SUMMER HAIR CARE TIPS |
Summer is here – well I think so! Last week’s weather was certainly very encouraging. Away goes the winter wardrobe and out come the legs! It is also the time of year when we encounter the highest percentage of damaged hair. Some of it is beyond repair, short of cutting it all off and starting over. I am sorry to sound boring, but at least if I get you thinking about this early enough I can give you a few tips that may save you a lot of heart-ache and money.
1. Stay away from hair lightening products – such as ‘Sun In’
Most contain some form of peroxide or metallic salt and can cause severe damage to your hair, not to mention such undesirable effects such as orange, green, or pink hair. Even worse, if the product does contain metallic salt and you then perm your hair, it may literally turn your hair into mush and wash down the sink.
Although a chelator, (an ingredient in some shampoos) can help remove some of the metallic salts residing on the hair shaft, they are not strong enough to remove metal deposits that have penetrated the shaft. The only chemicals that I know of that will do this are chemicals used in the development of film. These chemicals are highly toxic and I do not recommend that you mess with them.
Bottom line; let nature do its own thing. Better still invest in highlights. In the long run the highlights will be more effective and less expensive.
I would suggest high-lighting your hair now at the beginning of the summer and in July/August re-touch your high-lights, giving you an opportunity to rebalance the colour, or use an anti-fade colour bath. Try Redkens new “Colour injection conditioning colour” £ 9.50 This ensures that your present highlights are not too faded or yellow, or getting too blond. We can carefully weave back some of your natural hair colour. You may need to listen closely to the advice of your Colourist, as it is not always easy to be objective about our own colour and easy to go over the top, or not do enough.
2. Invest in a hair conditioner that contains a sun screen
The sun has by far the most damaging effect on the condition of the hair more so than a perm or bleach used in a professional salon under strict conditions, the sun certainly has the ability to lighten your hair, not always, as you want.
Try the new range of GHD sun products:
- Sun Survivor Shampoo £10.75
- Sun Survivor Conditioner £14.95
- Sun Worshiper (Leave-in Conditioner) £11.95
Also Redken’s Sun Shape Range:
- Sun Milk (Leave-in Conditioner) £10.75
- Shampoo £ 8.25
These will all help you protect your hair throughout the summer and when you are on holiday.
3. After a day in the pool, clarify your hair
A clarifier is a stronger shampoo designed to remove toxins from your hair such as car emissions and other environmental pollutants, as well as build up from some ingredients in over the counter shampoos, such as silicon. A clarifier is too strong to use daily, but once or even twice a week is okay. It should also help remove chlorine from your hair, but if you are at the pool daily you will need to invest in a special shampoo to control chlorine. Try GHD’s Pure Detox £9.75, or Wella’s Sunset Shampoo £8.10.
Avoid ‘green hair’ before it begins. Thoroughly wet your hair before you dip in the pool and add a bit of Redken’s Swim Cream £9.50. Wash your hair immediately upon exiting the pool. These precautions alone will go a long way toward dodging the ‘swamp look’.
4. Throughout the summer days it is more important than ever to apply a treatment to your hair with a balance of moisture and protein. Try Redken’s Deep Fuel £12.25) and also GHD’s Indulgence £14.95.
These few tips should see you well through the summer and leave you with fond memories instead of bitter tales. Most of all have Fun. Let’s hope we have as good a summer as last year.
