Most people use the same beauty products year-round. But hair and skin have different needs during a February snowstorm and a July heat wave.
We asked hairstylists, makeup artists, and aestheticians how Washingtonians should vary hair and skin routines for summer.
Every expert began with the same advice: Wear sunscreen. Sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer and slows the signs of aging. Experts recommend a daily moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunblock at least 20 minutes before heading outdoors and reapply every 1½ to two hours.
Sunscreen isn’t just for skin. Hair products with SPF—shampoos, leave-in conditioners, and sprays—protect color-treated hair from dulling.
Here are other tips:
• Put away that hydrating face cream. Heavy lotions that hydrate skin are great for winter but thick for summer. To minimize breakouts, look for an oil-free, lightweight moisturizer. LaVerne Walker of Synergy Day Spa in Adams Morgan recommends staying away from any moisturizer labeled “for dry or severely dry skin.”
• Go natural. “Summer is the perfect time to cut back on makeup,” says makeup artist Kim Giammaria. On hot, humid days, she says, “just a sweep of color over the eyes and a touch of mascara can be enough.” Swap foundation, which can feel thick and clog pores, for a tinted moisturizer or bronzer. On cheeks, eyes, and lips, warm colors—pink, apricot, bronze, and gold—complete the natural look.
• Lighten up. Like skin, hair tends to be dry in winter, oily in summer. Frankie Sanderson, a stylist at Molécule Salon in downtown DC, suggests shampoos that say “for normal hair” rather than heavier ones labeled “for dry or damaged hair.”
• Protect hair. Duane Reed, a colorist at Celadon in DC, recommends a waterproof gel to protect hair exposed to chlorine and salt water. This is particularly important for blondes and redheads, whose hair can take on a dull, brassy look.
If you’re at water’s edge without protection, David Cohen, of David’s Beautiful People in Rockville and David’s Hair and Day Spa in Bethesda, suggests this trick: Wet hair with tap water before diving in. Hair can hold only so much water, so soaking it first blocks some chlorine absorption.