With the summer holiday season well and truly underway, we’ve already given you tips on the best summer hair and nails to cop for your travels. But what about after your jaunt in the summer sun? While you’re battling holiday blues, make your life a little easier by treating your dry, summer holiday hair to some post-hol rehab.
While you were enjoying yourself splashing beside the pool or going for a dip in the sea, you might be unknowingly causing damage to your hair. “The combination of salt, sun and chlorine can be incredibly drying on the hair,” celebrity colourist and resident Hershesons artist Marley Xavier tells GLAMOUR. “Chlorine, especially from pools, can strip away natural oils and even affect colour.” Any unlucky blondes who have come back from their holiday with brassy at best, and green at worst can attest to this.
Don’t worry though, if you’ve still got a holiday coming up, Marley suggests packing a hair mask like Philip Kingsley Swimcap – “which acts as a protective barrier against both chlorine and salt”, he says. A chic sun hat can also be great protection for your hair and scalp against UV exposure too. If you’d rather leave your hair au naturel, be sure to rinse thoroughly after you’ve been swimming to get rid of any lingering salt water or chlorine. Follow with a gentle brush using Tangle Teezer Ultimate Detangler Extra Gentle to lightly release any knots or kinks without causing further damage to sun-weakened hair.
While still on holiday, Marley suggests using reparative treatments like Olaplex Nº.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask or Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment Spray to help strengthen and smooth your post-pool hair after a day in the sun. “Holidays are the perfect time to lean into effortless styling so try to avoid excessive heat styling,” Marley adds. “Hair is already under stress from UV, salt and chlorine, so adding more heat can make matters worse. Sea air creates beautiful, natural texture – so roll with it. Embrace undone waves rather than overstyling.”
Once you’re finally back home, the intense post-holiday hair rehab can begin. “After a holiday, your hair will likely be crying out for hydration and nourishment. I always recommend starting with a clarifying treatment like Malibu C: Swimmers Wellness Treatment Kit,” Marley says. “It’s a vitamin C-based treatment that gently lifts out chlorine, mineral deposits and any post-holiday build-up, especially good for lightened hair that’s dulled or discoloured.”
Follow up with a deep hydration treatment that will restore the pH balance of your hair and restrengthen the strands from within. “If your hair is feeling particularly dry or depleted, Oribe Power Drops Hydration Anti-Pollution Booster is another gem,” he says. “You can mix a few drops into your conditioner or use it on its own to add an intense moisture hit.”
Once you’ve given your summer holiday hair the extra TLC it deserves, the only thing left to do is to start planning your next trip!