Summer hair care tips for men

Celebrity hairstylist Jamie Stevens on how to protect and nourish your hair and scalp

Most of us know that sun damage wreaks havoc upon the skin, but did you know that it can also spell disaster for your hair and scalp? Regular doses of blazing sun can cause all sorts of issues for hair: frizziness, split ends, dryness and burnt strands are all par for the course in summer. So looking after your hair and scalp is just as important as protecting your skin, which is why we recently spoke to Jamie Stevens, celebrity hairstylist and three-time winner of the British Men’s Hairdresser of the Year Award, to learn how to nourish the hair and scalp throughout summer.

“You probably wouldn’t dream of going out with unprotected skin in the sun and you should see your head and hair as an extension of this,” says Jamie. “Hair burns, and mattifying products along with the natural effect of environmental factors, the sun, sea and pool all really dry out hair.”

Using a nourishing hair mask once a week is enough to keep your hair in good condition. Gloss Moderne’s clean Luxury Masque (£63, net-a-porter.com) is a treat for sun-damaged hair, or if your thatch is more coarse and curly, keep it better conditioned with Kiehl’s Damage Repairing and Rehydrating Leave-In Treatment (£20, kiehls.co.uk). To protect your scalp, use a few spritzes of Banana Boat’s non-greasy Scalp Spray (£5.96, amazon.co.uk).

“You can get some great UV hair and scalp products,” continues Jamie, “but if you’re caught without anything, put on some suntan lotion.” Nourishing your hair and scalp will also stand it in good stead if you choose to add in some lighter areas of colour for summer.