Your post-summer hair repair kit

While we might love summer for its easy breezy beautifying, our hair does not. Enemy number one of healthy follicles? The sun. ‘UV rays damage the hair’s protein structure, making strands weaker and more porous. Post-summer hair is therefore often dry, brittle and broken – especially at the ends,’ says Anabel Kingsley, trichologist at Philip Kingsley. Luckily there is a plethora of strand-strengthening, hair hydrating, and repairing hair care formulas on the market which, allied with some top tips for post-summer hair rehab from Anabel, will have you and your hair swishing into autumn unscathed.

‘First thing on the agenda is to get a trim to remove any split ends,’ advises Anabel. ‘If left alone, these are likely to split further up the hair shaft and worsen existing damage.’ Once you’ve had your post-summer chop, it’s recommended you top up with regular six weekly trims for optimum hair health.

‘To restore moisture and return stretch and strength, use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment once or twice a week,’ says Anabel, who also advocates weekly masks. But it’s not just the hair itself that needs a little extra TLC, our scalps can also succumb to the perils of too much sun. ‘Sunburnt scalps can peel badly, leading to itching and irritation. To help speed recovery, use a soothing flaky/itchy scalp shampoo daily until the flakes subside. Alongside this, apply an exfoliating scalp mask once a week to effectively lift away dead skin cells.’

Extra caution needs to be exerted when styling hair that has already been sensitised by the sun according to Anabel. ‘UV rays act on the hair in a similar way to bleach, reducing elasticity. Salt and chlorinated water are similarly damaging. Due to potential damage from these combined summer elements, it’s important to be especially careful when styling.’ That means always using a heat protection spray when styling with heated appliances and being picky about your plates (ceramic plates are generally kinder on hair). And to ensure minimal damage, make sure you always adjust the dial on your flat irons to your hair type in order to allow the least strokes at the lowest temperature.

‘Post-summer hair often has a raised cuticle. This makes the hairs interlock and tangle very easily,’ says Anabel who warns against rushing the detangling process. ‘Try not to get frustrated and rip through knots as this will cause breakage. Instead, take your time, and use a detangling spray throughout your mid-lengths and ends.’ Anabel advises choosing a brush that is kind to both hair and scalp, preferably with flexible, rounded plastic prongs as these cause the least distress to the hair cuticle. ‘When detangling, always start at the ends and gradually work up to your roots. Starting from the top can cause substantial breakage.’