OK! HEALTH BEAT STRESSES TO YOUR TRESSES!
THE SUN CAN LEAVE HAIR DULL AND DRY – PREVENT DAMAGE WITH OUR TOP FIVE SUMMER SURVIVAL TIPS
When Phoebe Waller-bridge’s feisty Fleabag chastised her sister’s hairdresser, yelling: ‘Hair is everything!’ she was so right. ‘We wish it wasn’t so we could actually think about something else occasionally. But it is. It’s the difference between a good day and a bad day,’ she ranted.
Shiny, healthy locks fresh from the salon look and feel amazing but so many of us struggle to keep them that way, especially in the drying heat.
X-men star Jennifer Lawrence once hacked most of hers off after it became ‘fried’ from dye treatments and over-styling. Meanwhile, her Hollywood pal Emma Stone reveals: ‘I’m not great about my hair. And I have, like, feathers where hair should be! My hair is a battle. It’s an uphill, fine, babyhaired battle.’
With warm weather, sandy beaches and heavily chlorinated pools on the horizon we consulted top hair expert Jenny Persson, the creative director of Taylor Taylor London, to find out her top five tips for healthy hair this summer…
1. DON’T OVER-STYLE YOUR HAIR IN THE HEAT!
Be careful when using heated styling tools on your hair. The high temperature will ultimately be one of the main contributing factors to hair damage. Reduce the heat and try to use styling tools just once a week to reduce further damage. Jenny explains: ‘Each hair type needs an adjustment in temperature, from drying your hair, to using straighteners or tongs. Over time, excessive heat styling will result in dry, brittle hair, and if you colour your hair then the issue will be exacerbated.’
2. REGULARLY TREAT YOUR HAIR TO A MASK
Emilia Clarke’s hair was damaged after it was initially bleached blonde for her role as Daenerys in Game Of Thrones. She later took to wearing a wig in the show, but now regularly treats her locks by leaving a hair mask on overnight. Jenny approves of regular masks, as often your hair will need some extra help. She tells us: ‘Our hair is 91 per cent protein,
and so in order to repair it from the inside out, a regular hair mask is the solution. The nutritional content of our daily diet is rarely enough, and our hair and nails are usually last on the list to receive the benefits of vitamins, so a mask can provide a handy top-up.’
3. BE CAUTIOUS OF CHLORINE
We aren’t suggesting that you ditch swimming this summer, but do be aware of the harmful effects of chlorine on hair. Jenny says: ‘It can affect the hair’s cuticle layers in the same way as throwing large stones at roof tiles! The high ph level of chlorine swells the cuticles on the outside layers of the hair making it look and feel brittle and encouraging colour fade.’ She adds: ‘As a general rule, the effects of any chemical process stay in the hair and make it very porous. This means it may lose colour in these areas more quickly.’
Swimming in the sea is preferable, but freshwater pools are becoming increasingly popular in luxury hotels. If you’re restricted to a chlorinated pool, then wash your hair thoroughly afterwards to get rid of any residue.
4. NOURISH HAIR FROM THE INSIDE OUT
A nourishing essential oil treatment can help, especially in the drying summer months, as can regular scalp massages. If you’re concerned about the condition of your hair, then Jenny advises using hair supplements to help improve its quality. They work by being absorbed into your digestive system and providing the essential amino acids to the hair. One caveat, though – this requires long-term commitment. Jenny explains: ‘You would need to take regular supplements every day for at least three months to really notice and feel a difference.’