The John Barber blog
Men's hair in summer: how to avoid the straw effect
The John Barber blog · Eleonora Boretti ·
Summer is wonderful. Sun, sea, pool, outdoor aperitivos and days when the only serious plan is deciding where to take the next swim.
Then comes the moment to look in the mirror.
Your hair is dry, dull, puffy in all the wrong places and completely immune to any attempt at styling. You set out with the idea of an Italian holiday look and end up with the Mediterranean-bush effect.
The culprits are sun, sea salt, chlorine, wind and frequent washing. The solution, however, is not to shave it all off in a fit of nerves in the hotel bathroom.
A few well-chosen steps are enough. The right ones.
Why does hair become unmanageable in summer?
In summer, your hair goes through a kind of obstacle course.
The sun dehydrates it and can make colour less vibrant. Sea salt leaves the lengths rougher, while chlorine increases dryness and dullness, especially on coloured or already fragile hair.
Add sweat, wind, sand and air conditioning. The result is hair that loses softness, frizzes more easily and decides by itself what shape to take.
The good news? You don’t need twelve products and a forty-five-minute ritual. You only need a minimum of strategy.
Should you wet your hair before going in the water?
Yes, you have to get wet before getting wet.
Rinsing your hair with fresh water before going into the sea or the pool is one of the simplest ways to protect it. Hair that is already wet tends to absorb less salt or chlorinated water.
It doesn’t suddenly become waterproof, but it at least partly limits the dry-straw effect of five o’clock in the afternoon.
Long, curly or very dry hair? You can add a small amount of leave-in protective product. Small means small: the aim is to protect it, not to fry it under the sun.
What should you do after swimming?
Letting salt and chlorine dry on your hair for hours is convenient, but not exactly brilliant.
When you can, rinse your head with fresh water straight away. You can use the beach club showers or take a bottle of water to the beach, ideally without mixing it up with the one you drink.
That removes most of the residue and reduces the need to shampoo after every swim.
Because no, five dips don’t require five shampoos. Your scalp is not a baking tray to be degreased.
Which shampoo is best in summer?
In summer you wash your hair more often. With heat, sweat, sand and sun products, it is pretty unavoidable.
So it is better to choose a gentle shampoo suitable for frequent washing. A product that is too aggressive can strip too much of the natural sebum and leave scalp and lengths even drier.
Use a little and concentrate mainly on the scalp, massaging with your fingertips. The lengths don’t need to be scrubbed like a pair of stained jeans.
And remember: more shampoo doesn’t mean more cleanliness. It mainly means finishing the bottle sooner.
Is conditioner really necessary?
Conditioner won’t take away any manliness points.
There is still someone convinced that conditioner is reserved for people with shoulder-length hair, a rock band and at least one ring on every hand.
It isn’t so.
Even short hair can become dry and rough. If you have medium or long hair, regularly use a light conditioner on the lengths. With a short cut, a moisturising treatment once or twice a week may be enough.
Wavy and curly hair needs a bit more attention. Avoid brushing it with enthusiasm when it is dry: the risk is going from defined curls to an eighties microphone in seconds.
Better to use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb and apply a light product that defines without gluing.
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What about the hairdryer and hot water?
If you have spent eight hours in the sun, your hair has already had enough heat.
Wash it with lukewarm water and pat it dry without rubbing vigorously with the towel. Rubbing doesn’t dry better: it mostly creates frizz and chaos.
When you can, let it dry naturally, guiding it into shape with your hands or a comb. If you use the hairdryer, choose a medium temperature and keep it at a reasonable distance.
You don’t have to roast the roots to get volume.
How should you style hair in summer?
Less product, more head.
In the heat, very strong gels and heavy pomades can become unpleasant. Between sweat and high temperatures, the line between a shiny effect and a fried one is quite thin.
Better to choose light textures: shaping creams, matte waxes or pastes that sort the hair out without making it stiff.
Always start with a little product, warm it between your hands and spread it gradually. Adding more is easy; removing it without washing your head again is decidedly less so.
Sea salt spray can help create volume and movement. But after a whole day at sea, maybe you have already had enough salt.
Is it better to cut hair before or after the holidays?
The diplomatic answer is: both.
A cut before you leave makes hair tidier, lighter and easier to manage. It is particularly useful if you wear a short fade or a very defined cut.
An appointment on your return, on the other hand, removes the driest parts and restores the shape after weeks of sun, wind and styling done with wet hands.
The perfect strategy is therefore a tidy-up before and a check-up after.
After all, the tan will fade. The group photos, unfortunately, will stay.
What is a no-drama summer routine?
Protecting your hair in summer doesn’t require a degree in cosmetology.
Wet it with fresh water before swimming, rinse it afterwards, use a gentle shampoo and add a little hydration. Limit heat and choose light styling products.
A few gestures and far fewer chances of reaching September with hair like an outdoor broom.
And if the situation has already got out of hand, put down the kitchen scissors and slowly step away from the mirror.
The barber will take care of it.
Visiting Milan this summer? John Barber has three barbershops in the city centre, open every day including Sunday. Drop in before or after your holiday: book your seat.
