It’s 97 degrees. The sun has a personal vendetta. And thanks to wildfire smoke drifting our way, the Jersey City sky has been serving “sepia filter” all week.
You’re sweating through your third outfit of the day. You’re chugging water like it’s your job. You’re checking the AQI before you check your texts.
But here’s what nobody’s telling you: your hair is going through it too.
Between the UV, the heat, the sweat, and the smoke particles literally clinging to your strands right now, summer is doing the absolute MOST. So let’s break down what’s actually happening up there and exactly how to fight back.
First, Know Your Enemies
Enemy No. 1: The Sun
We love a beach day. But UV exposure speeds up oxidation in your hair, which is a fancy way of saying the sun is bleaching you without your consent.
UV rays break down both your natural pigment and the gorgeous color you paid for in our chair. They also degrade the keratin proteins that keep your hair strong and lift your cuticle, which is why summer hair feels dry, looks dull, and fades fast. Blondes, this is why you go brassy quicker in July than any other month. It’s not you. It’s the sun.
Enemy No. 2: The Smoke
Here’s the one people don’t know about.
Wildfire smoke is packed with tiny particles (the science people call it PM2.5 and it’s the same stuff that makes the air quality alerts go off). Your hair is porous, which means it soaks up whatever is in the air around it. Shower steam, humidity, that incense you just lit… and yes, wildfire smoke.
Those particles settle onto your strands and your scalp. The result? Color that looks dull no matter what you do, roots that feel weighed down and greasy faster, and a scalp that can get itchy and irritated. And here’s the kicker: water alone doesn’t rinse it out. Color-treated and high-porosity hair absorbs even more, so if you’ve been in our chair recently, this one’s especially for you.
Enemy No. 3: The Heat Itself
Heat pulls moisture out of your hair the same way it dehydrates the rest of you. Add sweat to the mix (which leaves salt behind as it dries) and your hair is losing moisture from every direction. Then most people respond by washing every single day, which strips your natural oils and fades your color even faster. It’s a vicious little cycle, and we’re breaking it today.
The Survival Guide: 6 Ways to Protect Your Hair Right Now
01. Cover Your Damn Head
A hat (we’ve got a few Love Lane ones at the salon, just saying) or scarf is SPF for your hair. Full stop. On the days you refuse to compromise the look, use a UV protection spray before you walk out the door.
We swear by Oribe’s Invisible Defense Universal Protection Spray and Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil, ’cause it’s weightless, blocks UV rays, protects up to 450°F, AND guards against air pollution. It was basically made for this exact summer. Spray it on like you’d apply sunscreen every time you’re heading out.
02. Wash the Smoke Out
Remember those smoke particles clinging to your hair? They need to be actively removed. Work a clarifying shampoo or scalp scrub into your routine every 3–4 washes to lift all that environmental gunk off your hair and scalp (we’ve got some reccs at the bottom for you).
Fair warning: don’t overdo it. Clarifying every single wash will dry you out. Every third or fourth wash is the sweet spot. You’ll notice your color looks brighter immediately after.
03. Hydrate Like It’s Your Job
You’re drinking extra water this week (right?). Your hair needs the same energy.
Mask at least once a month, more if your hair is feeling like straw. Leave it on for a maximum of 20 minutes, and please, don’t sleep in it. Even though you might want to once you smell ROZ’s Foundation Mask Then make a leave-in conditioner part of your daily routine before you head outside. It evens out your hair’s porosity, which means it absorbs less of the bad stuff floating around out there.
04. Declare It Air-Dry Season
It is 97 degrees outside. Your hair does not need MORE heat.
This is the perfect month to master your air-dry routine: hydrate with a leave-in (we’re always reaching for IGK’s 4-in-1 Prep Spray, K18’s Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, or Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave In) shape your hair while it’s wet with a wide tooth comb or flat brush, use creaseless clips to set your part and lift your roots, and then (this is the important part) stop touching it.
And if you absolutely must use hot tools, heat protectant is non-negotiable. Water boils at 212°F. If you’re running a flat iron hotter than that over damp hair, you are literally frying it. We’re not joking.
05. Sweat Happens. Don’t Overwash.
We know the instinct right now is to shampoo daily. Resist.
Overwashing strips your natural oils, dries out your ends, and washes your color investment straight down the drain. Instead: dry shampoo between washes (IGK’s First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo for our brunettes and Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo for our blonder), a simple water rinse + conditioner after a truly sweaty day, and a real wash every 2–3 days with something sulfate-free and color-safe.
06. Your Scalp Is Skin, Baby
Your part line is getting sunburned right now and you probably don’t even know it.
Use a mineral sunscreen or a powder SPF (we’ve been trying out COOLA’s Organic Scalp Spray & Hair Sunscreen Mist) along your part and hairline. Mineral specifically, because regular chemical sunscreens can actually discolor your hair, especially around the hairline (blondes, we’re looking at you again). And keep an eye on scalp buildup: sweat + smoke + product is a nasty cocktail. That clarifying wash from tip 02 pulls double duty here.
Your Summer Week, By Hair Type
Fine hair: Wash every 2 days, dry shampoo in between. Clarify every 4th wash. Lightweight leave-in only because heavy creams will flatten you. Mask monthly, mid-lengths to ends only.
Thick, curly, or textured hair: Wash every 3–4 days. Clarify every 3rd wash (product buildup + smoke hits you hardest). Layer leave-in + cream generously. Mask every 2 weeks. Air drying is your best friend right now, you were built for this season.
Color-treated hair: Everything above, plus: UV spray every single day, mineral sunscreen only near your hairline, and a gloss on the books every 6 weeks (more if you’re outside a lot). Your color is an investment. Protect it like one.
FAQ: The Stuff You’ve Been DMing Us
Does wildfire smoke actually damage your hair? Yes. Not in a “your hair will fall out” way, but the particulate buildup dulls color, weighs hair down, and can irritate your scalp. The fix is simple: clarify regularly and use a protection spray. Now you know.
Should I wash my hair every day if I’m sweating? No. Rinse + condition after a sweaty day, dry shampoo in between, and save the full wash for every 2–3 days. Daily shampooing makes everything worse.
Can sunscreen ruin my hair color? Chemical sunscreens can, especially around your hairline. Certain ingredients react and cause discoloration on lightened hair. Use a mineral sunscreen near your face and part.
How often should I get a gloss in summer? Every 6 weeks is our rule of thumb, but if you’re living your best outdoor life, you might want to come in more often. It’s a 30-minute appointment that undoes a whole season of fade.
My hair already looks fried/faded/brassy. Is it too late? Never. That’s literally what we’re here for. Keep reading.
Already Sun-Damaged? We’ve Got a Chair For That.
If the summer already got to you, two rescues, both easy add-ons to any appointment:
The Gloss Refresh. A 30-minute color appointment that will rescue your hair, neutralize brass, revive faded tones, and bring back the shine. You don’t need to re-do your color, you just need a refresh.
The Hydration Treatment. An in-salon deep conditioning treatment that does what your at-home mask simply can’t. Your hair will drink it up.
The Summer Survival Kit
Everything we mentioned, in one place:
- Oribe Invisible Defense Universal Protection Spray — UV + pollution protection, every day
- Bumble and Bumble’s Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil — Hydrating heat + UV protection
- Redken’s Hair Cleansing Cream — Clarifying shampoo for all types of hair
- KEVIN.MURPHY’s MAXI.WASH — Color safe, sulfate-free detox shampoo
- Verb’s Ghost Exfoliating Scalp Nectar — Every 3–4 washes
- ROZ’s Foundation Mask — Monthly hydration (use code HAYLEYJA15 for 15% off)
- IGK’s 4-in-1 Prep Spray — Daily, before you leave the house
- K18’s Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask — Worth the hype
- Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave In — Repairs and reconditions
- IGK’s First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo — Perfect for our brunettes on a no wash day
- Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo — Between washes for our blondes
- Redken’s Acidic Bonding Shampoo + Conditioner — Daily, sulfate-free, color-safe pair
- COOLA’s Organic Scalp Spray & Hair Sunscreen Mist — part line + hairline
- A hat. Any hat. Preferably ours.
- Everything on our Amazon
Quick transparency note, ’cause we’re all about keeping it real AF: some links above are affiliate links. That means if you buy through them, we get a little thank-you in return. But, the price and the product are exactly the same for you. We’d only ever recommend something we’ve used, loved, and would shove into your hands in person.
Stay cool out there. Drink your water. Wear your hat.
And if your hair needs rescuing, you know where to find us.
Love Lane Salon · 190 C. Columbus Drive, Jersey City
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