Sweat-Proof Hair 101: How to Keep Your Hair Fresh Between Washes This Summer
Our Stylists' Guide to Beating Sweat, Oil & Humidity (Without Living in the Shower)
We've all been there. You wash your hair in the morning, head out for a walk, spend an afternoon on a patio, go to a pilates class or you’re simply trying to get through a Toronto heat wave... suddenly your roots are looking like they're on day four instead of day one.
Annoyingly, summer has a way of doing that.
Between heat, humidity, sweat, and all the extra time we spend outside, it forces our hair to work a little harder this time of year. But we’re here to tell you that more sweat doesn't automatically mean you need to wash your hair more often.
In fact, shampooing your hair every day can sometimes create a whole new set of problems. Overwashing can leave your lengths feeling dry, make your colour fade faster, and causes your scalp to work overtime to replace the oils you've stripped away. That doesn't mean washing your hair is bad (please wash your hair when it needs it!). It just means there are smarter ways to refresh your hair between wash days.
The goal here isn't to stretch your washes for as long as humanly possible, but to keep your scalp comfortable and your roots looking fresh until your next wash day.
These are the three products we constantly reach for when sweaty hair season comes around.
Step One: Don't Wait Until Your Hair Looks Greasy to Use Dry Shampoo
Most people use dry shampoo as an emergency rescue. When your roots get oily, your bangs are all separated, and that’s when you reach for the dry shampoo. That's actually the hardest job you can give your hair. Dry shampoo works best before your hair gets greasy, not after.
In skincare terms, think of it like blotting paper for your face. It's much easier to absorb oil as it's being produced than it is to tackle a full day's worth all at once.
Twentyseven Tip: apply dry shampoo before bed.
While you sleep, your scalp continues to produce oil and by giving the product time to work overnight, you wake up with hair that already feels fresher. If you're using it in the morning, spray it directly onto dry roots, let it sit for a minute or two (this part matters), then massage it in with your fingertips or brush it through. Give the formula a minute to work and absorb the oil. Your future self will thank you.
Our Favourite Dry Shampoos:
Sam McKnight Lazy Girl Dry Shampoo
This ultra-lightweight mist not only refreshes your locks between washes but also adds soft body, volume, and texture—making it a styling essential for both lazy days and busy schedules.
Act+Acre Fulvic Acid Volumizing Dry Shampoo
A plant-based dry shampoo that absorbs residue and odor while delivering minerals to refresh and support healthy hair
Liven it up with Death Valley, the quickest way to get volume and body into your hair. This dry shampoo absorbs extra oil and adds texture for an untamed look.
Davines This is an Invisible Dry Shampoo
This dry shampoo extends your style without leaving any residue, giving your hair a refreshed and natural look. Made with 95.5% biodegradable ingredients and CO2 neutral packaging.
Step Two: Treat Your Scalp Like You Treat Your Skin
Another Twentyseven Tip: start thinking about your scalp the same way you think about your skincare. We spend so much time shopping for shampoos, masks, and styling products that we forget healthy hair actually starts at the root. Your scalp is skin, after all, just like the skin on your face. It can become oily, dry, or clogged with sweat, sunscreen, and buildup. If you’re the type to get greasy roots after only a day or two, the answer isn't another wash, sometimes it’s your scalp asking for a little balance.
This is why we love a targeted scalp treatment, these are formulated specifically to treat your scalp’s delicate microbiome. If you’re looking for all things scalp care, we recommend the brand Act+Acre (which we carry!), offering a range of treatments for soothing irritated scalps, oily scalps, and more. If you've used niacinamide in your skincare routine, you'll love the Act+Acre Niacinamide Oily Scalp Serum. With 4% niacinimide, it helps regulate excess oil while supporting your skin barrier, and your scalp benefits from those same balancing properties. Instead of stripping your scalp’s natural oils, it works with it to create a healthier environment for your hair over time. Massage a few drops directly onto your scalp after washing or whenever your roots need a little refresh.
Our Favourite Scalp Treatments
Act+Acre Microbiome Cooling Scalp Serum
Powered by Act+Acre's Amino M³ Complex™, this daily cooling scalp serum balances the scalp microbiome to soothe dry scalp itch + reduce loose dandruff flakes.
Act+Acre Apple Stem Cell Serum
The best-selling Stem Cell Serum harnesses the power of plant cell culture technology to promote hair growth, reduces fallout and hydrates the scalp.
Act+Acre Daily Hydro Scalp Serum
A daily leave-on serum, formulated with hyaluronic acid, offers intense hydration to soothe dry scalps and support long term hair hydration.
Act+Acre Niacinamide Oily Scalp Serum
A Niacinamide-infused leave-in scalp serum, created to manage excess oil and eliminate unpleasant scalp odours.
Step Three: Don't Skip Leave-In Conditioner
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear every summer is, "My roots are already oily, so I shouldn't use conditioner."
The truth is, your roots and your ends have completely different needs. Your scalp naturally produces oil, your ends don't. By the time those natural oils have a chance to travel down the hair shaft (if they ever do), your mid-lengths and ends have already been exposed to the sun, heat styling, brushing, chlorine, salt water, and all the wear and tear that comes with summer. That's why it's so common to have greasy roots but dry, frizzy ends at the exact same time.
Instead of skipping moisture altogether, focus on where you're applying it. A lightweight leave-in conditioner is one of the easiest ways to keep your ends hydrated without making your roots feel greasier and heavier. Not only does it replenish moisture where your hair needs it most, but it also helps smooth frizz, improve detangling, add softness, and protect against environmental stressors like UV exposure and humidity. It’s like giving your ends a tall glass of water while leaving your scalp to do its own thing.
If you have fine hair, opt for a lightweight spray leave-in that won't weigh your hair down. If your hair is thicker, curlier, or naturally drier, a richer leave-in cream will provide a little extra nourishment. No matter your hair type, the rule is always the same: care for your scalp at the roots, and keep the moisture focused on your mid-lengths and ends.
Our Favourite Leave-In Treatments
This leave-in formula has myriad mane-taming functions; adding shine, promoting softness, eradicating tangles, minimizing frizz, enhancing volume and increasing the longevity of your chosen style (phewf!).
R+Co Sun Catcher Leave In Conditioner
Supercharge your hair with this nourishing and protective leave-in conditioner that helps soften, seal, detangle and fight frizz
Davines DEDE Leave In Conditioner
A light leave-on spray formulated to untangle fine hair and aid in styling. It moisturizes and remineralizes all types of hair without weighing it down.
Leonor Greyl Lait Luminescence
This bi-phase botanically-based formula is the ultimate detangling spray for thick or frizzy hair. Lait Luminescence also conditions and protects.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Your dream summer hair doesn't need daily washes. All it takes is a few changes to your routine to keep your hair feeling fresher and healthier between washes. Remember to use dry shampoo before your roots get oily, treat your scalp like you would your face, and keep your ends hydrated with a lightweight leave-in conditioner! These habits help your hair easier to manage in the hotter months so you can spend less time stressing about sweaty hair and more time enjoying your #hotgirlsummer.
