The beautiful sunny weather is here and many of us are thinking about our summer holidays, whether you’ve booked already or deciding where to head off to. Summer can be a tough time for our hair though and if you’re travelling abroad, there isn’t much bag space for all your bottles of serum and conditioner! So, what problems do we face with our hair in the summer months?

• In the heat, we sweat! Sweat can exacerbate existing problems such as dandruff, frizziness and split ends.
• Imagine what would happen to your hair if you were constantly using straighteners on it and blow drying. It would get pretty dry and heat damaged. That’s exactly what is happening when you’re out in the sunshine all day long – the sun is drying out your hair.
• If you have colour on your hair then remember that this can fade if exposed to too much sun – remember to wear a hat!
• You may also notice that your hair feels more greasy than normal and this could be extra sweat and sun cream residue near your hairline.
• Your scalp can be effected too with the possibility of sunburn and drying out. This can damage your hair roots and causes flakiness.
• Spending time in swimming pools also increases the risk of damaging your hair from the chlorinated water. For Gloucester Hairdressers, visit http://headkandyhairdressing.com/

All this sounds like a nightmare – so, what can we do to help our hair?

• Avoid using too many chemicals on your hair during the summer. Summer is tough enough on hair without further attack from colouring or special treatments.
• Don’t wash your hair before you go swimming or your hair will be stripped of its natural protective oils, leaving it more vulnerable to the salt or chlorine.
• For use after swimming, find a shampoo that contains ethylene tetra-acetic acid. These shampoos are great for cleaning off chlorine.
• Avoid over-shampooing which is tough in the summer when you feel hot and sweaty. Excessive shampooing can dry out your hair. If your hair feels greasy, then wash with a mild shampoo and only clean the scalp.

• Use plenty of conditioner to restore the moisture lost to the sun’s drying out effects. You can even apply a leave-in conditioner before a swim, just tuck your hair into a swim cap.
• During the hot weather, try not to use your straighteners or hairdryer so much. If you can, allow your hair to air dry for a time before using a hairdryer on low.
• Summer can wreak havoc with split ends so have a quick trim to revitalise your hair. If you’re feeling brave then go for a complete restyle and try something a bit shorter.
• If you know you’re going to be out in the peak sun a lot this summer then think about getting a leave-in conditioner that contains sun screen. There are even special sun screen hair products. Always wash out at the end of the day though.
• Remember to stay hydrated. Keeping your fluid intake up will benefit both your skin and hair. So too will eating plenty of summer fruits and veggies!