Summer’s here. The days are longer. The weather’s warmer. The BBQs are lit. But when you have coloured hair, summer care can be tricky. The heat, humidity and changes in routine can all play havoc with your hair, particularly if it’s coloured.

So we’ve asked Dan, Technical Director and our resident L’Oreal colour specialist, to help you navigate the summer months. Here, he gives his recommendations for beautiful summer hair colour trends to think about depending on your skin tone and lifestyle; and he’s also put together his top 5 hair care tips to ensure your hair remains healthy and vibrant whatever the weather.

Why does coloured hair suffer more in the summer months?

“One of the biggest problems with hair colour in the summer is that the sun’s rays break down the colour molecules which means the colour begins to fade easily.” Says Dan. “If you’re spending a lot of time in the pool or outside, the sun, wind and water can react with the pigment and the sun’s rays and speed up the process. So, ideally you don’t want to be sitting around outside in the sun with wet hair; instead wear a hat to protect your hair colour.

• UV rays – unprotected hair can suffer from fading and dryness because of the sun’s harmful rays
• Pools and sea water – chlorine and salt water can both affect hair colour and hydration
• Heat and humidity – can increase frizz
• Frequent washing, can lead to colour fade without the proper preventative products

But the good news is that by choosing the right hair colour, technique and hair-care products, your hair can be healthy all year round.”

Which hair colour techniques are best for summer?

“Choosing a low maintenance hair colour for summer is the best approach. This way, it’s easy to look after and easy to maintain its vibrancy when the sun is doing its worst! It depends on what look you’re after, how you manage your hair and what your lifestyle demands are but some of my personal favourite techniques are:

Balayage – It may have been around for ages now but the balayage technique is still one of my favourites. It’s subtle because it’s hand-painted and so I can vary the intensity. It really plays to that whole ‘sun-kissed / grown-out’ look which is more low maintenance and gives great beach vibes. I also love the reverse balayage too for adding in darker tones with depth and dimension. Both approaches are low-maintenance and root re-growth is less visible too.

Babylights – The ultra-fine sister of regular highlights. A lot of my guests opt for this as it’s great for adding a splash of brightness in a very natural way. I love to use this technique for face-framing which can add brightness to layers or accentuate face shape or cheekbones.

Gloss or toner refresh – For a mid-summer or post-holiday boost, I’d recommend booking in for a refresh. It’s an inexpensive way of quickly adding shine, to hair and giving that much needed tonal correction between your regular hair colour visits.”

What are the summer hair colour trends to watch out for?

“I love the expensive hair colour trends that are coming through right now. I have guests with blonde hair, brunette hair and everything in between and this look works equally well with all.

Blondes: Champagne blonde is my go-to choice at the moment. It’s a rich blonde with a very slight hint of cool pink which almost gives a soft rose gold effect.

Brunettes: A great starting point for brunettes this summer is mocha bronde. It’s total luxury and can easily be adapted, so whilst it’s perfect in its own right as an all-over colour, it also works amazingly with balayage or blonde highlights.

Reds: Depending on the shade of your natural hair colour, a copper balayage can look fantastic. We tend to think of copper as a winter shade but when it’s used subtly, in a balayage technique it can add depth and warmth in a natural way and the copper tones catch the light and look beautiful in the summer sunshine.”

How to look after your hair colour in late summer / early autumn

“Plan ahead now and your summer hair colour can carry you effortlessly through until autumn. By looking after your hair colour and opting for a mid-season refresh, you’ll be able to confidently breeze through into the cooler months with a hair colour that is still beautiful and working for you.

Use our toner service

Using a toner, you’ll be able to extend the life of your colour. I’d recommend using a slightly deeper tone on your summer colour towards the end of the summer and this will help with any fade you may be starting to see and will start to transition you into richer, warmer winter colours.

Lowlights

Lowlights are great to add some depth to your base colour and adding a different dimension as your summer colour grows out.

Kerastase Premiere treatment

I always recommend a Kerastase Premiere treatment to guests, particularly after returning from time in the sun. Hair that has been exposed to sun, heat and UV rays will naturally be damaged to some degree and that’s when calcium, even from washing our hair, will build up and make hair feel brittle, dry and dull. The Premiere treatment will get rid of any calcium build-up and re-set your hair back to its original beautiful condition.”

Which hair care products are recommended for the summer?

“If you have coloured hair, I would highly recommend the Soleil range from Kerastase as it helps protect the hair from the harmful effects of the sun.

Kerastase Soleil Huile Sirene

Highly recommended. This lightweight oil is dispensed in a fine mist, so just spray it on your hair before you leave the house and definitely before you jump in the pool!

Kerastase Soleil Bain Apres-Soleil shampoo

An amazing after sun shampoo that not only removes chlorine and salt from the hair but also nourishes and adds back moisture after a day at the beach or poolside.

Kérastase Soleil Masque Apre-Soleil (Eau de Coco)

First of all, this smells sublime. Coconut and peach to be exact! Just make sure to leave it on for at least 5 minutes (preferably 10) to get the most out of it. It’ll add shine and hydration to sun-damaged hair and leave you with shiny, healthy hair after each wash.”

Dan’s top 5 tips for healthy summer hair

1. Choose a low-maintenance summer colour that will easily transition through to autumn.

2. Always use a protecting spray, ideally Kerastase Soleil huille. Not just when you’re going in the water but every day, a bit like you would with suncream.3. Pack a wide-tooth comb for when your hair is wet and fragile – it’ll avoid any unnecessary breakage.4. If you’re doing lots of swimming this summer, try and rinse your hair as soon as possible to prevent chlorine and salt building up.5. Book in for a mid-summer refresh. At your summer consultation chat to me or your stylist about what we can do for you at your refresh appointment and plan ahead. You’ll future self will be grateful!

Call 01543 254137
to book in for your complimentary summer hair colour consultation