Hot girl summer is here, and all divas are reaching for warmer, sun-kissed colours that feel glamorous and vacation-coded. These include warmer tones like ashy blondes, copper-brown balayage, golden brunette shades and even pastel streaks for a tropical pop of colour. But as much as these shades channel confidence, summer heat and humidity can also make them fade faster.
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Within a few weeks, your once Pinterest-perfect hair colour may begin to look a little washed out, a little flat and far less vibrant than it did after the salon session or even that spontaneous at-home midnight colouring experiment.
A better clarity of the aftercare can help protect hair colour for longer. Clelia Cecilia Angelon, founder and CEO of Surya Brasil, shared with HT Lifestyle practical insights, decoding why hair colour tends to fade faster during summer and how the right routine can help.
Why does hair colour fade in summer?
Hair colour fading in summer can be traced back to multiple reasons, with the most obvious one being harsh weather conditions. As the Angelon explained, excessive sun exposure, sweating and humidity can all make their hair colour fade faster.
Along with this, the choice of hair colour and colouring formula also matters. The expert advised, “Avoid harsh chemicals such as ammonia and related compounds like ethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine, which are known to contribute to dryness over time.”
Another common summer-related concern is swimming. Angelon warned that swimming pool water contains chlorine. It tends to dry out your hair, while in certain situations, it could change colour tones as well. This means your fun pool parties need to be approached with caution, as the pool water can damage your hair colour.
How to manage?
“Management means you need to rely on colour-care routines that focus on hydration and repair,” the expert outlined the two fundamental goals after hair colouring. These are essential, especially in summer.
Here are some of the recommendations from Angelon:
1. Use restorative masks
- Deep-conditioning or restorative masks can help coloured hair feel softer and look healthier.
- Use colour-care routines that focus on hydration, repair and strengthening the hair.
2. Avoid harsh chemicals when possible
- Use gentler colour-care options.
- Choosing hair products free from parabens, EDTA, lauryl sulphate and synthetic fragrances may help maintain both colour and hair health.
3. Wash hair with lukewarm or cool water:
- Hot water is not good for coloured hair, as it opens up hair cuticles.
- Colour fades faster.
- Lukewarm or cool water better option to preserve colour for longer.
4. Try keratin-based treatments for damaged hair:
- If hair feels rough or damaged after prolonged sun exposure, go for certain treatments.
- Choose intensive treatments with vegetal keratin to help support the hair structure and improve resilience.
5. Use anti-pollution hair care:
- Pollution and dirt buildup can make coloured hair look dull.
- Conditions, serum or hair shields that create a protective barrier can help keep their hair cleaner and fresher.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
