We love summer. There are absolutely no downsides to the sun shining from dawn till dusk. Apart from if you have coloured hair – in which case your locks can pay the price of too much sun exposure, leaving you with faded, frazzled tresses.
So what can you do to protect your hair?
We employed the services of Ami King, Senior Advanced Technician at Nicky Clarke, and Gareth Williams, Headmasters Artistic Ambassador, to get some top tips for keeping your hair in the best possible condition in the heat.
(It’s particularly important that brunettes and redheads protect their colour – which can be prone to fading or becoming brassy.)
Prep and condition
“Use hair primer, such as Kerastase Nectar Thermique on damp hair before drying, which will protect the hair from heat and create vitality,” says Gareth. And don’t forget to condition, too. “Using leave-in conditioners are a great way to keep your hair moisturised and while sitting in the sun they act like a treatment,” says Ami. “If your hair is already sun-damaged, try using Argan oil (such as Nicky Clarke Argan Oil) on the ends of your hair to help reduce frizz and your hair a beautiful shine.”
Turn down the heat
“Using a lower heat setting on your hairdryer will help to reduce the amount of heat damage caused on the hair,” says Gareth.
In top knots we trust
Keep your locks protected from the sun (and keep your hair out of your face) with a trusty topknot hairstyle. Get some inspiration with our guide on how to work a top knot bun here.
Perfect excuse for a salon trip…
“Keeping hair in tip top condition is the key to preventing colour fade,” says Gareth. “Always check in for a colour wash before you jet off to the sun, perfect for topping up on tone pre and post holiday, adding longevity to your colour.”
Cover up
Now is the time to go all Audrey Hepburn and invest in some glam retro headwear. “I would suggest wearing a hat or scarf when you can,” says Ami. Luckily, chic scarves are right on-trend for SS16. Kendall’s holiday headwear is a good place to find inspiration, too.
Switch up your parting frequently
“Time for a parting change,” says Gareth. “This will help keep your colour for longer and you won’t get so much dehydration in one place.”
O is for ‘Olaplex’
“The Olaplex treatment is amazing at restructuring hair before going into the sun and for when you get back from your holidays and need a little TLC,” says Ami. “The Nicky Clarke salons offer a selection of rejuvenating hair treatments including the revolutionary Olaplex.”
Don’t forget SPF for your hair
“Using conditioning masks or sprays with an SPF present the help to protect from the sun’s UV rays and prevent damage to your colour,” says Ami. And Gareth agrees: “In the summer we put SPF on our skin so it’s time to use UVA and UVB on the hair. This will mean that over the summer months your hair won’t dry out so much. Why not try Paul Mitchell sun range – perfect for shielding colour-treated hair from damage.”
Not sure how to protect your coloured locks this summmer? We have the answers here!