‘Summer can be a perilous time for your hair – the sun can lighten and streak it to a healthy-looking shade, but it can also frizz, frazzle and burn it if you’re not careful. When combined with wind, heat, salt or chlorine, the results can be disastrous.
It’s a common misconception that because the sun’s rays are natural, the change of colour in your hair that the sun gives is not damaging – but it is just as damaging as applying bleach. And, as with bleach, the effects are not just confined to colour changes. The stronger U.V. rays and longer days gradually have a deleterious effect on the hair. U.V. breaks down the hair’s protein structure causing it to become more vulnerable to breakage, duller and weaker. It follows that the most important aspect of summer is protection.’
- Shampoo the hair daily and use a conditioner afterwards
- Apply an intensive hair mask at least once a week
- Use a scalp mask to tone and exfoliate the scalp
- Ensure that all styling products contain a sunscreen to protect against harmful U.V. rays
- Don’t forget to apply a sun protection product to your hair when you apply one to your skin before sunbathing. Remember that you do not necessarily have to be in direct sunlight for U.V. to have an effect
- When swimming in a pool, apply a moisturising, protective, U.V. screening, water resistant conditioning product. There is no point applying a regular conditioner as it will quickly be washed away in the chlorinated water
- Do not over brush the hair as this can remove some of the outer cuticle and make it more vulnerable