Summertime Summertime!!!

Good Morning Beauties!!!

We received a GREAT question yesterday as an entry to the Shea Moisture giveaway pertaining to summer and products. So great, in fact, that we decided to make it a blog post! Dont forget to enter the contest Here! Enjoy!☺

Q: What products if any should a natural avoid during the summer months?

A: Thanks for your question!

 Rather than giving you a list of products to avoid, lets look a the types of products and ingredients that that are helpful in the summer days. The key to the summer for a Natural Beauty is to keep your curls managed and out of the way. For the summer, we recommend shampooing less. Instead, co-wash (conditioner wash). Summer humidity can make your hair cuticle swell, causing it to look frizzy. Heavier conditioners work well in the summer. We both use Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Smooth-n-Hold Pudding (this can be found at Wal-Mart). Elle typically uses Cantu Shea Butter Leave in Conditioning repair cream in the summer, but is currently addicted to Shea Moisture’s Curl Enhancing Smoothie! MoJo uses Aussie Deep 3 Minute Miracle Moisture Treatment. Although this is not a leave- in, MoJo likes the hold and control of this product when left on her hair.

Basically you want a product that is in a pudding or cream form. Serums and pomades are also great for control, and of course gels (Elle use the Eco Styler Gels, but less in the summer). Although many Naturals are against them, shampoos with silicones are good for smoothing down the hair cuticle as well.

Summer heat and UV rays from the sun can make your hair dry and brittle. Cover your hair, braid or twist it, or be sure to use leave-in conditioners to protect your hair from the sun. If you’re swimming, be sure to wash the chlorine out of your beautiful tresses as soon as possible.

One more piece of advice we have to offer is to consider avoiding products with intense fragrances. Sweet and fruity smells can attract mosquitoes, gnats, and bees, so if you’re going to be outside a lot, consider using products with softer smells.

Thanks for the comment and be sure to tell all your friends about Inside Outside Natural Beauty!