Summer in Lausanne: heat, lake and blow-dry
The lake first, the round brush afterwards.
By Manel, M BRUSH5 min read
N° 02
Lausanne
The essentials
In summer, a blow-dry struggles against sweat, humid air and above all swimming: a single dip in the lake is enough to undo it. Book it after your swims rather than before, choose a soft or curly finish, tie your hair loosely during the hot hours and keep a hair tie for the wind.
Summer in Lausanne makes you want to look your best: aperitifs by the water, evenings in the old town, walks along the Ouchy quays.
It also puts a blow-dry through its paces. The heat makes the roots sweat, the lake invites you in for a swim and the wind sometimes gets up without warning. With a little planning, though, you can enjoy both: the summer and your hair.
What the heat does to a blow-dry
A blow-dry holds thanks to bonds that come undone on contact with water. In summer, water comes from everywhere:
- sweat;
- humid air on heavy days;
- water sprays;
- the steam of a cool shower taken on coming home.
The first areas affected are the nape, the temples and the hairline at the forehead. Sweat there relaxes the shape and brings sebum, which weighs down the roots. The mid-lengths and ends hold up better, especially if they stay away from the neck.
The sun adds another effect: it dries out the hair and dulls its shine over the weeks, especially on coloured hair. A wide-brimmed hat or a protective spray limits this dulling.
The lake: before or after the blow-dry?
It is the simplest rule of summer: a swim undoes a blow-dry. The lake, the pool or the beach shower soak the fibre deep down, and the hair returns to its natural shape as it dries. Even a good swimming cap does not guarantee perfectly dry roots.
In summer, you swim first, and get your hair done afterwards.
If you have planned an afternoon by the water and a dinner in the evening, save the blow-dry for the next day or for a day without swimming. And if you are set on cooling off, a high bun, well above the water, at least protects the mid-lengths and ends.
The wind on the quays
By Lake Geneva, the wind changes fast. MeteoSwiss in particular describes a summer storm joran, a brief and brutal north-westerly wind that sweeps down from the Jura towards the lake.
In a few moments, it can tangle a head of hair. A soft hair tie or a clip in your bag lets you gather the mid-lengths and ends until it passes.
Choosing your finish for summer
The finish matters even more in summer than in winter.
| Finish | Faced with the heat |
|---|---|
| Soft | Relaxes elegantly |
| Brush curls | Turn into beautiful waves |
| Sleek | The most exposed |
The soft blow-dry is the finish of the season: its rounded ends relax gently and stay elegant, even when the air is heavy. Brush curls loosen into waves by the end of the day. With sleek, the slightest root that swells again shows.
The workings of humidity are set out in our article rain, fog, lake: making your blow-dry last. The principle is the same in summer, with sweat on top.
A summer's day without undoing your hair
A few habits change everything.
- In the morning, tie loosely. A soft braid or a low bun set without pulling protects the nape from sweat during the hot hours. Undone at the end of the day, it leaves a natural movement.
- Don't touch the roots. Warm hands bring sebum and moisture.
- In the sun, cover without crushing. A wide-brimmed hat, set without forcing, is better than a tight cap that marks the roots.
- On coming home, cold air. If the roots have sweated, let them dry, then run a little cold air through, lifting the strands with your fingers.
For sport, the shower or the hammam, our advice is gathered in the article sport, shower, hammam: protecting your blow-dry.
Summer evenings in Lausanne
Summer in Lausanne has its open-air fixtures. The Fête de la Musique takes place every 21 June, free of charge, across the whole city. The Festival de la Cité takes over the old town in July, also free. You walk, you dance, you stay out late: your hair has to keep up.
For these evenings, a soft or brush-curl finish wears naturally, and the hair tie stays in your pocket for the hot moments. The other Lausanne moments that deserve a blow-dry, from winter to summer, are gathered in our article the Lausanne moments that deserve a blow-dry.
Booking your summer blow-dry
Before you book, look at your week.
Spot your moments.Where are the swims, where are the evenings?
Place the blow-dry.Just before the moment you want to be styled for, after the last swim.
Come ready.Hair clean, without oil, serum or styling product; shampoo + care optional on site.
The salon's address is Avenue d'Yverdon 4, 1004 Lausanne. If your plans change with the weather, a cancellation or a postponement is still possible by giving at least 24 hours' notice before the appointment.
For hair that goes with the heat instead of fighting it, book your soft blow-dry.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you swim with a blow-dry?
- A dip undoes the blow-dry: the water soaks the fibre and the hair returns to its natural shape as it dries. If you want to keep your style, keep your head out of the water with a high bun.
- How do you stop roots getting greasy when it's hot?
- Avoid touching the roots, tie your hair loosely during the hot hours and let the sweat dry before restyling. On the second or third day, a dry shampoo applied at the roots prolongs the freshness.
- Which finish holds up best in summer?
- Soft, which relaxes elegantly, and brush curls, whose curls turn into waves. Sleek is the most sensitive to heat and humidity.
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