Is your hair holidayed out?

From chlorinedamaged ends to scorched scalps, Philippa Pearne reports on how to bring post-holiday hair back to life…

so you’re back from your holiday feeling rested and ready for whatever the new season throws at you. But how’s your hair? A summer of sun, chlorine, sea salt and holiday indulgence may have taken its toll, switching your lengths from sun-kissed and carefree to sunfrazzled and freaking out now you’re home. ‘Sun, sea and chlorinated water are individually damaging but, when they’re combined together, they can make hair dry, riddled with split ends and prone to breakage,’ explains Philip Kingsley trichologist, Anabel Kingsley.

You may also be experiencing colour fade and a flaky scalp thanks to the same summer hazards. The good news is that damage grows out. But what happens in the meantime? Try a new season, post-holiday hair detox.

JUST ADD MOISTURE

The main culprit for summer hair damage is the sun. ‘It acts on hair much like bleach by oxidising hair pigment cells (melanin), but it can also degrade the protein structure of the hair and weaken its disulphide bonds, which are the strong ones that hold strands together. This can make it brittle, dry and overly porous,’ explains Kingsley.

But it’s not just UV that causes dehydration – chlorine in pools can strip your hair of its natural oils. ‘It’s like rinsing your hair in an abrasive chemical, which roughens the cuticle scales, making the hair less smooth,’ explains Andrew Barton, creative director for Headmasters salons.

According to Kingsley, the first step to replenishing lost moisture is to add a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment to your regime. Commit to applying it weekly before you shampoo to provide a shot of hydration. As well as this, a weekly leave-in hydrating mask applied after you wash it will then restore that moisture and close the hair cuticle to produce more shine.

GENTLY DOES IT

Sea salt beach waves are like that impulse buy from the hotel gift shop – it looks great in a holiday setting but, back home, it’s all wrong. ‘Salt water is osmotic, which means it draws water molecules out of your hair shaft and when it dries, it breaks easily and can be difficult to style,’ Kingsley explains. And these effects don’t just stay at the beach. ‘Post-summer hair often has a raised cuticle, which makes hairs interlock and tangle easily. Don’t rush the detangling process – if you rip through knots you will cause breakage.’

It doesn’t help that hair is more vulnerable to breakage when it’s wet. Kingsley’s advice is to invest in a daily detangling spray and apply it to wet hair, from your mid-lengths through to the ends before combing it through. ‘Avoid combing straight from the roots as this will snap your hair – start from the bottom and work your way up.’

SAVE YOUR SCALP

It’s not just hair that gets the holiday blues – your scalp may be suffering too. ‘UV rays can burn the scalp just like they can burn the skin on any part of your body,’ Kingsley explains. ‘Hair grows its best from a healthy scalp, so look for “warning signs” similar to those you would see on your face: redness, itching, flaking or excessive oiliness, which can all occur after being in the sun.’

Kingsley recommends using a soothing scalp mask or treatment to remove flakes and ease irritation. Consider which brush you’re using too, as some can damage or irritate your scalp. ‘Use one with flexible, rounded plastic prongs as they cause the least distress to the hair cuticle,’ she says.

STAY TRIM

According to the experts, a savvy diet can help repair summer-stressed hair. Oily fish, avocado and proteins such as chicken, eggs and dairy are all beneficial. That, and a good haircut. ‘A post-holiday trim will remove split ends and give you a healthier base to work with,’ says Kingsley. ‘If split ends are left alone, they can continue to split further.’

Looking for inspo? Headmasters salons have teamed up with Harley Street nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert to launch the Healthy Hair Micro Trim (from £49), which involves clever trimming techniques with a takeaway nutritional guide from Lambert.