Sexy Holiday Hair - Your questions answered!
This article was written by Lisa Shepherd on March 28, 2008 - Lisa is the leading lady of hair colour and often referred to as the 'hair colour doctor'. She is the hair colour expert on Channel 4's Ten years younger (series 5).
View Lisa's profile
Sun, sea and sand, does wonders for boosting your mood, but it also does wonders at destroying your hair.
We’re all wising up to the fact that we need to slap on high factor sun cream to protect our skin, but how many of us remember to look after our locks?
You may love the suns power to lighten your hair, but those UV rays actually break down protein in your hair leaving it looking dry and frizzy.
Even that much needed dip in the pool causes damage due to all that chlorine that discolours and weakens your hair. Resulting in it looking lank and feeling like straw. 
So how come all the A-lister’s manage to stay red carpet gorgeous when relaxing by the sea?
I’m here to offer you a helping hand by answering your most frequently asked questions about holiday hair.
Do I need to prepare my hair before a holiday? If so, what’s my action plan?For example – get a cut, give it a treatment, pack the right products … Let’s face it – you want your hair to look its very best on holiday, so I always recommend you have any colour topped up about a week before, get your cut trimmed and if you have time have a Nanomax Hydrate treatment (£50 per treatment, 0871 520 4444 for stockists) which will place moisture attracting proteins into your hair which help to lock in any moisture – one of the key things you lose on a sunny holiday. Do I really need to protect my hair in the sun – what will happen if I don’t?Well, it is up to you of course, but if you want to keep your colour the same and don’t want to end up with really dry hair, then it is better to use some protective products or wear a trendy headscarf or hat! Try Clynol Sun Shield Oil. It does depend on the condition and colour of your hair – you may want it to lighten up a bit, or if it is really fine in texture then the salt and sun will help give more texture to the hair and in turn give you more body, but you do run the risk of damaging your hair so that it loses strength.
Can I use my regular shampoo and conditioner or do I need specific products like swapping normal shampoo to moisturising? Your hair can always take a higher moisture content shampoo and conditioner. Ones designed for ‘after sun’ are great as they totally remove all traces of chlorine or protective product Try Clynol Pure After-sun Hair & Body Shampoo (250ml) Then use a more intensive conditioner than usual (Try Intense After-Sun Mask (50ml, £8.25) – if you have time leave it on for a bit and sit out on the balcony to let the heat encourage it to nourish your hair! Best holiday protection tips? For example, wet your hair with tap water before diving in the pool because wet hair soaks up less chlorine than dry hair. Or, handle with care when wet etc.Wet hair before the pool is great advice, but ALSO rinse your hair with clean water immediately after the pool – or if possible the sea so that traces of chlorine or salt don’t stay in your hair Is aftercare important? Keep hair moisturised so use a masque – like Kérastase Masquintense(500ml, £16.00)
Problem hair – how does hot weather affect curly, coloured, coarse and fine hair and what’s the solution at home or in-salon? + Very humid conditions will generally make your hair curlier and can make already curly hair very frizzy.
+ Fine hair can look lank in humid weather and by flyaway in dry hot conditions.
+ Wavy hair can straighten itself in hot and dry conditions.
+ Very fine hair actually gets a better texture when exposed to the summer elements – so don’t worry so much about salt or sun exposure – just make sure you have REALLY good after sun hair products, see next question!
Best summer hair care products?There is now no excuse to be seen with dry, damaged locks when tanning on the beach, there are so many great products out there designed to help your hair in summer, it’s time we put them all to use!My ultimate favourite buy this summer has to be Clynol’s ID sun care collection. For only £19.00 you get everything you need to ensure super shiny summer hair, plus a bang on trend urban beach bag to carry it all in! (See picture below)
For Clynol stockist information please call 01296 314100
My step-daughter bought the above set with bag for me as a present, I used the intense after sun mask following a holiday in the sun, it worked brilliantly - I am 49 yrs old and the sun really dried my hair out. On using it on my return it transformed the condition of my hair making it softer, streamlined and back to its normal manageable style. I have also used the other products on a week to week basis and find the after sun balm (conditioner) a lot lighter than the normal product I use. I am finding this makes my hair so much more manageable on a day to day basis that I am looking to buy it on line as I am going to stick with this product for longer now.
I’m heading off to Spain soon and Mexico later in the year. I dont want to spend an hour every evening drying/ curling/straightening. I would love to purchase a product that I could put on my hair after a shower either when its wet or after its dried off, that will give me a soft beachy type look without having to do to much styling. I have medium length straight hair with a bit of a kink. Is there such a product to save me time and effort?