Summer Madness

You better not wet my hair!

I once came across a summer quote: "An ocean breeze puts the mind at ease." Well, it sounds pleasant, nice and relaxing, but whoever came up with that phrase was certainly unaware of just how many people are hesitant about savoring the rays of the summer sun and taking a dip in the ocean or pool all because of their hair!

Nat King Cole crooned it best in his song, “Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer,” a time when people look forward to doing everything or nothing, all in the name of fun and relaxation. For many, it is a time to travel. It is also a good time to finally finish that book you have been reading, catch up on old movies, visit family, work on other projects or sit on the porch with a tall glass of lemonade or sweet tea as you curse winter. Summer usually find us throwing caution to the wind, going for some spice in our life or simply chillin’. I always say, people who take after the legendary hip hop artists, MC Lyte, Milk Dee and Giz like to chill! 

Yes, summertime is good and the living is easy, but not if you have to continuously stress about your hair. When people who are hair obsessed realize summer is fast approaching, they begin to make all kinds of commitments and plans on how this summer will be different. They come up with new rituals for their summer hair care routine. Of course, they want to have all the summer fun they can squeeze in, but fritting and fretting about their hair always seems to be a heavy cost they have to pay. Between the heat and the thought of having to go near water, people (especially women) are consumed with outright fear. For them, the very thought of having their hair in the summer heat or even in water will have them turning into Gizmo from the 1984 fantasy horror movie, Gremlins.

What is it about the summer heat and the water that scares these "Gizmo Scared Haired" people? Well, whether you recall the movie Gremlins or not, here is a little trivia. In the movie, the Gremlins were all very nice and sweet. But, there are three key things you can never do to a Gremlin. One: They cannot be in sunlight or hot lights. Two: Water for Gremlins is absolutely, positively out of the question and Three: Gremlins can have no food after midnight. Hmm, sound, familiar? Minus the no feeding after midnight part, the "Gizmo Scared Haired" people have numbers one and two in common with the Gremlins. Two out of three is not bad. So…I affectionately name people who are afraid of the sun and water during the dog days of summer after the main Gremlin character: Gizmo.

Listen up my "Gizmo Scared Haired" people! There is no need to fear the heat of the sun, or any light for that matter, when it comes to your hair. The sun is actually extremely good for hair. YES, I said that! Of course, basking in the sun does come with precautions.

Now, what are a few ways you can turn your hair into "sun friendly hair?”  Easy. The first thing is to know your hair. Then, know you, know your time, know your budget and know what makes you feel confident. 

For many, the sun poses a threat because the heat that emanates from the sun can wreak havoc on

hair, its color, style, texture and scalp. The easy resolve to contend with sun on your hair is to:

▪           Use a small amount of sunscreen on your hair and scalp.

▪           Wear a hat to protect your scalp and hair color.

▪           When wearing your wash-n-wear style, ditch the diffuser and allow the sun to dry your

curls, kinks, waves or Afro naturally. When prepped right, your hair will glisten. 

▪           For wash-n-wear hair styles, use an ample amount of your favorite styling agent to help form texture and hold the style.

▪           Leave-In Conditioners infused with proteins made of keratin, soy, wheat or quinoa ensures your hair texture will remain intact.

▪           Be sure to use the right comb. The wider the teeth on the comb, the more microscopic tears you will have in the individual strands of your hair, thus making your hair more susceptible to sun damage.

Next up for the "Gizmo Hair Scared" people is water. The first thing I want to do is assure you that you will not turn into Gizmo or a Gremlin if you get your hair wet. I also want to say for those of you who travel abroad to exotic waters, oceans, seas, lakes, private beaches and what not…please get your hair wet. You should not deny the dominant connection of your hair, scalp, body and spirit to its home—Mother Earth/Nature.

Here are the reasons why:

▪           Water from the ocean/sea is very purifying for hair and skin. 

▪           Water from the ocean/sea detoxes hair and skin.

▪           Water from the ocean/sea is rich in vitamins and minerals.

▪           Regular shampoo easily washes away the salt and residue from hair.

▪           A vinegar and water mix neutralizes mineral (salt) deposits left behind in minutes.

▪           Dipping your hair into the water feels amazing.

If you are concerned about the manageability of your hair upon getting it wet, here a few things you can do to reduce the likelihood of tangled "Gizmo Scary Hair."

▪           Braid your hair to keep it from matting.

▪           Wet your hair with tap water FIRST before getting into any body of water. Hair can only 

absorb one chemical at a time. Since tap water also has minerals, it will deposit those minerals into the hair thus reducing the likelihood of absorbing even more minerals from the ocean/sea water.

▪           Using a leave in conditioner with the right comb ensures "ouch-free" combing for Gizmo people.

Milk to the left and Giz to the right
"Top Billin'"

As you can see, the summer madness in hair care is fueled by lack of preparation and anxiety. Don't let the summer drive you mad about your hair. Like the Gremlins, all you have to do is take a few precautions before getting into the sunlight and water. If you proceed with caution, there is nothing to fear. Be wise when it comes to your hair. Be prepared. Have your hair necessities with you wherever you go. Remember: No one has hair like you. Your hair is like your fingerprint: no one else can match it. When you accept your hair’s unique fabric and do what the fabric calls for, you will be happy like the other Giz....chillin' and top billin'!  

Tighten Up on That Backstroke

Throwback; The Fatback Band

Nothing, and I do mean nothing means summer time like splashing in the pool. When I was younger, summertime meant fun times. I would hang out with my family, eat good food, listen to good music and do the latest dance. If you are old enough to remember the R&B funk group, "The Fatback Band," then you might just remember one of their hit songs that had a dance that was so appropriate for summertime fun at the pool; "Backstrokin."  "Lookin for that good stuff; why don't ya tighten up on that backstroke." My cousins and I would sing the song and do the dance as we played by the pool and swam.

Going to the pool, beach, ocean or lake is refreshing. It is a great way to stay in shape, keep cool and have fun. However, the havoc the minerals in the water wreaks on your hair is anything but fun. As a hairstylist, many of my customers travel to different parts of the world where getting in the water and swimming is almost always a part of the fun. Many of them avoid fun in the water because they do not like what it does to their hair. They do not like the dryness, the change in their hair color and they do not like it because most times they do not want to do their hair over.

I am one of those people who love adventure. When it comes to having the opportunity to commune and have fun in nature, one must go for it. I don't feel that people should avoid water because of their hair. So this blog Ndogo will highlight the best ways to jump in the water, "tighten up on that backstroke" and have fun.

The best advice I give everyone about having fun in the water is number one, lower your expectations. Nothing will kill the fun in the sun than constantly talking about how you would, but you do not want to get your hair wet. Most people look just as good wet as they do dry. Instead of paying for fancy hairstyles before you go on your vacation or excursion that has water on the agenda, keep the hairstyle simple. The options of ponytails, hats, braids or braid/twist styles that required added artificial hair are great options so you can splash and dash. Lower your expectations on your hair and bring attention to how nice you look in your swimsuit, your hat, sunglasses, smile and so on. Do not bring attention to your hair if it something that you seriously do not want to be bothered with. Everyone looks great with a ponytail while having fun in the sun. If you dislike your hair as it dries or if you have no time to bother with it, wear a hat. You can also opt to wear a head-band or throw on a wig. You can do a lot, but by all means, have fun.

Always wet your hair first.

The second advice to protect your hair when getting in the water is to avoid damage from chlorine and other minerals in the water. Therefore, the best thing to do is to wet your hair first with tap water. That is correct. The best way to keep your hair from drying out, reduce color fading, reduce tangled tresses and to reduce brittleness, is to wet your hair first with tap water. Hair can only absorb one chemical at a time. Chlorine is in tap water. "Ewe," yeah I know. Most municipalities use chlorine in their water systems for health and safety reasons. "Chlorine is a highly efficient disinfectant, and it is added to public water supplies to kill disease-causing bacteria that can get in the water and can transport it in the pipes. Chlorine has been hailed as the savior against cholera and various other water-borne diseases, and rightfully so,” says Steve Harrison, president of water filter maker Environmental Systems Distributing. “It's disinfectant qualities…have allowed communities and whole cities to grow and prosper by providing disease-free tap water to homes and industry.” So, always wet your hair first. 

Old reliable; Baking Soda

The third advice is to remove the chlorine from your hair before it becomes too difficult to manage and expensive to treat. The best way to remove chlorine from your hair is "thee" old baking soda rinse. I'm sure most of you remember your mom reaching for the orange box of Arm&Hammer baking soda when you were a kid as she dunked your head under the faucet at the kitchen sink. I never knew why she did it, but she would use it every time after we went swimming. So, now here is the recipe. Only use 1/2 cup of baking soda and mix it with one cup of warm water to help the baking soda crystals dissolve. Shampoo your hair thoroughly with your favorite shampoo. Then pour the rinse over your entire head of hair. Follow up with your favorite conditioner. This old fashioned tried, true, and trusted method works because of the acidic properties in the baking soda that will soften your hair to release the chlorine from your hair; thus keeping your curls, waves and kinks in tact. In addition, using the baking soda rinse will also prevent your hair from drying out and feeling brittle. Understand that when it comes to the health of the hair, pH is the name of the game. Forget about all those fancy brands with their fancy ingredients. If the product does not adjust and balance the pH in its performance on your hair and scalp .... it's garbage. So using the baking soda rinse on hair is a must. It naturally and easily removes toxins from the hair. It is affordable. It works on all hair textures, types, lengths, and density regardless the race. Bam!

Shop wisely and keep your receipt.

Lastly, use hair care products that have sunscreens formulated in the product. Products such as "Clarins", "Phyto Plage' Protective Beach Hair Spray" and "Aveda's Sun Care Protective Spray" for hair works wonders. These are just a few of my favorites. Sometimes sunscreen for hair can be pretty costly, so be sure to shop around. Keep your receipt. Just in case you do not like the sunscreen you purchased for your hair, you can return it or exchange it. Sunscreens for hair is a great way to prevent your hair color from fading, your scalp from burning and your hair from drying out. Sunscreens are great for summertime hair care. Sunscreens can be oily. Be sure to read the directions first and follow the manufactures instructions. I have not come across one customer or reader who was not impressed with adding sunscreen to their summer hair care regimen.

As you can see, fun in the sun by the water is all about protecting your hair before, during and after you get the water. Use these tips to prevent damaged, dry, color faded and brittle hair. So as you go on through the summer lookin' for that good stuff, remember to "tighten up on that backstroke" and you too will have fun in the water all summer long and will not have a care in the world about your hair!