Easy tips to beat the heat

Though interspersed with some heavy showers, the heat wave currently hitting the country in the last month has been almost unbearable, with temperatures as high as 40 degrees and more recorded in several states up north.Lots of Nigerians have taken to social media to express their dismay and experiences battling the heat and, just recently, the Lagos state government had to issue heat advisory warnings on how to cope with the extreme heat.

Excessive heat can be dangerous as it causes dehydration, heat exhaustion, affects the skin and hair and so on and we all know when the temperature hits dangerous levels and the humidity is extreme, keeping your cool is no easy task. Apart from remembering to drink lots of fluid throughout the day, you must stay moisturized all day, use sun screens, eat well and stay in well-ventilated rooms.

When putting together your outfits, keep the following in mind:
Lighten Up
From a fabric perspective, less is more when the sun is blazing. Opt for shorter skirts and dresses, sleeveless tops or whatever lighter versions you feel comfortable in. (Don’t forget to apply sunscreen generously). Another thing to keep in mind; light colours reflect light and heat, so they’ll keep you cooler than darker colours. As much as possible, rest those dark clothes during the day, they not only retain heat but make you very sweaty and sticky.

Breathe
You’ll be most comfortable in cotton, linen, and rayon during these hot days, thanks to their ability to absorb moisture and let air in. Seersucker, chambray, eyelet, and cotton are warm-weather winners. In skyrocketing heat, take a pass on polyester (not known for its breathability) and silk (prone to sweat stains). Choosing the right fabrics is key. Stay cool and comfortable with our guide to the most breathable summer fabrics.

Take It Easy
Clingy clothing is no friend to sticky skin. Avoid body-conscious pieces in hot weather to keep sweat marks away and allow much-needed ventilation in. Draped tops, relaxed shorts, A-line skirts, and billowy palazzo pants will do the trick. As much as possible, ease up on extras and heavy accessories as they would stick to your skin and make you feel clammy. Use sunshades, caps and scarves to protect yourself when you go out.

Skin
Hot weather equals humidity, which leads to sweating and increased oil production. This basically means, your skin will be producing a whole lot of sebum you don’t want. To balance the sebum production, you need to cleanse more. Although we cannot help how much sebum our skin produces, we can get rid of the excess. Use a cleanser with tea tree leaf oil to give your skin a refreshed feeling and cool it down. Also, using a gentle cleanser with low pH levels will ensure your natural oils aren’t stripped away completely.

Hydrate
When it comes to hydrating the skin, a great moisturizer is best. The heat is already doing a great job drying out your skin and leaving it parched, so its time to replenish the lost moisture. However, when doing this, you don’t want to clog your pores with heavy solutions. Get a lightweight moisturizer that will hydrate your skin but leave your skin breathing. Great tell tale signs to look out for are water-based moisturizers that contain avocado oil or watermelon.

Hair
We all know that excessive heat can damage hair and so now more than ever, you need protective hairstyles to protect your ends, the oldest and most fragile part of your hair from breakage, allowing you hair to grow and stay healthy. There are the usual styles like box braids, Marley and Senegalese twists, cornrows and even wigs.

Mosturise your hair with three tablespoons of honey, one mashed avocado and two tablespoons of olive oil.Directions: Firstly, wash hair normally and then start with protein treatment. After applying the treatment, cover it with a nylon bag and leave it for one hour. The egg will naturally harden so don’t be alarmed when you find out you can’t run your finger through your hair. Wash your hair, with a little water, then move on to the moisturizing stage. Mix the ingredients for the moisturizing treatment. Allow the moisturizing treatment sit on your hair for as long as an hour, depending on how much healing you think your hair may need.After washing you’ll notice your hair is silky, smooth, moisturized and light. Don’t forget to protect it from the sun when you go out.