Holiday Hair Essentials
Top Tips for Summer Haircare at Avant Garde Salon in Harlow, Essex
Those ‘lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer’ bring sunshine, beach trips and poolside relaxation, but while we love a good beach day, our hair often doesn’t agree. Between chlorine, sun damage and the constant styling, our locks can end up dry, damaged and dull.
Don’t worry - Connie has all the tips and tricks you need to keep your hair looking fabulous throughout your vacation. Let’s dive in...
Prep is key
Book a trim before you jet off and treat yourself to our Olaplex bond building treatment to strengthen and repair your hair from the inside out. It’s also a chance to chat with your stylist for recommendations on the best products to take with you.
''And don’t forget to book your post-hols appointment before you leave!'', adds Connie. Click here to buy your Olaplex faves from our online shop!
Beware, chlorine!
Chlorine can be a real villain to both natural hair and extensions. It weakens strands, leading to split ends, brittle and frizzy hair, and can change your hair colour as well as irritating the scalp. Wearing a swimming cap is the ultimate solution, but it’s hardly Insta glamorous! Instead, minimise pool time and try these tricks to reduce chlorine damage, says Connie.
1. Drench your hair with fresh water before taking a dip. This helps reduce chlorine absorption. Take bottled water with you if there isn’t a nearby shower.
2. Slather on a leave-in conditioner before swimming to form a protective barrier. Then rinse your hair immediately after swimming to wash away the chlorine. Choose a shampoo like System Professional Solar Hair & Body Shampoo which is specifically formulated to remove chlorine.
3. Use a clarifying shampoo weekly to remove chlorine build-up. Follow with a deep conditioner or mask - I like Wella Ultimate Repair Mask - to keep hair hydrated. Click here to buy from our online shop!
4. Chlorine can give blondes brassy tones. System Professional LuxeBlonde, used once or twice a week, will keep you blonde and beautiful. Why purple? Because yellow and purple sit opposite each other on the colour wheel, so the purple neutralises those brassy hues, maintaining that cool, fresh blonde we all love.
Protect your locks from UV damage
While we love soaking up the sun, those rays can wreak havoc on our hair and extensions, leading to dryness and split ends, and causes your salon-fresh colour to fade. Ideally, rock a stylish hat or scarf to shield your hair (and your face) from direct sunlight. And always spritz on a UV protection spray before heading out to guard against those damaging rays. System Professional Solar Helios Spray is a firm favourite as its light and doesn’t leave a sticky residue.
Rejuvenate your hair
After a day of fun in the sun, give your hair some TLC at night to keep it healthy and radiant explains Connie. Start by detangling gently with a wide-tooth comb. If you’ve been in saltwater or chlorine, cleanse and apply a leave-in conditioner or a nourishing hair mask to replenish moisture. Pop a silk pillowcase in your suitcase suggests Connie - it minimises friction and helps prevent breakage. It’s especially helpful if you have extensions.
Drying and styling tips
We all love to style our hair, but it’s essential to avoid damage, especially when your hair is already under stress, recommends Connie.
1. Blot hair gently with a microfibre towel and avoid vigorous rubbing which can cause breakage.
2. Air dry whenever possible - it’s the gentlest option. Go for natural, effortless, beachy waves.
3. If you do use heated tools, always apply a heat protectant spray like before using them. And lower the heat setting to minimise damage.
Soak up the sun, dive into the sea, and enjoy every moment of your summer holiday - just remember to give your hair the extra love it deserves.
