Summer is officially here and we're ready for sun, sea and sand - but is your hair prepared? Everyone wants that beach babe look but make sure you’re in the know about the potential damage being in the sun can cause for your own hair and hair extensions. Read our top tips on how to keep your locks looking luxe this summer and get your hair vacay ready.
Chlorine
High chlorine levels in swimming pools have potential to cause discolouration and damage to your hair extensions. No one wants that telltale greenish tint to their hair, so avoid fully submerging your extensions whilst swimming, particularly with blonde shades. Chlorine content also strips the hair’s natural lubricant, sebum, leaving your hair dry and brittle.
Salt water
As salt is a natural dehydrator, sea water and hair extensions don’t mix well! The high salt content causes hair to become extremely dry, discoloured and difficult to manage. Even on your own hair the sea water is very harsh as it strips away the natural sebum, but as hair extensions do not produce or receive sebum from the scalp, they can become particularly dry.
UV rays
We all know the dangers of UV rays to our skin but have you thought about the impact on your hair? UV strips the colour and moisture from your hair extensions, causing them to become dry, frizzy and more susceptible to breakage. Wearing a hat to reduce exposure is advisable as well using protection on the hair such as a UV spray.
Hard water
Hard water is water that has a higher level of alkaline/mineral content. This depends on where you are in the world, with certain locations worse than others. If you go abroad and experience a higher level of alkaline than what your hair is used to, it can cause colour to fade or turn orange/pink in tone. The build-up of iron content in water over time will mean you need to have your hair coloured or hair extensions toned or neutralised with specific shampoos to counter-act the discolouration.
So now you know the risks here’s how to combat summer hair damage…
Wash & Protect
Investing in a good quality shampoo and conditioner is vital for keeping your hair and hair extensions in top condition. Our Beauty Works Pearl Nourishing Argan Oil Shampoo and Pearl Nourishing Argan Oil Conditioner use specially formulated Argan Oil fortified ingredients to nourish and repair. Argan Oil is extremely rich in nutrients, including fatty acids and vitamin E, scientifically proven to make hair softer, silkier and shinier.
Nourish & Replenish
With high exposure to heat, humidity and sun on holiday, it’s important to keep your hair conditioned and hydrated. Giving your hair some TLC is vital during the summer months, to prevent it from becoming damaged. Our Argan Serum and Pearl Nourishing Mask are rich in Vitamin E, so they are great for keeping your hair nourished and boosting shine.
UV Shield
The chemical reaction between chlorine and sunlight causes discolouration to chemically coloured hair. You may have noticed that after you come back from holiday your hair colour has been altered by the sun – this is EXACTLY the same for your hair extensions, which are also chemically coloured. Try to keep your hair out of direct sunlight, where possible, by wearing a hat. A UV spray is ESSENTIAL for summer haircare.
Heat Barrier
The heat of summer is already damaging to your hair, but adding in heated styling tools can put even more strain on your locks. Using a Heat Protection Spray will help, not only with damage to the cuticle, but it will prevent the hair from changing colour. This is particularly noticeable with mid shafts to ends, where you will hold the styling tool for a longer period of time. Keep using your fave tools without worrying about damage with Beauty Works Heat Protection Spray.
Anti-Frizz
Beauty Works Dream Shine is a heat-activated preventative treatment for your hair. Our specialist formula acts as a humidity shield, sealing individual hair cuticles and split ends to fight frizz and fly-aways, coating the hair with a dream-like polish for super shiny, healthy looking locks. After shampooing and conditioning, apply Dream Shine to damp hair and blow-dry to activate.
Discolouration
Beauty Works Anti-Yellow Shampoo. Keeping your blonde hair blonde can be an endless struggle with sun, chlorine, hard water leading to harsh, brassy tones in the hair. When you return from holiday and find your hair has potentially gone a warmer tone, a toner can be used to counter-act yellow tones. Hair toner is a low peroxide deposit only colour, used to neutralise unwanted tones in the hair.
For example:
Green neutralises Red
Blue neutralises Orange
Violet neutralises Yellow
They work by cancelling out colours opposite to them on them on the colour wheel. Always seek professional advice from a trained hairstylist before toning or using anti-yellow products on your hair or hair extensions.
Detangle
Use a Boar Bristle Brush to detangle the hair, spread natural oils and minimise breakage. Never sleep with your hair wet… ever! Hair is more vulnerable to tangling when wet, whilst also being heavier when wet, making breakage more likely. You will do more potential damage to your own hair and the hair extensions if you don’t brush out and dry your hair off straight away.