Holiday colour care

Jessica Hopper shares her tips and tricks for keeping colour alive while having fun in the sun

We all love the sand, sea and sun-drenched escapes of summer, but while a sunny holiday can be heaven for the soul, it can play havoc with your hair - especially if you're a colour junkie. But there are ways to keep your colour alive while having fun in the sun - simply abide by our expert guide...

 
Don't forget to colour
We all want our hair to look fabulous when we're on our hols, but if you're after a pre-break colour touch-up, remember that chemically treated hair is more vulnerable to environmental conditions such as sun, water and humidity. Plan your hair colouring three weeks prior to your trip, that way your hair has time to recover, regain its natural balance and therefore is more resistance to damage. Josh Wood, real hair, advises you book your appointment for your return too, as holidays can be hard on hair, and be sure to ask your stylist for an intensive salon treatment to bring your locks back to life' after all that fun in the sun.

 

Holiday hazards
It's easy to forget about hair care when you're busy having fun, but if you don't want to be wincing and cringing at your holiday snaps, it's vital you protect your 'do from the holiday nasties that can take your style from ‘fab' to ‘drab'

 
Sun: We're all wising up to the fact that we need to slap on high factor sun cream to protect skin during summer, but what about our hair? You may love the way the sun lightens your locks, but UV rays are just as damaging to tresses as they are to skin. Not only will they break down protein in your hair, they'll leave your colour lacklustre and your lengths dried out.

 
Cover up during the day with a stylish hat or headscarf, and always, always, coat locks in a UV filtering hair spritz, "Protecting your hair from the sun IS as important as protecting your skin," says Tracey Devine of Angels. "To keep hair healthy, protected and sexy this summer, the Lifetex Sun Vitamin Shake from Wella Professionals (£7.95, 150ml) is the ultimate holiday hair essential." As well as a UV filter, this hair hero contains a complex of nutrients and macadamia nut oil, which forms a protective barrier against holiday-hair-foes.

 
You may love the way the sun lightens your locks, but UV rays are just as damaging to tresses as they are to skin.In the evenings, treat locks to a colour protecting hair mask. Josh Wood, real hair, recommends System Professional Color Saver Mask (£13.60). If you have time before your night out, leave it on and sit out on the balcony for 15minutes to allow the heat encourage the mask to penetrate your hair even deeper.

 

Chlorine: As appetising as that gorgeous pool looks in a hot climate, a mere much-needed dip can cause colour damage due to all that chlorine, especially to blondes who may find their stunning shade turning brassy or an unsightly green. While it's not the chlorine that ruins your colour, it is the presence of heavy metals, like copper, within chlorine. The chlorine initiates the process by damaging the hair cuticle, which then allows these metals to enter the inner structure of hair. Remove these metals with a special after-sun shampoo, which banish all traces of chlorine, every evening if you've swum during the day. You should also wet your hair with tap water before having a dip, as wet hair soaks up less chlorine than dry hair.

  
So there you have it. Top tips to help keep your colour alive throughout your summer hols. Now get out there and have a ball!

 

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