Natura

Beachy waves à la Gisele, golden highlights… Brazilians love the idea of summer hair. But with the constant exposure to the elements (read: moist air, sun, salt, chlorine) come some serious damage to your strands, leaving them dry, frizzy, brittle, and prone to breakage. Read on to learn how Brazilians take care of their tresses after intense sun, sand, and beach days.

The patauá is an Amazonian palm known for producing a very rich oil. Patauá oil is a powerful moisturizing agent, rich in Omega-9, with unique properties such as light texture and easy absorption. It has been used for generations by indigenous people in the Amazon forest to treat both their skin and hair. This oil has become famous lately for its ability to strengthen hair follicles, prevent hair loss, and for helping to restore dry and damaged hair. This key ingredient also helps to restore and maintain scalp health, keeping it nourished, hydrated, and protected thanks to its expressive fatty acid and protein content.

We all know moisture is key year-round for natural hair, but it's particularly essential after the summer months. Besides going for nourishing conditioners in every wash and using moisture-rich shampoos, Brazilian women use a reconstructive hair mask at least once a week to restore softness and sheen and improve elasticity. Murumuru is one of their go-to ingredients since it has the ability to deeply penetrate and repair hair fibers. Formulas enriched with murumuru are known for nourishing the hair, infusing locks with extra moisture while sealing split ends.

Want to make this treatment even more powerful? Another favorite trick to restore damaged, dry locks after languorous summer days is to mix a penny-sized amount of hair oil to a hair mask. Needless to say that patauá oil is the favorite one in this recipe. Rich in fatty acids and Omega-9, it boosts the results of your hair mask and act as a shield on your strands, preventing moisture loss and dehydration. To make the most out of this treatment, Brazilian women cover their strands with a heat or regular shower cap, and leave the mask on for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse as you would do with your conditioner — and remember to make the last rinse with cold water. You can also apply a few drops of patauá oil to damp hair, focusing especially on its ends. Both these tricks will tame frizzy ends, add shine and softness, plus, restore your strands from all that summer damage without weighing your hair down.