Fostering True Inclusion
July 2026
The 6 Summer Skin Treatments You Can Do All Summer Long
July 2026
by Kerry Andersen
Southwest Louisiana summers don’t go easy on your hair. With triple-digit heat indexes, relentless humidity and chlorine, your strands and scalp take a beating.
Sarah Kennison, master stylist and owner of Bauhaus Salon + Spa in Lake Charles, says the biggest mistake is waiting until damage shows up. She advises, “Treat your hair and scalp as you would any other part of your body exposed to summer elements. Start before the sun’s rays take their toll.”
It’s important to understanding what humidity actually does to our strands. Hair is porous by nature, and porous hair absorbs moisture like a sponge. When it does, the bonds holding your style in place break down, the hair shaft swells and strands stop lying smoothly together. The result is dreaded frizz and lost shine. Curly and wavy textures especially tend to expand and lose definition. Fine hair goes flat, and chemically treated or lightened hair, which is already more porous, absorbs the most quickly and aggressively.
Months of UV, heat, chlorine and salt water can weaken hair’s protein structure, leading to dryness, faded color and breakage. At Bauhaus, repair always starts with an assessment of both hair and scalp prior to any treatment recommendation. Some clients need hydration and a product maintenance plan. For chlorine and mineral buildup, a deep chelating treatment is often the answer, especially before getting a color service because clean hair takes dye better and holds it longer.
If you love the pool, be aware that chlorine is harder on hair than the salt water that soaks your tresses during a dip in the ocean. Salt water mostly dehydrates and leaves mineral deposits, but chlorine is an oxidizer that breaks down protein bonds inside the hair shaft, which is exactly how you end up with tangles or that dreaded green tint. Sarah’s fix is a simple routine she calls WARP:
• Wet hair with clean water before swimming, so it has less room to absorb chlorine or salt water.
• Apply a leave-in conditioner or barrier cream to damp hair as a protective shield.
• Rinse immediately after swimming; don’t let chlorine or saltwater dry into the hair shaft.
• Protect scalp and strands with SPF and a UV/heat protectant.
“Two minutes of effort before and after your swim can make a noticeable difference in your hair’s health all summer,” Sarah says.
Color-treated hair needs extra care. Sarah recommends color-safe shampoo and conditioner with UV protectants, daily use of a UV/thermal spray (not just poolside), and a wide-brimmed hat during peak sun.
When it comes to products, there’s no universal fix, but Sarah points clients toward UV protectants and antioxidants like vitamin C. Don’t forget your scalp. It’s one of the most sun-exposed and overlooked areas of the body. Bauhaus recommends a mineral-based SPF (Sarah loves Colorscience’s powder SPF you can easily brush onto your part line). Lastly, stay away from drying alcohols and DIY kitchen-oil treatments, which can backfire depending on hair type.
Bauhaus Salon + Spa is located at 4212 Lake Street in
Lake Charles. Open Tuesday through Friday. Call or text 337-474-4000 or visit bauhaussalon.com. Mention the code THRIVE for 15% off summer hair products in July.
