It's one of those questions that comes up every year as summer approaches. Should you visit the hairdresser before summer to protect your hair? The answer isn't so simple. It all depends on the condition of your ends, your hair type, and what you expect from your hair during the summer season.
In this article, we'll discuss the usefulness of a pre-summer trim, the signs that your ends need it, and the treatments that can help preserve them long-term.
Why are ends more fragile than the rest of the hair?
Ends, the oldest part of the hair
Ends are the oldest tips of the hair fiber. They have endured months, sometimes years, of damage: repeated washing, friction, heat from styling tools, coloring, exposure to sun, salt, and chlorine.
Unlike the roots, which benefit from sebum produced by the scalp, the ends receive very little. For curly, coily, and kinky hair, the sinuous shape of the fiber further slows down the natural descent of this protective lipid film. The ends are therefore often left to fend for themselves, without sufficient protection.
Signs that your ends are weakened
Several indicators can help identify damaged ends:
- a rough texture, reminiscent of straw
- split ends visible to the naked eye when you spread a strand
- difficulty detangling despite applying a treatment
- a tendency to break at the ends of the lengths
- a lack of shine and bounce at the ends
If you recognize several of these signs, your ends need attention before summer.
Should you really cut your ends before summer?
When a cut is truly necessary
Cutting remains the only effective solution to get rid of split ends. Once a hair's cuticle splits, no treatment can permanently seal the split. It continues to travel up the hair shaft and gradually weakens the entire length.
A pre-summer cut is recommended if:
- you have visible split ends throughout your hair
- your hair regularly breaks in the middle of the shaft
- your hair lacks bounce and definition at the ends
- you haven't had a trim in over six months to a year
Trimming damaged ends before summer allows you to start fresh and prevent summer aggressions from worsening existing damage.
When cutting can wait
If your ends are simply dry or slightly dehydrated, without visible split ends, a cut isn't necessarily urgent. Suitable nourishing treatments can strengthen and effectively protect them during the summer.
In this case, the challenge isn't to cut, but to prepare the ends for the upcoming aggressions.
How to prepare your ends before summer without necessarily cutting?
Deeply nourish with a targeted oil bath
An oil bath is the most effective treatment for restoring the lipid barrier of dry ends. Applied with emphasis on the lengths and tips, it deeply nourishes the hair fiber and helps prevent the appearance of new split ends.
Shaeri's Hair Oil, composed of six vegetable oils including precious prickly pear seed oil, is particularly suitable for very dry or dehydrated ends. Rich in omega 6 and vitamin E, it helps strengthen the hair fiber and protect lengths from external aggressions. It can also be used as a finishing touch directly on dry ends, outside of any oil bath protocol, for a targeted SOS gesture.
Hydrate with a nourishing mask with each wash
Ends need regular nourishment and hydration to maintain their suppleness and elasticity. Skipping a mask with each wash is one of the most common mistakes that accelerates their dryness.
Shaeri's Intense Mask Treatment can be used in several ways depending on the condition of the ends:
- as a quick detangling treatment without leaving it on for slightly dry hair
- as a deep mask for 20 minutes under a hot towel for very damaged ends
- as a pre-shampoo left on for 30 minutes for maximum nourishment
The drier the ends, the longer the application time can be extended.
Protect ends daily
Between washes, ends continue to be exposed to daily aggressions: friction, heating tools, dry air. A daily protective treatment helps to continuously preserve them.
Shaeri's Daily Treatment is applied to damp hair before drying to protect ends from heat, but also to dry hair to reshape them and limit frizz. Its compact size allows it to be carried everywhere during the summer for targeted touch-ups on the ends throughout the day.
What damages ends in summer: aggressions to anticipate
Even healthy ends can quickly become fragile if not prepared for summer conditions.
Sun and UV rays
Prolonged exposure to UV rays degrades the keratin of the hair fiber. The ends, already the most fragile, are the first to suffer: they become rough, dull, and prone to split ends.
Salt and chlorine
Seawater and pool water dry out the hair fiber by removing part of the protective hydrolipidic film. The ends, which already lack natural protection, absorb these elements and lose flexibility after each swim.
Heat and hairdryer
Repeated hot drying without thermal protection opens the cuticle scales and weakens the ends. The ends gradually become porous and struggle to retain hydration.
Friction and aggressive detangling
Rubbing hair with a towel or detangling dry lengths without protective treatment creates friction that contributes to the appearance of split ends, especially on curly and textured hair.
The right strategy according to the condition of your ends
Split ends: cut, then treat
If split ends are present, a cut is the essential first step. It removes damaged areas and prevents breakage from traveling up the lengths. After the cut, implementing a nourishing routine helps protect new ends and prepare them for summer aggressions.
Dry ends without split ends: prioritize treatment
Dry but not split ends can be preserved with a suitable and regular routine. The goal is to nourish, hydrate, and protect the fiber before summer aggressions worsen their condition.
Shaeri's Intense Nourishment Routine offers a complete approach to strengthen ends and effectively prepare them for summer.
Healthy ends: maintain and protect
If your ends are healthy, the challenge is simply to maintain them in this state during the summer season. Continuing a regular nourishing routine and protecting lengths before each exposure is usually enough to get through the summer without damage.
To learn more, discover our article: Protect your hair on vacation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you trim your ends?
Generally, a trim every three to six months is enough to maintain length and prevent the accumulation of split ends. For very dry or fragile hair, more frequent refreshing may be necessary.
Can you repair split ends without cutting?
No. Once the cuticle is split, no treatment can permanently seal the split. Treatments help prevent the appearance of new split ends and protect healthy ends, but do not repair those already damaged.
Can oil baths replace a trim?
No, the two actions are complementary. An oil bath nourishes and protects healthy ends, but does not remove existing split ends. If your ends are split, a cut remains essential.
Should you also trim your ends after summer?
Yes, a trim at the end of the summer season helps eliminate damage accumulated during the summer and allows you to start the fall with healthy lengths.
Is prickly pear oil effective for dry ends?
Yes. Rich in omega 6 and vitamin E, prickly pear seed oil deeply nourishes the hair fiber and helps prevent split ends. It is particularly suitable for dry, curly, coily, and kinky hair.
