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I get asked about seasonal curl care a lot, and the honest answer is that my routine does change, but maybe not in the way you would expect.
For me, summer simplifies things. My routine gets shorter, my product list gets lighter, and wash days feel less like a production. But that is not true for everyone, and I will get to that. First, here is what changes for me and why.
During the summer I am outside more, I swim, and it is warm enough that doing my hair does not feel like a big commitment (Seriously, it gets so cold in my bathroom during the winter and dealing with wet hair is not fun). So, I wash it more frequently than I do the rest of the year.
Because I am washing more often, I have two kinds of wash days in summer: a quick wash day and a full intentional wash day.
A full, intentional wash day is what most people picture when they think about curly hair styling. It’s the type of wash day I recommend when people want defined, frizz-free curls. I section my hair and brush curl everything for maximum definition. My curls shrink up, clump together, and with the right products they will last four to five days, which is a lot for my fine curls. The definition is strong on day one and the volume builds as the days go by.
A quick wash day looks different. I brush through my wet hair out of the shower, rake gel through, and tilt my head so the roots lift off my scalp. I might brush curl the front pieces, but I am not sectioning and working through my whole head. The result on day one is only slightly different: a little less definition, a little less shrinkage, a little more volume. But it will only last a couple of days before I am washing again. In the summer that is fine, because I am probably getting back in the water or sweating through a market day anyway. I’m ready to wash before my curls are actually done.
The rest of the year I use the Apple Aura Curl Serum as an extra dose of lightweight hydration and structure. In summer, I find I do not need it. The air in the Willamette Valley is more balanced in warmer months, my hair is not dealing with the dry indoor heat from our wood-burning stove, and since I am washing more frequently, there is less time for my curls to feel depleted between wash days.
So most summer wash days are just Mystic Aura Shampoo, Mystic Aura Conditioner, and Mystic Aura Gel. That is it.
The Mystic Shampoo is gentle enough to use frequently without drying my hair out. I do not find that washing more often strips my curls the way people sometimes worry it will, especially when the shampoo is the right match for your hair. And the gel is a constant for me year-round. In summer, I actually use a little less of it on quick wash days, since I am raking it through for volume and hold rather than working it in for maximum definition. But I never skip it. Without the seal, humidity gets in, and frizz takes over.
After a swim I rotate in the Silver Aura Shampoo. Pool water, lake water, and sunscreen all build up on the hair differently than regular sweat and styling products, and the Silver Aura with its rhassoul clay and activated charcoal clears that out in a way the Mystic alone does not. Then I go right back to my regular routine.
Here is the part I want to be honest about: my summer routine gets simpler because of where I live and how my hair responds to the Pacific Northwest summer. That is not going to be true for everyone.
If you live somewhere hot and dry like Southern Oregon, Eastern Washington, Nevada, or Arizona, your curls may actually need more moisture support in summer, not less. Dry heat pulls moisture out of the hair faster than cool, humid air does. If you have ever visited somewhere like Bend and noticed your curls behaving differently, that is why. For fine curls in dry heat, reaching for the Apple Aura Curl Serum makes sense. For dry or coarse curls in that climate, the Aqua Aura Curl Cream may need to come back into the rotation.
And if you are swimming a lot, your hair may need richer conditioning support than it does the rest of the year. Chlorine and mineral-heavy water can be drying, and repeated exposure adds up. If your curls feel rougher or drier than usual after a summer of swimming, your conditioner may need to be heavier than what you use the rest of the year.
Whether your summer simplifies your routine or complicates it depends on your climate, your lifestyle, and what your curls are telling you. Here are the three places I see the most seasonal variation:
Shampoo frequency. Summer tends to mean more sweat, more sunscreen, more swimming, and more time outside. Buildup can accumulate faster. If your curls feel heavy, itchy, flat, or dry even after conditioning in summer, your scalp is probably asking for a real cleanse. More frequent washing is not the enemy of healthy curls, as long as you are using a gentle and effective shampoo. Find one gentle enough to use regularly and your curls will thank you.
Conditioner richness. In humid climates, your curls may need lighter conditioning in summer. In dry climates or if you are swimming often, they may need more. Pay attention to how your curls feel after conditioning rather than assuming your winter routine will carry over.
Stylers. This is where summer makes the biggest difference. Humidity does not create frizz on its own, but it does expose the weak spots in your styling routine. If you live somewhere humid, gel becomes the most important product in your summer arsenal. It seals the curl while it is setting and limits how much moisture from the air can disrupt the shape. In dry climates, your leave-in matters more, but the gel will seal in the moisture for extra longevity. Fine curls need lightweight structure to hold their shape when the air is pulling moisture out. Coarse or dry curls need richer moisture support to stay soft and defined.
You do not need a completely different routine every season, but making slight adjustments when you notice changes can definitely help.
For me, summer is the easy season. My routine gets shorter, my wash days are more casual, and my curls cooperate. If yours do not, take that as information. Something in the system, like cleansing, moisture, or seal, probably needs a seasonal adjustment.
Rachel
June 03, 2026
This is helpful information – thank you.