Summer means the coastal waves and a pool—all day every day. But heat spikes and even hotter heat waves are going to make your hair go through some unwanted changes. Summer can be harsh on your hair due to the chlorine, saltwater and humidity. But with proper care, you can keep looking and feeling your best.
Inside Fullerton spoke with Cristal Martinez, a hairstylist from Salon Amerige in downtown Fullerton about how to keep your hair healthy while having fun in the summer.
These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
How can people with color treatments protect the color from fading by sun exposure, pools and oceans?
Martinez: You have to remember your hair is like a sponge. When you are at a public pool, get your hair wet before you get in. I think that’s super crucial. That way your hair shaft cannot soak up the salt water, and chlorine—as on blonde, chlorine can turn it green. Another thing I tell my girls is to apply a barrier like conditioner, as it acts as a barrier from the sun.
What hair products help repair summer damage from UV rays and swimming in different types of water?
There isn’t anything that necessarily targets UV rays. Though, make sure you’re using a leave-in conditioner, because sun loves to suck up moisture. I would like to say it is lotion for your hair, so it acts as a good preventive measure. There is a brand called Amika, and they have a product called the Kure. It is for my blondes and girls that feel they’re having dryness due to heat.
How can people with curly or coiled hair maintain moisture in summer?
After doing a hair mask, you want to seal your hair in with hair oil. It acts as another layer and is good at smoothing out the hair cuticles. A favorite would be Silkening Gloss by Kenra. It smells amazing and it’s a little bit more affordable.
To avoid buildup, what lightweight products work best for fine hair in heat and humidity?
There’s a brand that I really like, called Wow. Wow has an anti-humidity spray called the Dream Coat Supernatural Spray. You want to blow dry it into the hair cuticle. It actually lasts up to two or three washes. I like that it is lightweight. It makes your hair shiny.
How can people with styles like braid or twists, keep their hair and scalp healthy during the summer?
For people who have twists and braids, you are exposing a lot of the scalp. There is a sunscreen that can act as that barrier. I always tell my girls not to use oils before heat because that is how you fry your hair. You always want to make sure you have something water based.
How often should people wash their hair during the summer, especially if they’re more active or sweating frequently?
I do feel like it depends on the person, but in the summertime going over a week is a little long because you get build– up and sweat. No more than four days. You want to have a clean scalp especially in summers here in California.
How can people manage oily scalps in hot weather without over–washing their hair?
Protect it from the sun, because that’s how you get greasy hair. Use a scalp shampoo. There is one from Briogeo—it is a scalp revival. Use products that aim towards scalp health and just protect it from the sun.
What is an ideal hair washing routine?
Before you get into the shower, brush your hair a good couple of times to stimulate the scalp. Then, you want to shampoo twice—the first shampoo you are breaking everything up, while second shampoo you are going to notice your hair is getting a good cleanse. After, I would do conditioner or a hair mask. After a shower it is important to use a leave–in conditioner, and blow drying your hair helps smooth out your cuticles and helps with frizz.
This appeared in the Summer 2025 print issue of Inside Fullerton.
