April Goddard

Good day Pulse readers and happy month of April! April is the month that I feel that we can all say that we have officially made it through the winter and into the spring and summer season. By now the flowers are blooming, the pollen is abundant and ice cream stands have been opened for the season. Among these, we also find ourselves on a mission to transition ourselves-from wardrobe to skincare to hair and more-into a regular routine that screams “hi summer, how are ya?”. If you are here for it and can relate, read on to discover how to hop aboard the summer train; Destination:warm weather full steam ahead.

SUNSCREEN. There is a perfectly good reason why that word is in all caps. You can have a killer makeup look, killer skincare routine and even just plain old killer skin, but you know what? It won’t stay that way for long if you don’t protect yourself with some good, old-fashioned SPF. Seriously. Make everyday an opportunity to protect yourself from sunburn, premature aging and the rest of the bad things that come along with the sun’s glorious (yet tremendously harmful) rays. After skincare in the morning, slap some spf all over your face, neck, and everything that will see the sunlight. Helpful hint: everyone forgets the back of their hands. This shows signs of aging too!

Skincare. Speaking of, you may need/want to revamp your skincare routine with the coming of the new season. Why? Because what you needed for intense hydration in the winter may not be necessary in the summer. Instead of the heavy creams that were a remedy for dry winter skin, opt for a lighter moisturizer that will weather better in more intense heat and humidity and won’t clog your pores if you are sweating a lot. Additionally, go easy on the oils-you might not need them if the weather is not quite as dry anymore.

Haircare. Okay, so winter is dry and affects your hair accordingly, and while summer may be more humid, again we can thank Mr. Sun for some mild UV damage to the hair. Add chlorine pool water to that, and you will have some very fried ends. As soon as you find yourself spending more time outside, be sure to incorporate a styling product or finishing spray that you can use to protect both your scalp (think where you part your hair) as well as the hair itself. There are so many good options for this, so be sure to try a few out to find one that works best for you. In regards to chlorinated bodies of water- If you are someone who finds that you are starting to go swimming again, remember this simple trick: Before heading out for a swim, wet your hair completely with cool water to help to seal up the hair cuticle. Take either your normal conditioner or a deep conditioner and distribute it evenly through the hair. If your hair is on the longer side, simply braid it and head out, or leaving it down or in a ponytail. The moisture and conditioner will help to prevent your hair from soaking up as much of that chemical-treated water. After you’re done swimming, if you can help  it, try to wash your hair right away. If you let the chlorine sit in your hair and then bake it in the sun, it is a recipe for dry, split ends.