Why Your Hair Freaks Out In Summer
How to prevent hair loss in summer isn’t rocket science, but nobody really talks about it until you’re standing there with a handful of strands wondering what went wrong. Your hair isn’t staging some dramatic exit just because it’s hot outside. But sun damage, pool chemicals, ocean water, and constant sweating? They’re basically forming an alliance against your scalp.
Let me tell you what’s actually going down. Your scalp is just skin. Same skin that gets sunburned, gets oily, gets irritated. And summer puts it through the wringer.
What’s really happening:
- UV rays literally fry the proteins in your hair and mess with your follicles
- Sweat builds up and creates this gross bacterial party on your scalp
- Pool chlorine strips away every protective oil your scalp produces
- You’re not drinking enough water (yeah, you’re not)
- Salt water sucks moisture out like a vacuum
- Your scalp goes into oil-production overdrive and clogs everything up
I practically lived at my friend’s pool one summer. By the time August hit, I could see more scalp than I wanted to. Nobody mentions that all that Instagram-worthy pool time is quietly destroying your hair situation.
Your Scalp Needs Sunscreen Too
This sounds obvious once you hear it, but most people never do it. You’re out there protecting your face, your shoulders, everything else. Meanwhile, your scalp is getting roasted.
I wear hats now. Not those thick, suffocating things that make your head sweat buckets – lightweight cotton or linen caps that actually breathe. Or I spray on scalp sunscreen if I’m going to be outside longer than half an hour.
Those UV rays don’t care about your hair goals. They’re breaking down proteins and killing off the cells that grow new hair. A hat seems annoying until you realize it’s way less annoying than watching your hair thin out.
And honestly? Hats also stop you from squinting all day, which is an underrated benefit.
Water – Like, Actually Drink It
Everyone says drink water. Great advice, super helpful. But here’s why it actually matters instead of just being something people say.
Your hair follicles need resources to function. When you’re dehydrated, your body’s like “okay, emergency mode” and sends water to your heart, brain, kidneys – the important stuff. Hair? Dead last on the priority list. Your follicles get weak, growth slows down, and more hairs just give up and fall out.
I drink 8-10 glasses daily in summer. More if I’m outside sweating. And I’m not just pounding glasses of water – I eat stuff with high water content too. Watermelon, cucumbers, those giant strawberries, salad. Your body actually holds onto water from food longer than when you just drink it.
Sounds simple because it is. But I notice way more shedding when I slack on hydration.
You’re Probably Washing Wrong
Summer makes your scalp sweaty and gross, so washing every day seems logical. It’s not.
Washing too much strips your scalp of the natural oils that actually protect your hair follicles. But letting sweat and grime pile up? Also terrible. That clogs everything and creates inflammation that makes hair fall out.
I wash maybe 3-4 times a week, even when it’s blazing hot. On non-wash days, I rinse with plain water to get the sweat out and maybe use dry shampoo. When I do wash, I use lukewarm water (hot water is way too harsh) and sulfate-free shampoo that doesn’t destroy everything.
Focus the shampoo on your scalp, not the hair itself. Massage it in for like a full minute – not a quick scrub. That massage gets blood flowing to your follicles, which they need.
The difference this made for me was wild. Less shedding, less greasiness, healthier scalp overall.
Pools And Beaches Are Hair Assassins
Chlorine and salt water are out here ruining lives. They dry everything out, damage your hair structure, and make you look like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket.
Before I swim:
I wet my hair with regular water first and put in leave-in conditioner or some hair oil. Hair absorbs water like a sponge – if it’s already full of clean water and conditioner, it can’t soak up as much of the destructive stuff.
After swimming:
Rinse right away. Not later. Not after you hang out for another hour. Immediately. That chlorine or salt sitting on your scalp is doing damage every minute it’s there. A 30-second rinse saves you from way worse problems.
At home, I use clarifying shampoo once a week to get rid of buildup, then deep condition. This isn’t being high-maintenance. It’s preventing your hair from falling out.
Your Diet Matters More Than You Think
All the shampoos and treatments in the world won’t save you if you’re eating garbage. Hair needs specific stuff to grow, especially when summer’s already stressing it out.
What I actually eat:
- Protein – eggs, chicken, fish, whatever. Your hair is literally protein
- Iron – meat, spinach, lentils. Low iron destroys hair
- Biotin and B vitamins – eggs, nuts, whole grains
- Omega-3s – salmon, walnuts for scalp health
- Vitamin C – helps you absorb iron and makes collagen. Oranges, peppers
- Zinc – pumpkin seeds, chickpeas
I’m not saying eat perfectly every single day. But consistently getting this stuff makes a massive difference. I focused on protein and iron last summer and the shedding decreased noticeably within weeks.
Cool Your Scalp Down
Hot scalp equals dying hair follicles. When your scalp overheats, inflammation increases and pushes more hairs into the falling-out phase. Plus the heat makes your scalp produce more oil, which clogs follicles and causes infections.
I spray scalp cooling mist when I’m inside. Some have menthol or aloe – feels incredible and reduces inflammation. Outside when my head feels like it’s literally cooking, I find shade and pour cool water on my scalp.
Also, stop with the tight hairstyles. Super tight ponytails, braids that pull, headbands that squeeze – these trap heat and restrict blood flow. Loose styles or just wearing your hair down keeps things cooler.
Put The Straightener Away
Summer’s already beating up your hair. Adding heat styling is just mean at that point.
I get wanting to look good. But that straightener or curling iron can wait until fall. Try your natural texture, do heatless styles, or if you absolutely have to style, lowest heat setting with heat protectant spray.
Air-drying works great in summer anyway. It’s hot enough outside to dry your hair quickly.
Watch For Scalp Problems
Summer creates perfect conditions for scalp issues – dandruff, fungal stuff, inflammation. These cause hair loss if you ignore them.
Red flags:
- Won’t-stop itching
- Flaky, crusty scalp
- Red bumps or spots
- Tender areas
- Hair falling out in patches
See a dermatologist. I ignored an itchy scalp thinking it was just sweat. Turned into seborrheic dermatitis and my hair fell out in chunks. Medicated shampoo fixed it in two weeks, but I lost way more hair than necessary because I waited too long.
Don’t be me. Get it checked.
Stress Kills Hair
Summer should be chill, but between travel chaos, work, and feeling self-conscious about everything, stress happens. And stress murders hair follicles.
Stress produces cortisol, which tells hair follicles to stop growing and just fall out instead. I’ve watched my hair thin during stressful periods even when I’m doing everything else right.
What helps: exercise (early morning or late evening), meditation or just sitting quietly, sleeping enough, and sometimes accepting that life is messy and that’s okay.
Should You Take Supplements?
Maybe. Depends what you’re deficient in.
I got blood work and found out I was low on iron and vitamin D – both cause hair loss. Doctor gave me supplements, and after a few months, way less shedding. But randomly taking biotin or hair vitamins without knowing what you need is basically throwing money away.
If you’re losing a lot of hair, get blood work. Check iron, ferritin, vitamin D, thyroid, zinc. Then supplement what you actually lack.
Trim The Damage
Seems backwards when you’re trying to keep hair, but listen. Summer damage causes split ends and breakage. If you don’t trim, those splits travel up and cause more breakage, making your hair look thinner overall.
I trim every 8-10 weeks in summer. Just cutting off damaged ends makes my hair look way fuller and healthier.
Bottom Line On How To Prevent Hair Loss In Summer
Preventing summer hair loss isn’t complicated or expensive. Protect your scalp from sun, drink water, be gentle with your hair, eat real food with actual nutrients.
Some shedding is normal – we lose 50-100 hairs daily no matter what. But if you’re seeing way more, these things help. I’ve made every mistake, wasted money on useless products, and figured out what actually works through trial and error.
Start simple: scalp sunscreen, drink more water, wash smart, rinse after swimming, eat protein and iron. That covers most of summer hair protection right there.
Your hair’s not abandoning you. It’s just stressed. Give it what it needs and it’ll be fine.