Holiday Hair Guide
Although jetting off to sunnier climates may be good for the soul, it’s not for the tresses as a combination of sun, chlorine and salt could leave you coming home with a brittle barnet.
We get the low-down from Viviscal and celebrity stylist Neil Moodie on how to maintain luscious locks on your vacation…
Pre-holiday Trim
“Sun and water can be harmful, leading to faded colour, split ends and a brittle, dry texture. Hopping in and out of a chlorine pool can also strip colour and treatments right out of the hair and cause it to look dull and dehydrated. The sun will do extra damage to hair that’s already dry, so if you remove those dead ends, you’ll be in better shape.”
Pre-jet Prep
“I would recommend regular conditioning the hair before and after you’re out in the sun. Leaving it on so it penetrates the hair is also vital. Just applying and rinsing it straight off is of no benefit. The hair has no time to draw the ingredients it needs. Also a once a week treatment is essential especially on dry damaged hair. Leave on for at 20 minutes, again allowing the ingredients to penetrate into the hair shaft properly.”
Pre-dip Tip
“I would recommend spraying some water on your hair before you go into the pool or ocean. It adds an extra layer of coating, so when you go swimming, your hair isn’t as likely to absorb 100 percent of the chlorinated water.”
Post-pool Rule
“Since hair is most fragile when it’s wet, don’t rip a brush through it after swimming. Spray some detangler on it, and then use a wide-tooth comb to minimize breakage.”
Don’t fuss, Just Brush
“The most common mistake women don’t do is brush their hair enough. Hair has a life span of approximately 7 years and on average we lose around 120 hairs a day to make way for new ones to grow. If you don’t brush your hair then these hairs won’t loosen out. Brushing with a good brush also helps to stimulate the scalp which encourages healthy hair growth.”
Inside Out
“Lastly I recommend Viviscal Supplements (£49.95, Boots). I find often people have trouble with their hair breaking off after the summer, which is causing their hair to fall out. I always recommend taking the supplements as a way to repair the hair and to ensure it grows back in a healthy way. Nourishing the hair from the inside out is the most effective way of getting hair back on track. For best results Viviscal must be taken 90 days or more but I promise you that the improvement in the condition of your hair will make the wait worthwhile.”
For more expert tips on healthy hair, see Get Healthy, Shiny Hair
Audrey Patterson
Having started my career at My Weekly on Real Life stories, for the past 8 years I have been Beauty and Fashion Editor. I also write Travel and Homes features, plus the odd book review. We’re a flexible team! I also write features for Your Best Ever Christmas covering a variety of topics.
