If your hair feels like it’s in need of a holiday even after you’ve come back from yours, you need our summer hair repair guide.
Struggling with dry, frizzy, or damaged hair after your summer holiday? You’re not alone. Between sun-soaked sightseeing, long-haul flights, and salty beach swims, the combination of sun exposure, chlorine, saltwater and heat can leave your hair looking less than its best by the end of your travels.
Whether you’re dealing with split ends, faded colour, an overall lack of moisture, or want to ensure that none of this happens to you in the first place, we’ve tried-and-tested the quick fixes you can trust to reverse and protect against the damage. From nourishing masks and leave-in elixirs to damage-reversing treatments, this is your summer hair repair guide for both pre- and post-travels.
How to protect against damage
The best way to look after your hair is to prevent the side effects of your summer travels before they happen in the first place (or at least guard against them as much as possible). That firstly means planning ahead, and prioritising nourishing, protective formulas throughout your routine in the run-up to and during your holiday. The more hydrated and soft your strands are the more resistant they are to knotting and levels of dryness that cause significant damage in the sun.
Solution: Travel-Friendly Kits
Some of our favourite haircare brands, such as Philip Kingsley, have delivered damage-proofing sets (in flight-ready sizes) to ensure you are never caught wanting when travelling. The best contain not only moisturising masks but also shielding products that leave your hair protected against UV, chlorine and other hair health-depleting factors.
Philip Kingsley's clever kit takes all the stress out of protecting your hair when on your holidays (and it's portable enough to be carried in your carry-on for shorter trips too). The four-piece set contains the iconic Elasticiser which our beauty director swears by for protecting against straw-like strands as well as the pre-swim hair mask that shields against chlorine, UV and prevents brassy tones. It's a must-have, especially for blondes.
Curls can need a lot of love in the sunshine to keep them hydrated, defined and frizz-free – this four piece set has you covered. Perfect for short-haul holidays, the shampoo cleanses without stripping, the conditioner and defining cream keep your curls soft and bouncy (even in 90% humidity), and the masque is a poolside saviour that moisturises and keeps shine high. All are powered by Aveda's vegan and botanical-based ingredients that are kind to curls – wherever in the world you end up this summer.
What’s your damage?
Need something more specific, especially post-holiday? Here’s how to quickly fix common summer hair problems…
Dryness
Straw-like strands are one of the most common side effects of our summer travels because so many of our favourite summer activities can cause dryness. Prolonged UV exposure from the sun damages the hair’s outer layer; hot, humid weather increases moisture loss; and swimming in the sea and chlorinated pools can strip your hair of its natural oils. More frequent hair washing due to sweat buildup, plus air con in your hotel room, can all play a part as well.
Solution: Nourishing Masks
Luckily, there’s an indulgent solution at hand. Add a nourishing hair mask onto the end of your haircare routine once or twice a week to remoisturise your tresses. Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizer, Amika’s Bond Repair and Briogeo’s Deep Conditioning Mask will quickly get to work when left on for 10 minutes and are especially good for curly hair that has become coarse. Our tip? Apply them in the bath so you can lie back and relax for a little while longer.
Tangled, knotty hair
The sea breeze, the aforementioned dryness, and being in and out of the pool can all leave your hair tangled, knotty and difficult to brush.
Solution: Leave-In Conditioners
The first step – rather than simply trying to yank a brush through all the knots – is to make sure you have a detangler to hand. Spritz on a leave-in conditioner, such as those from Fable & Mane, Gisou and Pureology, whenever your hair is wet to reduce friction when you brush, and to add some overall shine. Then, start brushing from the bottom of your hair, working upwards. This avoids too much strain being put on your roots, which can lead to more breakage.
Faded colour
Another nuisance of the summer sunshine is that it can quickly cause your colour to fade. The sun’s UV rays break down the chemical bonds in hair dye causing fading, while also acting like natural bleach, lightening both natural and dyed hair over time. Higher temperatures, humidity and salt water can also make your hair cuticle lift, leading dye molecules to bleach out and dull your shade.
Solution: Tone Correctors
To protect your hair colour, you want to use gentle shampoos and conditioners – specifically those that are designed to be colour safe throughout the year. But, for boosted protection in the summer, look to colour-safe protection sprays too, such as our favourite from Aveda, and nourishing lightweight treatments like the award-winning L’Oréal Paris’ Elvive Dream Lengths.
For blondes – who may know the irritation of the greenish tint their hair gets (caused by the chlorine in swimming pools) – try Josh Wood’s at-home colour corrector to see you through.
Hair damage
If you look at your hair right now and see visibly dry, split ends, as well as unevenness in length and thinning (due to breakage), your hair is probably in need of some real TLC.
Solution: Damage Repairers
Alongside protective measures and nourishing masks, your next step is targeted weekly treatments, such as the iconic Olaplex, our beauty director’s favourite bond repairing mask from K18, and Color Wow’s award-winning hair reviving cocktail. These clever products work by penetrating the hair shaft to infuse your hair with strengthening proteins, moisturisers, botanicals and peptides, which help support and replace the broken bonds that have caused breakage in your hair.
Heat damage
One of the easiest things to do if you’re struggling with lacklustre hair is to put down your heat styling tools, such as hairdryers, straighteners and curling irons, which can contribute to dryness and breakage. However, if you don’t want to break up with them just yet, there is a simple step you can add within your summer haircare routine: applying heat protection before you use them.
Solution: Heat Protectors
By spritzing a heat protectant onto your hair, you create a protective barrier that reduces each strand’s exposure to high temperatures, while also helping to seal in moisture (which heat tools normally evaporate away). Some of the formulas also contain ingredients that enhance styling by reducing drying time and even UV protection to shield hair from the sun’s damaging rays. Our favourites include GHD’s Bodyguard, Bumble & Bumble’s Invisible Oil (with UV protect) and Fenty Hair’s 5-in-1 Styler.
Lead image: Tresse
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?