Ringlets of fire

I’m not breaking news here, but heatwaves in the city can be brutal. Particularly in London, where 40º tube carriages and bedrooms resembling saunas have seen my hair in a permanent state of disarray: claw-clipped to the hinterlands that are the back of my head, the curls flattened and cohered into one impenetrable mass which barely shifts when I remove the clip. All of a sudden, the rib-length hair I’ve been pruning forever has become the bane of my existence, and more than once I’ve thought about chopping it all off. 

But wait! There’s a way! From SPF to deep conditioning, there are ample ways to sun-proof your curls, waves and coils. Here they are:

1. Heat protection

I was familiar with the virtues of heat protection when using styling tools, of course, but did you know that UV from the sun can be protected against, too? Unless you wear a hat or wield a parasol, your scalp will always be the most exposed to overhead rays, and scorched cuticles can weaken the hair, culminating in the dreaded shedding season of late summer. Next time you look for a heat protectant, keep an eye out for one with added UV filters. A lot of leave-ins in general have them too, such as Hersheson’s Air Dry Spray, which smooths as well as protects.

2. Deep conditioning

Curly hair is prone to being dry, and a leave-in conditioner or curling cream is a necessary step for all year round. But in the summer, under the drying rays of the sun, it is extra important to focus on quenching each strand. Moreover, a hair mask or conditioning treatment in the shower provides an apt moment for detangling the abundance of knots you are likely to have accumulated during those sweaty, sleepless nights. I like to use a mask such as the Ouai Thick Hair Treatment Mask paired with a comb from Officine Universelle Buly, to glamorise the ritual a little. Post-shower, with your hair still wet, a generous dose of leave-in will serve to keep the dryness and frizz away, which is exacerbated by the unrelenting humidity. 

3. Keeping clean

On the note of showers – to each their own, but weather like this makes me want to wash my hair three times a day. With sweat building up by the minute, it is important to wash regularly to keep the cuticle clean. But finding the balance between that and overstripping your hair’s natural oils is key: alternating deep cleaning shampoos with gentler ones is one way to do it, but please steer clear of the dry shampoo. I’m a fan of the Briogeo Scalp Revival shampoo, which exfoliates the scalp.

4. Protective styles 

A claw clip is chic and trustworthy, and braids are more resilient. Switching up the styles is a salubrious and stylish way to protect your hair from damage whilst trying to keep cool. Pair with a bonnet or cap made from a breathable material to bolster the protection, and in the morning dab with cold water to rehydrate and reset the curls. If you do get the urge to whack your locks into a bun and forget about them, make sure it is not too tight. I also love wrapping a silk or cotton scarf around my head on sunny days, to keep the roots smooth and protected. 

5. Use a gel

Probably the most frustrating aspect of having curls in the summer is the fact that they do not hold the same. The frizz and constant agitation depresses my waves to no end, and even freshly air dried do they seem struck by heatstroke, unable to recall their usual pattern. I don’t tend to reach for gel the rest of the year, but now it’s time. Get one that’s strong but lightweight enough to not weigh your hair down, such as the Aveda Confixor or Ouidad Climate Control; apply wet and fluff to break the mould. 

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