What Your Hair Really Needs Each Season Here in Chino

Okay, so Southern California doesn't have real seasons like other places. We don't get snow. We don't have that crisp fall weather where the leaves change color. What we have is sun, more sun, dry heat, and then those awful Santa Ana winds that show up and destroy everyone's hair.

And your hair needs different things depending on which version of California weather we're dealing with at the moment.

I'm Danielle, I work at Rock Paper Scissors in Chino, and I've been doing hair here long enough to know exactly what happens to people's hair when the weather shifts. Let me walk you through it.

Spring and Summer (AKA Everyone Wants to Be Blonde)

As soon as it gets warm, everyone wants lighter hair. Every single person who sits in my chair from April through August shows me a photo of some blonde with beachy waves and says, "I want this."

I get it. The sun is out, you're wearing lighter clothes, you want your hair to match the vibe.

The problem is that the same sun that makes you want blonde hair is also going to fade and damage that blonde hair really fast. UV rays break down color molecules and make your hair dry and brittle. It's the same thing that happens to your skin, except you can't put sunscreen on your hair. Well, you can, but most people don't.

I did a full balayage on someone in May, let's call her Amanda, and she looked amazing when she left. She came back in July and her hair was brassy and dry. I asked if she'd been using any heat protectant or UV spray. She said no, she didn't know that was a thing.

I told her the sun had been cooking her hair for two months. We toned it to get rid of the brass and I sent her home with a UV protectant spray. Her hair stayed way better after that.

If you're going lighter in the summer, you need:

A UV protectant spray. Use it before you go outside. It's like sunscreen for your hair. It won't completely prevent fading, but it helps a lot.

A trim before summer starts. Get rid of any damaged ends so they don't get worse from sun and chlorine exposure.

Realistic expectations. Your color is going to fade faster in the summer. You might need a toner or gloss halfway between color appointments to keep it looking good.

Also, if you're going to the pool or the beach a lot, wet your hair with clean water first and put conditioner in it. It creates a barrier so the chlorine or salt water can't soak in as much. This actually works. I've tested it.

Fall (When the Wind Tries to Destroy Your Hair)

Around September or October, the Santa Ana winds start. If you live here, you know. The air gets super dry, it's windy as hell, and your hair turns into a static filled, tangled mess.

This is also when people start wanting darker, richer color. After a summer of sun damage and fading, everyone's ready to go back to brunette or add some depth to their blonde.

I love doing rich fall color. Deep chocolate browns, warm coppers, dimensional brunettes with caramel tones. It looks so good and it's way easier to maintain than summer blonde.

But the wind is the real problem in fall. I had a client, I think her name was Sarah, who came in last October and her hair was so tangled and matted from the wind that it took me 20 minutes just to brush it out. She said she'd been trying to wear it down and the wind kept whipping it around.

I told her she needed to either put her hair up on windy days or use way more leave in conditioner and anti static products. Wearing your hair down in Santa Ana winds is just asking for a disaster.

Here's what actually helps in fall:

Switch to a more moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. The dry air strips moisture out of your hair. You need products that put it back in.

Use a leave in conditioner or hair oil. This helps with static and keeps your ends from getting dry and brittle.

Put your hair up on really windy days. A low bun, a braid, a ponytail, anything that keeps your hair from whipping around and tangling.

Get a gloss or toner. This adds shine and richness to your color, which is perfect for fall and the holidays.

Holiday Season (Everyone Wants to Look Good for Photos)

November and December are insane at the salon. Everyone wants their hair to look perfect for holiday parties, family photos, the Chino Christmas parade, New Year's Eve, all of it.

If you want your hair done for the holidays, you need to plan ahead. Don't call on December 23rd asking for a color appointment on December 24th. It's not happening. We're booked.

Here's what I recommend:

Late November or early December: Get your color done. Whether it's a refresh of your current color or something new, do it early so you have time to adjust if needed.

Mid December: Get a trim. Your ends will look healthier and your style will look more polished in photos.

Week of your event: Get a blowout or styling appointment. We can do waves, an updo, whatever you want. This is also when you'd add clip in extensions if you want extra volume or length for a special occasion.

I had someone last year who booked all three appointments in advance. She came in for color in late November, a trim two weeks later, and then a formal updo the day before her company holiday party. Her hair looked perfect and she didn't have to stress about last minute appointments.

That's the way to do it.

Back to School (Late Summer Panic)

Late August is when all the moms and teachers come in wanting a refresh before school starts. Kids too, especially high schoolers who want a new look for the new year.

For teens, I usually do something trendy but low maintenance. Soft layers, a subtle balayage, maybe some face framing pieces. Nothing that requires a ton of styling time in the morning because let's be real, teenagers are not getting up early to blow dry their hair.

For teachers, it's all about looking polished but practical. A good haircut that air dries well or takes five minutes to style. Maybe some color that's professional but still makes them feel good.

For moms, it's usually "I haven't had time to do anything with my hair all summer, please help me look like a human again."

I had a teacher come in last August who'd been growing her hair out all summer and it was just long and shapeless and she was so over it. We did a lob with some soft layers and she literally said, "Oh my God, I feel like a person again."

That's a good back to school haircut.

Winter (Which Isn't Really Winter But Whatever)

Winter in Southern California is mild. We don't have snow. We don't have freezing temperatures. But we do still have dry air and occasional wind, and people still want cozy, warm colors.

This is a good time to go darker or add richness to your color. Deep reds, burgundy, chocolate brown, all of that looks really good in winter.

It's also a good time to get treatments done. If your hair is damaged from summer sun or from too much heat styling, a deep conditioning treatment or a keratin treatment can help get it healthy again.

Winter is maintenance season. It's when you recover from summer and get your hair ready for spring.

The Biggest Seasonal Mistake People Make

The biggest mistake is thinking their hair care routine can stay the same all year. It can't.

What works in July is not going to work in October. You need to adjust your products, your styling routine, and how often you're coming in for maintenance based on what the weather is doing.

I had someone who used the same lightweight shampoo and conditioner all year round. It was fine in summer, but in fall when the air got really dry, her hair was a frizzy disaster. I switched her to more moisturizing products and the difference was immediate.

You have to adapt. That's the whole point.

What You Should Actually Do

Pay attention to what your hair is doing. If it's getting dry and frizzy, you need more moisture. If it's getting greasy faster, you might need a clarifying shampoo. If your color is fading, you need better UV protection or more frequent toners.

And plan ahead for holidays and events. Don't wait until the last minute and then get mad when we can't fit you in.

Come see us at Rock Paper Scissors if you need help figuring out what your hair needs right now. We're at 5222 D St. in Chino, downtown across from City Hall. Call (909) 707-9553 or book online.

Let's get your hair sorted out for whatever season we're pretending to have right now.

Danielle