Summer hair hacks

How to help look after your hair in the glorious sunshine

sun holiday

Sun, sea and sand is what summer’s all about (or sun, paddling pool and grass depending on your holiday plans), which means your hair can have it rough. So before you even think about getting the perfect beach waves, let’s have a look at how you can give your hair some TLC ready for the sun...

How can I give my hair nourishment?

Your hair can become pretty dry during the heat because of UV rays (rays from the sun that are damaging to the skin), which can mean it’s also more likely to knot. So much like you during the heat, your hair needs to drink up some extra moisturise. To help, try switching up your shampoo and conditioner to one with a cleansing element (just look out on the packaging for ‘cleanse’) and because of humidity you can opt for a more soothing one that should help with any unwanted frizz. Add in a weekly hair mask for extra nourishment – your hair will thank you whilst lapping it up.

When you can, try and give your hair a break from straighteners and hair dryers – between the humidity and the sun your hair is already in need of moisture, and adding extra heat will not make your hair happy. If you can’t live without them, make sure you apply a heat protector before you start.

How can I protect my hair from sun, sea & sand?

Chlorine and sea water can wreak havoc on your hair, but washing your hair in cold water before taking a dip can help reduce the amount of chlorine and salt water that your hair absorbs. Once you get out the water, make sure to comb your hair as soon as you can with a nourishing oil – this can help detangle any knots and give your hair some life. Heat protection sprays aren’t just here for when you’re using straighteners or hair dryers, there are also specific ones to help protect your hair from the sun.

Also, don’t be afraid to rock a hat throughout the day, like we know you can, as this can also help protect your scalp from the sun, which a lot of us can forget about.

Help! How will my colour survive the sun?

Not protecting your hair in the sun could actually make the colour of your hair change – many of us might welcome this but if you’ve worked hard all year to get your hair a certain colour, an unwanted colour isn’t okay. If you’re a brunette, the sun can bring out unwanted warmth and on blondes it can make hair colour fade faster – but did you know there are products out there to help protect your hair against UV rays? Say hello to your new summer fling; a heat and UV protective primer which helps soften, detangle and protect against heat styling and UV rays all in one go!

Okay, now let’s talk beach waves

After that tousled spent-the-day-by-the-beach look? Aren’t we all. Well, you can achieve it with just sea salt spray, a hairdryer and tongs...

1. Apply your sea salt spray of choice after you’ve washed your hair, then blow dry it

2. Divide your hair into four sections and tong each section in one go, holding the wand vertically as you go

3. Once you’ve tonged all the hair, spritz again with the sea salt spray and ruffle your hair up a little

It’s like you’ve just stepped out the ocean...

Anything else I need to know?

You’ll probably notice more knots in your hair during the warm weather, especially if you have mid to long hair. So have on hand a detangling spray and a compact Tangle Teezer for any knot emergencies. If your hair is really getting in your way, just pop it in a loose bun to get it out your face – this might also help you cool down too.