Hair needs special attention in the summer

Aug 6, 2009, 13:17 GMT

Berlin - Sunshine, chlorine and wind are anything but easy on the hair. The vacation months are often the harshest time of the year for hair. It can dry out, lose shine and even become brittle and break off. But the right care and a few precautions can be good for the hair and act against it becoming dry and dishevelled.

All women should use special hair products in the summer, but those with coloured hair have to do even more, said Udo Walz, a prominent Berlin hairdresser. Sunshine and saltwater draw colour out of the hair, leaving it porous and dull.

Sacha Schuette, a Munich hairdresser and makeup artist, recommends special treatments for the hair that are left in for a certain amount of time, similar to facial masks.

'They can be used on the beach. They can be massaged in, for example, and the hair can then be twisted into a bun,' Schuette said. This also creates a chic beach look.

Jens Dagne, spokesman for a German hairdresser association, recommends using mild shampoos in the summer and special products for dry hair. Such products provide moisture, said master hairstylist Dagne. There are shampoos that are designed to rinse the remains of chlorine and sunblock from the hair, he said.

'Blondes in particular often have the problem of a green tint in their hair after swimming in chlorinated water,' Dagne said. Rinsing with water that has had an aspirin tablet dissolved in it helps counter this problem, he said.

Blonde hair is otherwise more sensitive and requires extra care, said Schuette. Women who have coloured their hair blonde can freshen it up with shampoo for dyed hair and protect it from bleaching out. This is also true for hair that has been dyed a different colour.

'Hair should not be dyed immediately before a vacation when there are long periods in the sun,' Dagne warned. This can damage the hair. A conditioner that restores nutrients can provide additional care. Schuette said shampoo and conditioner should be compatible with one another.

Another general rule to follow is that hair should not be put under unnecessary stress. In order to avoid removing additional moisture through blow-drying the hair, Dagne's advice is to let the hair air dry. This is not only practical, it is also trendy. Simple styling - braids or putting it up in a high bun - is the way to go in the summer. The hair also can be worn down so that it is not additionally strained by the constant use of an elastic hair band.

Hair dryer, curling iron and straightening iron can be pushed into the back of the cabinet during the summer. And they don't necessarily have to go along on vacation.

'Better to do a hair mask once a week to repair any damaged structure,' Schuette recommended. Ingredients such as shea oil and amino acids work especially well, according to the expert. When those can't be found, three tablespoons of vinegar mixed with a half litre of warm water make a rinse that gives the hair new shine. But experts also warn against overdoing it.

'Two treatments a week is enough,' said Walz. Otherwise, hair loses elasticity and hangs limply. It's also important not to wait until the week before a beach vacation to begin preparing the hair for sunshine and pool water. 'This is something you have to start four weeks ahead of time,' he said.

Women with long hair should occasionally use a serum to avoid split ends. And the ends should be trimmed regularly. Dagne said a hair cut before vacation is a good idea to make the ends more stable. He recommends a rinse of alternating lukewarm and cold water to prevent the hair becoming like straw. And for curly hair there are special sprays with ingredients like jojoba oil for hold.

Throwing a hat into the suitcase is another tip for protecting the hair while on vacation. Straw hats and colourful scarves are trendy items this summer. They are the most effective defence against the sun, which is hair's worst enemy. People with fine or already damaged hair should go on the beach only with their head well covered.