoo isn’t ever healthy and choose to wash their hair with hot water, conditioner, baking soda, or vinegar rinses. Trichologist Lisa Akbari says this is a bad idea because it creates a waxy buildup on the scalp that can lead to scalp irritation and itchy bacteria havens. Higher end shampoos like Bumble and Bumble de Coco shampoo or Paul Mitchell products are usually more concentrated and can protect and balance scalps. With fewer washings, more expensive shampoos are feasible, even for people who don’t like to spend a lot on hair care. They last longer because not as much is required for each washing, and when someone only washes three or four times per week, they stretch even more.
Sounds like a carefree summer for us all.
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