ELIOT PRESS/bauergriffinonline.com
Camping out at a festival, going for a quick dip on holiday or even just lounging in your back garden – some of the best parts of summer are, unfortunately, the worst things for your hair.
Whether it's salt and chlorine, or hours in the sun frazzling it to a crisp, if you don't look after your locks, they can easily turn you from beach babe to hair horror.
"It's easy to forget that your hair needs special care in the summer as it can become dry and damaged from over-exposure to the sun. Holiday factors such as sea, pool chlorine and sand can also dry out your hair, so it's important to look after your hair and scalp in the heat, just as you would your skin," says Tina Farey, editorial director at RUSH London.
Whether you're battling dehydration, frizz, greasy locks or too much heat, our experts have the solution to your summer hair woes.
Dry hair
"The most common problem in the summer is dry hair, leaving it weak and limp," says Farey. "Most people think winter dries their hair out, but summer sun can be just as harmful. The chlorine in pools and the salt in sea water can also be dehydrating."
"If you're heading for a really hot holiday, invest in a leave-in conditioner, which you can apply in the morning before heading out. Leave this in all day so when you dip in and out of the water, your hair is protected. In the evening, apply a deep conditioning hair masque to replace all the moisture your hair would have lost during the day. Kérastase Masquintense Fins Conditioner, £19.71, is intense and deeply nourishing."
Stick with a rehydrating shampoo, like Botanics Ultra Moisturising Shampoo, £2.99, which targets dry areas, or Dove Moisturising Milk Shampoo for dry/damaged hair, £2.65, followed by a conditioner to perk it up - Mark Hill Holiday Hair Aftersun Intensive conditioner, £1.95, is great for adding shine.
During the day, keep adding a shot of moisture with Boots Ingredients Coconut & Almond Leave-In Conditioner, £1.29, or Toni & Guy Rapid Response Leave-In Conditioner, £1.95 - mini sized for holidays.
Finish with some extra TLC such as an intensive treatment; Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Intensive Mask, £2.09, Bumble and Bumble Deep Protein Treatment, £20, or Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, £25. Use the latter before you shampoo to add strength and silkiness.
Frizzy hair
"High humidity can play havoc with your hair by zapping it of moisture and causing frizz that will ruin any style," says stylist Lee Stafford. "Avoid anything that requires a lot of heat styling as it will be a constant battle to maintain your look.
"Healthy hair is less affected by frizz than damaged hair, so before summertime begins, treat yourself to a really good cut to eliminate broken, damaged ends and minimise problem flyaway strands. Try my Dehumidifier, £4.99, which acts like an umbrella to prevent unmanageable hair."
Make sure you switch to a shampoo and conditioner designed to fight the frizz. Jo Hansford Anti Frizz shampoo, £14.50, and conditioner, £16.50, contains strengthening keratin and repairing Castanha do Brasil from the Amazon, while Charles Worthington Results Frizz Smoothing shampoo and conditioner, both £4.99, are designed to leave locks looking sleek.
Finish with a styling product designed to combat any remaining humidity. TommyGuns Climate Control Styling Spray, £5.99, adds volume and hold, or Fekkai Zero Humidity Frizz Control spray, £19, works as a barrier plus it has UV protection to prevent damage.
A couple of drops of Sebastian Professional's Liquid Gloss, £20.75, will smooth out hair or the classic John Frieda Frizz Ease range now includes the original serum, £3.99, an extra strength version, £5.79, and an overnight option, £14.99.
For a quick but intensive pick-me-up, VO5 Frizz Relief Elixir 1 Minute Treatment, £3.18, contains five oils to treat and tame.
Greasy hair
"Hair can often become greasy because of the heat and all the other elements it is subjected to during a day on the beach," says Farey. "Also be careful not to overload finer hair with products."
Photos courtesy of Lee Stafford and Aussie
Be wary of products that are too harsh, as summer hair needs more moisture not something which will strip all the natural oils away. TommyGuns Sage & Basil Shampoo and Conditioner, £4.99, is designed to gently remove grease while Lush I Love Juicy shampoos, from £4.20, are packed with cleansing organic papaya and kiwi.
Need extra help? Lee Stafford Matt Fat Powder Puff Potion, £8.99, contains special oil absorbing ingredients, to help dry up greasy roots, as well as adding volume to limp hair.
Faded colour
"Exposure to UV rays lightens the hair, meaning colour fades quickly and looks dull, so brunettes and redheads need to take care to ensure their locks aren't damaged by sunbathing," explains Stafford.
"Chlorine is another enemy for the hair, drying it out and speeding up colour fading. Chemically treated blondes also run the risk of their hair looking brassy, or even turning green after a dip in the pool! Combat this by using my new Hotshots 4 Blondes, £6.99, which targets the yellow tones, making it icy bright."
For anyone thinking of a new holiday shade, make sure you get it done at least a week in advance so the new colour isn't subjected to hot temperatures, warns Farey.
If you're not already using a colour protecting shampoo and conditioner, it's even more important to start during the summer. Aussie's Colour Mate Shampoo and Conditioner, £3.59, contains wild peach extract. Or try Daniel Galvin Junior's King of Colour range, with shampoo and conditioner for blondes, brunettes and redheads, each £4.99.
Finish with Clairol Colourseal Gloss – the conditioner included with the range's Nice'n'Easy hair colours is now sold separately for 99p. Helping to mimic the 'f' layer of the hair - the nourishing, protective topcoat - which is removed during colouring, it locks in your shade and leaves it looking glossy for up to six weeks.
Senscience True Hue, £19.95, comes in handy capsules to seal in colour and protect against fading with 24-hour UVA and UVB sunscreen, while Paul Mitchell Color Protect Reconstructive Treatment, £11.50, also strengthens and protects.
Heat damaged hair
Farey explains that the combination of sun and styling tools means your hair gets a double whammy. "Heat can potentially damage your hair so it is advisable to leave the straighteners at home for your holiday," she warns.
"Make sure you are using a professional product with a UV filter and one that will strengthen and moisturise hair. Try the Kérastase Soleil range, from £11.85, as each product has SPF/UV properties which keep the sun from damaging your hair, the same as a sun cream works for your skin."
Charles Worthington Takeaways Sun-Shine UV Protection, £1.80, includes shampoo, conditioner and styling spray, and Joico K-PAK Sun Therapy, from £10.95, has styling products as well as shampoo, conditioner and mask to soothe burnt and sun damaged hair.
Naturtint's new Nutrideep Multiplier, £7.99, helps to reduce breakage by 80% - perfect if your hair is at risk of damage or has already had too much sun - thanks to natural wheat proteins, plus sunflower extract to maintain colour.
Mark Hill Mini Heat Protection Capsules, £3.42, repair split ends and protect against further damage. And look out for Bumble and Bumble's new Wear & Care range, from £21 at Space NK, which gently helps rebuild damaged hair.
For a more intensive treatment, use Burt's Bees Avocado Hair treatment, £11.26, before shampooing, or celebrity favourite Moroccanoil treatment, £29.85, which is packed with argan oil to condition – a little goes a long way – or use the range's Intense Hydrating Mask, £22.85, for 10 minutes.