Product watch: How to prevent a bad hair day

The summer sun does wonders for your mood but can play havoc with your precious tresses. Rachel Marie Walsh has some tips to help you prevent (considerably longer) bad-hair days.

Dull Lengths

Dry, dull hair is exposed by summer sunshine. Blake Lively has changed her hairstyle almost as often as her outfits for the ongoing Age of Adeline press tour, yet her locks remain lustrous as ever.

She revealed her surprisingly low-maintenance regime to US Weekly. Before shampooing, she applies coconut oil through the mid-lengths and ends.

After washing, she smoothes the conditioning, shine-boosting Kérastase Reflection Chroma Captive Hair Masque, €32, through still-wet hair and lets is sit for 20 minutes.

She rinses the masque out a little (but not fully), and then puts her hair in a ballerina-style bun to dry.

While this routine may benefit medium-to-thick hair without excess oil issues, those with fine, thinning or oily hair should certainly rinse any conditioning product out thoroughly.

Lank Locks

Hair that is not naturally oily can still fall flat by the afternoon in summertime. Perspiration or products that are too rich for your type are usually the culprits.

Try using a pre-shampoo conditioner to boost moisture levels without weighing hair down.

This can make hair look temporarily thicker, prevent breakage, and improve hair’s appearance over time. Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Pre- Shampoo Treatment, €[e-mail], is an award-winning favourite with beauty editors.

The formula delivers a rush of moisturise to the hair’s cuticle, creating bouncy, supple ends without coating strands.

Products that shroud the hair in proteins leave strands bulked up and sometimes stronger, depending on the formula.

Bumble and Bumble Bb. (Really) Thickening Serum, €32, is a leave-in strengthening treatment that fattens hair with algae extracts and saw palmetto. It suits all hair types but is especially good for the fine or thinning.

Irritation Frustration

Dry and sensitive scalps are especially vulnerable to seasonal changes. Even products you’ve used all year without incident can begin to cause problems in hot weather.

Take care by keeping the scalp covered in the sun (especially if you use exfoliating scalp treatments), and using gentle haircare.

Scan ingredients lists for potential irritants.

Detergent cleansers (eg, sodium lauryl sulphate) and non-fatty alcohols (usually listed as alcohol, alcohol denat. or SD alcohol) all pose a risk of irritation. Using highly-fragranced products can also encourage an inflammation and dryness.

Desert Essence Organics Fragrance Free Shampoo, €[e-mail], is a shampoo packed with skin-soothing antioxidants and polyphenols.

Oil Disasters

Heat and UV rays exacerbate oil production from the scalp as well as the skin. Perspiration makes greasy hair look even worse.

Daily shampoos are the best way to freshen up but choosing a truly gentle product that won’t strip moisture from the lengths is tricky.

Jason Natural Fragrance Free Daily Shampoo, €10.11 @jasonnaturalcare.co.uk, contains a host of soothing extracts that leave the scalp calm and clean without drying hair.

Dry shampoo and hair powder are convenient remedies but these are often high in alcohol, which makes strands brittle and quicker to break. Try not to use them daily.

The emollients, quaterniums, acrylates, and thickening agents that stick to hair during washing and conditioning can also stick to skin, potentially clogging pores.

Prevent blemishes around the hairline by gently cleansing your face and neck to remove residue after shampooing and conditioning. Carefully avoid the skin (and any hair that falls against it) while applying styling products.

Beach-Stressed Tresses

The sun breaks down natural hair proteins and prolonged UV exposure destroys its condition in a way no product can fully repair.

It also alters colour, so do pick up a chic hat or scarf. A fashionable cover-up really is hair’s best defence. Applying sun cream directly to the scalp is a smart precaution for skin but makes for greasy roots.

Products claiming to protect hair from the sun (usually SPF-enhanced shine sprays or mousses) are rarely substantial enough to do so completely, especially while you engage in holiday activities outdoors. Moreover, applying enough of them to completely cover hair would leave it slick and unsightly.

The health benefits of swimming outweigh how the water may adversely impact hair. You can still do some damage limitation. Use a clarifying shampoo to thoroughly remove chlorine or salt residue post-dip.

Alterna Bamboo Beach Summer Sun Recovery Spray, €28.77 @lookfantastic.com, is a great leave-in conditioner that leaves hair shiny and smelling glorious.

Beachy waves and messy braids are summer hair trends that can really give your locks a holiday. They don’t need appliances and the right texturising product can keep hair supple and defined all day.

Using real saltwater or shop-bought salt sprays to build texture is really awful for your hair’s condition. Salt is abrasive and dehydrating, encouraging breakage and frizz in all hair types.

Create an “undone” texture with Bumble and Bumble bb. Texture Hair (Un)dressing Creme, €30, instead. The formula is moisturising but uses silica to give your ‘do a voluminous, tousled look.

Splitting Tips

Lots of women enjoy growing their hair out in the summer. While there’s no fixing the split ends that ensue, certain styling products can help to conceal them.

Redken Extreme Length Sealer, €18.50, is a biotin-enhanced treatment that smoothes hair from root to tip. The formula strengthens strands over time, so even intact hair will benefit from the formula.