Get younger-looking hair

Locks can be lacklustre as winter approaches but you can transform stressed tresses with the Prima expert guide to post-holiday hair

At this time of year, it's no surprise if your hair is looking a little tired. As celebrity crimper Phil Smith says, ‘Summer can cause so much damage to your hair, especially if you go away on a beach holiday. UV rays, humidity, chlorine, sand and seawater will all strip moisture from your hair, leaving it dry and damaged.'

 

According to Boots haircare expert Tara Prince, the first step in reviving dehydrated locks is to have a trim to remove any dry or split ends. ‘Then moisturise your hair by washing with a rich hydrating shampoo and conditioner,' she advises. The new L'Oréal Paris Elvive Re-Nutrition Caring Shampoo and Caring Cream Conditioner, £3.29 each for 250ml (available nationwide), fit the bill perfectly.

 

Tara also recommends using an intensive conditioner at least twice a week. ‘For best results, wrap hair in a towel or plastic shower cap, and leave on for three to ten minutes,' she says. Botanics 3 Minute Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, £4.99 for 450ml (from Boots), is ideal.

 

‘Drink lots of water, too,' advises Phil. ‘Not only is this good for your body, it will also help rehydrate your hair.'

 

Don't neglect your scalp

 

As well as robbing the hair of moisture, sun, sea and chlorine can have a drying effect on the scalp, potentially causing flaky skin. ‘If your scalp does feel dry, try massaging conditioner into it and leave for five to ten minutes, before rinsing as normal,' Tara advises.

 

However, if your scalp feels irritated and sensitive as well as dry, this approach might not be enough - it could be time to start using products designed to care for your skin as well as your hair. Belinda Knisley, director of education, training and development for haircare brand Nioxin, says, ‘Most products are formulated to clean and condition the hair fibre, giving it texture, body, bounce and shine. But they aren't formulated to provide care for the scalp, and some ingredients, such as sticky animal proteins or damaging alcohols, may contribute to a scalp condition.'

 

This is bad news for hair. ‘Left untreated, scalp problems can affect the condition and appearance of the hair fibre,' Belinda says. ‘So if you're suffering with a scalp problem, the conventional two steps of shampooing and conditioning may not be right for you.'

 

Top scalp treatments to try

 

If you want to soothe your scalp as well as care for your hair, try the Nioxin Starter Kit, a three-step programme of cleanser, scalp therapy conditioner and leave-in scalp treatment.

From £37.50

www.nioxin.com; 0845 458 9350

 

Sensitive skin?

 
For a budget hair cleanser that's also kind to the skin, try Boots Expert Dry Scalp Treatment Shampoo.

£2.99 for 200ml
www.boots.com

 

Skin-friendly hair buy

The new Schwarzkopf Professional BC Sensitive Soothe range contains healing aloe vera essence plus Sensitivitin, which has been formulated to strengthen the skin's barrier function. As well as a Calming Liquid Shampoo, £8.95 for 250ml, and Conditioner, £9.95 for 200ml, the hero product in the range is a leave-in BC Sensitive Soothe Calming Scalp Serum (£12.80 for eight applications).

www.schwarzkopf.co.uk, 01296 314000

 

Caring for blonde hair

 
Whether you're naturally fair or have lightened your hair, if you have blonde locks, they're likely to suffer more during the summer months. ‘Blondes have less pigmentation- and therefore less melanin- in the hair,' Tara explains. ‘This makes blonde hair more susceptible to the damaging effects of the sun, as it's melanin that helps to "mop" up the free radicals that can harm both the skin and hair.'

 

To help fight free-radical damage, use products containing antioxidants, such as the new Alberto Balsam Anti-Oxidant Pomegranate Shampoo and Conditioner. With purifying grapefruit in the shampoo to cleanse gently, and pro-vitamin B5 in the conditioner to strengthen hair, this duo will fortify hair and add shine.
Shampoo & conditioner, 99p each for 400ml

 

In the salon

 

‘When you book a post-holiday trim, book a salon hair treatment at the same time,' says George Northwood at Daniel Hersheson in London. ‘It will put the moisture and shine back into your locks.' Try Biolustre Hair Repair treatment, from £40 (020 7584 8322), which promises to strengthen strands thanks to polymers and proteins that bind with them, attaching to damaged areas to reconstruct hair from the inside out.

 

If you don't want to visit the salon- or if you want to continue the benefits of your treatment at home- try the Biolustre EMS Rescue Daily Treatment Shampoo, £12.99 for 355ml, and Daily Conditioning Sealant, £11.99 for 355ml (020 7584 8322). With daily use, they'll leave your hair stronger and healthier - whether or not you have the salon treatment first.

 
Top tip

 
‘Mayonnaise is a great conditioner. Apply a dollop after shampooing, and let it work for at least ten minutes before rinsing.'

Steven Goldsworthy, creative director of Goldsworthy's Hairdressing

 

Fight the frizz

 
As well as losing its natural shine, hair that lacks moisture is more prone to frizz. Counter the effects with a smoothing serum.

 
Phil Smith Be Gorgeous Tame The Frizz Serum, £3.99 for 50ml (from selected Sainsbury's) is designed to work with all hair lengths and textures, while Daniel Galvin Junior Salon Anti-Frizz Gloss Serum, £4.99 for 50ml (from Sainsbury's and Waitrose), is a true all-rounder. It smoothes, nourishes and adds shine.

 

What you should do now

 

‘UV rays from the sun can damage your hair's natural protective film, which can make it look dry and lifeless,' says Boots suncare expert Mike Brown. ‘Chlorinated and salt water exacerbate the problem, so it's important to cover up your hair to prevent damage- prevention is better than cure!'

But if the damage has already been done, don't fret. Try these nourishing at-home treatments to help restore your locks to their natural glory

 

Repair your hair

 

This exclusive blend of silicone emulsions restores softness and repairs dry tresses. Leave on for a few minutes or use as an overnight mask.

Senscience Replenish Crème Reparative Treatment

£10.95 for 150ml

Senscience Haircare; 01282 683100

 

 
Strengthen damaged hair

 
Contains protein to help restore hair weakened by the sun and/or chlorine. Apply to damp hair and leave for at least two minutes before rinsing out.

Aveda Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque

£15 for 125ml

www.aveda.co.uk; 0870 034 2380

 

After-sun haircare

 

A shampoo designed to repair hair after sun exposure, this daily-use shampoo is especially good for revitalising coloured locks, leaving them soft , strong, supple and radiant. It gives UV protection, detangles and helps to eliminate the build-up of sand, salt and products.

Kérastase Bain Après-Soleil

£13 for 250ml

www.kerastase.co.uk; 0800 316 4400

 

Professional hair tip

 

This salon-exclusive repairing mask warms up on contact with water. The warming sensation opens the hair's cuticle, allowing active ingredients such as vitamin E and almond oil to penetrate faster and deeper, restructuring damaged hair from within.

Wella Lifetex Nutri-Care Self-Warming Mask

£7.95 for 150ml

www2.wella.co.uk; 0800 328 3400

 

And finally - did you know?

 

...that the classic conditioning treatment VO5 Moisture Soak Hot Oil helps to draw chlorine out of hair? As well as restoring moisture and strengthening damaged locks, if you use it after swimming it will remove 75 per cent more chlorine than shampooing alone.

£1.19 each or £3.89 for four

 

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