The 10 commandments for great hair this summer

YOU already know the drill, you’ve only just polished off the last of the Easter eggs and suddenly you are on the six week countdown to the summer holidays — so much to do so little time! The beach body project is already under way — well, you’re half way through Day One but so far so good.

The numerous pre-holiday beauty appointments are all booked in with military precision, the dog is booked into kennels and the strict eight hours’ sleep every night is set. So what’s left to do?

Lucky we are here to remind you — the summer hair detox, the cleansing, purifying, lightening baptism, the rebirth of your crowning glory. We are here to strip it from the sins of the long winter months, we will cleanse all that is impure and bring it back from the brink so that when you walk into the light (of a fortnight in Ibiza) the world will be dazzled by your hair reborn. So follow our 10 commandments to the best summer hair ever.

1 Thou shalt not worship other hair gods

YOUR regular hairdresser will already have your summer hair in hand. If you are a blonde it’s likely they will have already discussed your hair’s summer regime. Particularly for lightening processes and hair maintenance, summer — like weddings and special occasions — is not the time to start searching for false gods. This means staying faithful to your trustworthy colourist or stylist so that your hair looks great and you are armed with the essential products and styling tips to ensure it’s the least of your worries when you are on holiday.

2 Thou shalt not cheat on your hair

SUMMER is a time when your hair really needs extra care and maintenance. The climate, humidity and general lifestyles around this time of year means hair can quite often be treated less carefully. Though you may blow dry your hair less and even washing may be more infrequent, it’s important that you don’t skimp on the quality of the products you use and that you are getting the right protection and care. Alfaparf Milano has introduced a wonderful range of after sun products — the Sunshine range of after sun shampoo, treatment, hair protection milk and UV protection oil is a collection of unique post-sun hair essentials that nourish, cleanse, protect and control hair during the summer.

3 Thou shalt not steal hair stuff

WHATEVER the favourite products of your family and friends do for their hair, don’t think that they will do the same for you. Your hair is as unique as your fingerprints and even sharing a friend’s shampoo or styling product can result in your hair reacting angrily. The best hair maintenance will come down to continuity and good habits — this is specifically important for curly or wavy hair that can react to the extreme heat. High saturation oils and creams may act as a smoothing agent but unless you have trained your hair to benefit from them, they can have detrimental results.

In other words, if your hair has reacted to the heat — either becoming frizzy or dehydrated — then oils and creams after the fact will have little impact. Good preparation, advice and practice will ensure that your hair stays on good behaviour while you behave however you want.

4 Thou shalt honour your father and mother

YOUR hair is hereditary. It’s likely you can look at your family’s hair and see not only where you get your hair from but how its future might look. Pay attention to your mum’s hair particularly for an idea of how hair ages. Compare lifestyles, diet, regimes and general health for ways to ensure that your hair is given every opportunity to age strong and healthy. Our parents did some pretty horrendous things to their hair, mostly through a lack of knowledge but we can learn a lot from them, especially when it comes to the old school hair treatments and techniques.

5 Thou shalt not kill (your hair)

THE summer is a time when we want everything a little ‘more’ — a deeper tan, whiter teeth, blonder hair. But coming back from the ‘super summer blonde’ can be expensive and painful. Ease into summer carefully — subtle changes can look a lot more dramatic at this time of year so take it easy with the bleach ups, highlights and lightening processes. There is a fine line between the cool California blondes and 80s dandelion dos so don’t go full in at the first drop of sunshine — it’s going to be a long hot summer!

6 Thou must keep the shampoo day holy

OF COURSE with all the sun, sea, sand and sangria you might forget that other super S — shampoo. Your summer wash day is sacred, put aside an evening or morning — even an afternoon — to really worship your hair, especially post holiday. All hair types can really benefit from a serious spa time, take your time to cleanse your hair with an appropriate shampoo exclusive to your hair type. Ask your stylist to recommend a shampoo and a treatment. They may also recommend a leave-in treatment or moisturiser to rebalance and nourish your hair and give it some well deserved love — it’s what Sundays are for!

7 Thou shalt not covet Beyoncé’s hair

LET’S be perfectly clear here, no one has hair like Beyoncé, probably even Beyoncé herself, and that goes for any reality star, Alister, YouTuber and Hollywood actress. Unless you win the lottery or invent a viral TikTok phenomenon, you will not be travelling with an entourage of hair and makeup artists, stylists and personal chefs, so just stop it. We are going to make your hair look great and you are going to learn to love it and do it brilliantly at home, in your bedroom, by yourself.

8 Thou shalt not make idols of Dyson Airwraps

THERE is a joke in hair salons: ‘How do you know when a client has a Dyson?’ Answer: ‘They will tell you as soon as they sit in your chair.’ Like Brazilian blow dries, GHD irons and Olaplex, the Dyson disciples cannot see beyond the aesthetic beauty and modernity of Mr Dyson’s range of hair revolutionary tools. Except they are not all that — yeah they look nice, sure they are quiet and reassuringly expensive but walk into any salon and ask the stylists what driers and tools they use and you will hear a roar of standard brands tried trusted and cherished. Denman? Yep. Parlux? Most definitely. Babyliss? Undoubtedly, tucked into every kit and doing hair better than ever.

9 Thou shalt commit hair adultery

IT’S NATURAL, we all need different things, we have different needs at different times. You love your hair colourist but the cute guy at the salon round the corner gives you the best, longest lasting, sexiest life changing blow dry imaginable. And then there is that super bossy chick downtown who cuts your hair so precisely and efficiently that you hardly speak or move when she’s working that makes you nervous with excitement and giddy at the same time, so much so that when she’s finished you spontaneously try to hug her but she offers a handshake which makes you crush on her even more.

Yeah go on, admit it you are a hair adulterer and you having the most amazing time with just your hair and all those wonderful hair people.

Got a hair problem? are Paul and Leisa your here to answer your queries. Send features@ questions to write to Stafford dailymail.ie or Daily Features, Irish Hair Clinic, Haddington Buildings, Mail, 2 Dublin 4. Haddington Road, and Leisa cannot Paul individual enter into correspondence.

10 Thou must never take your hairdresser for granted

DON’T cancel last minute, don’t constantly move while you’re having your hair cut, don’t eyeball the assistant like a psycho when you are having your hair shampooed, don’t call by for a fringe trim on a Saturday and then ask to have some of ‘the weight on top removed,’ don’t change your mind about going blonde half ways through a full head bleach up!

Happy holidays! Paul & Leisa x