How to Protect your Natural Curly Hair in the Heat

Summer is wonderful for us, but it can be hard work for our hair. Heat, humidity, sweat and increased exposure to the sun can all affect natural curly and Afro textured hair. Sweat and excess oil can build up on the scalp, while heat and UV exposure can leave the hair feeling dry and more prone to breakage. Add styling products, pollution and a little more time outdoors, and it is easy for dirt and product build-up to accumulate on both your scalp and hair.

The good news? Looking after your curls in the heat doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple changes can help keep your scalp clean, your hair healthy and your natural curls looking their best.

1. Cover your curls

One of the simplest ways to protect your natural curls from the elements is to cover them.

A lightweight cap or hat can help reduce direct exposure to the sun and heat. Look for breathable materials and avoid anything that feels too tight around the scalp, particularly when you are already warm. Look for satin or bamboo lining for even more protection and reduced frizz.

For curly and Afro textured hair, protecting the hair from excessive sun exposure can also help reduce dryness and help your curls retain their moisture.

2. Try a silk scarf

A satin or bamboo scarf can be another simple way to protect your curls, particularly when you are travelling, relaxing outdoors or sleeping.

These materials are smooth, so create less friction against the hair than rougher fabrics. They also don’t draw the moisture away from your hair, in the way that cotton can.  This can help reduce unnecessary rubbing, tangling and frizz — especially for curls that are naturally more prone to dryness and breakage.

Try loosely wrapping your hair rather than tying it tightly. Your curls should feel protected, not restricted.

3. Keep product use simple

When it is hot, it can be tempting to keep adding products to control frizz, refresh curls or redefine your hairstyle.

But more isn't always better.

Layers of creams, gels, oils and styling products can combine with sweat, natural oils and environmental dirt to create build-up on the hair and scalp. This can leave the hair feeling heavy, coated or dull and the scalp feeling uncomfortable.

Instead, keep your routine simple and use only what your curls need. If your hair starts to feel coated or your scalp doesn't feel fresh, it may be time for a proper cleanse rather than another layer of product.

4. Give your scalp a proper cleanse

Your scalp is skin and just like the rest of your skin, it needs to be kept clean.

In hot weather, sweat and natural oils can increase, while product build-up can accumulate more quickly. A clean scalp creates a healthier environment for your hair and helps prevent that heavy, coated feeling.

When washing your natural curls, don't just focus on the lengths. The scalp is where cleansing needs to begin.

5. Section your hair when you wash it

Curly hair can make it surprisingly easy to miss areas of the scalp and hair, particularly when you have a lot to work through.

Divide your hair into sections as you work through your washing routine. This allows you to reach the scalp properly and ensures the shampoo is distributed evenly to each strand, rather than simply sitting on the surface.

This is particularly useful for tighter Afro textured hair and with lots of volume, where the density of the hair can make thorough cleansing more challenging.

6. Use the pads of your fingers

When shampooing, use the pads of your fingers to gently massage the scalp.

Work methodically across the whole scalp - front, sides, crown and back, rather than concentrating only on the areas that are easiest to reach.

Avoid scratching with your nails. Your scalp doesn't need aggressive scrubbing; it needs thorough, gentle cleansing to dislodge, lift and shift the dirt.

Take your time and let the shampoo do the work.

7. Detangle gently with your fingers

Curly hair is more vulnerable to tangling and breakage, so how you handle it matters.

Rather than pulling a brush or comb through tangled curls, use your fingers to gently separate and detangle the hair. Work through small sections, starting at the ends and gradually working upwards.

Finger detangling allows you to feel where the tangles are and gives you greater control, helping to minimise unnecessary pulling and breakage.

The secret to healthy curls in the heat? Keep them clean.

It is easy to think that dry hair is the biggest problem for natural curls in summer. But often, build-up is part of the problem too.

Sweat, natural oils, pollution and styling products can accumulate on the scalp and hair. When build-up isn't properly removed, curls can become weighed down and the scalp can feel less comfortable.

So rather than continually adding more products to your routine, focus on getting the foundations right: protect your hair, keep your routine simple and keep your scalp clean.

For a thorough but gentle cleanse, our Shedid & Parrish Deep Cleansing Shampoo is formulated to remove dirt, excess oil and product build-up without leaving curly and Afro textured hair feeling stripped.

Because healthy hair starts with a healthy, clean scalp - and when your curls are clean, cared for and free to move, they can look and feel their best.

Let us look after your natural curls so you can live your best life

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