Hats off for summer hair

A long hot summer spent soaking up the rays and splashing in sea water might sound like bliss, but it can spell holiday hell for your hair.

Even if you’re not leaving on a jet plane to sunnier climes, UV rays are stronger during summertime and even city slickers can experience the dreaded frizz factor from humidity.

“We may all love the sun, sea and sand, but we hate the effect it has on our hair,” says Debbie Christopher-Hall, a salon manager for Regis Salons.

“UV rays are just as damaging to our mane as they are to our skin, but we can often forget that. In fact, too much sun can scorch our hair and cause colour to fade fast.”

Give your locks a break with the hair equivalent of a pampering holiday: follow our expert guide to top summer tresses.

Pack

Haircare bottles may put your suitcase at risk of excess baggage, but hair products are as much of a priority as bikinis and sarongs if you’re going to look after your locks in the sunshine.

Celebrity Hairdresser Mark Hill believes the right checklist of products are essential: “You’ll need a shampoo to remove sand, salt and chlorine, a conditioner to nourish, a product to protect, and styling products.

“My space-saving packing tip is to stuff your shoes with products!”

Buy mini sun-friendly ranges if you’re feeling overloaded and keep the empty bottles to re-fill for future holidays.

Try: Mark Hill Holiday Hair range, from £1.99 (Boots); Richard Ward Seasons 4-piece Summer Protect Treatment Programme, £26.18 (www.qvcuk.com); Charles Worthington Takeaways Sun-Shine UV Protection Shampoo and Conditioner, £1.99 each (Boots).

Protect

Beachy hair: good. Sun-ravaged tresses: bad.

We all want to feel like a sun goddess on holiday but it’s essential to think about protecting the one accessory you’ll be flaunting day after day on the beach and beyond – your hair.

“Just like your skin, your hair needs dedicated protection in the sun,” Hill advises.

“Whenever you apply a sun cream to your skin, apply your protection product to your hair and scalp at the same time, especially if you have finer hair.

“And don’t forget the children, their hair and scalps are more sensitive to the sun.”

Try: Korres Red Vine Hair Sun Protection SPF Spray, £10 (0870 850 3868); Redken Color Extend Sun Waterwear, £15.95 (0800 085 4956/www.redken.co.uk); Philip Kingsley Swimcap travel-sized, £10 (www.philipkingsley.co.uk).

Preen

Wavy mermaid locks may be your goal for the holiday but if it takes a whole load of heated appliances to get there, leave them at home.

Straightening irons and curling wands will add extra strain to hair that’s already over-heated in the sun.

“Give your hair a holiday from heated appliances,” advises Johanna Cree Brown, Trevor Sorbie artistic director.

“For naturally tousled curls, use a product like Trevor Sorbie’s Beach Hair on wet hair, which will help you create a great look without any effort.
From http://www.shropshirestar.com