Summer is swell and all, but sunshine, salt, chlorine and layers of party-season styling sprays can really take their toll on your tresses. If you’ve noticed your hair is having a tough time since summer ended, don’t stress, you can repair that damage so your locks bounce back to their soft and healthy ways in no time. We’ve spoken with Jose Bryce Smith, the founder of haircare brand Original & Mineral (or O&M to those in the know) to find out what you can do to treat your tresses post-summer.
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The damage
So you’ve frolicked in the ocean, lazed in the sun and been heavy-handed with the texturising spray all summer long – what kind of damage are you looking at exactly? Jose says you could have damage ranging from frizziness and dry and brittle strands, to discolouration, colour fade and broken or split ends. What fun!
The antidote
As Jose explains, “well-formulated treatments and masks can absolutely improve texture and appearance of hair and offset more damage with protective ingredients.”
When looking for the right treatment to deal with your damaged, summer-ravaged strands, Jose says that protein and moisture treatments are a great place to start. She suggests the Original & Mineral We Have Power Base ($35.15 adorebeauty.com.au) and Seven Day Miracle ($35.15, adorebeauty.com.au). beautyheaven also loves Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Coconut Oil Deep Conditioning Protein Pack, Aveda Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque and JUSTICE Professional Treatment Mask.
Oils, shea butters and vitamin E are also good options for adding hydration, gloss and reducing frizz. Try using the W Cosmetics Botanist Botanical Hair Oil Moist, Hask Repairing Shine Oil Pump – Argan and L’OCCITANE Organic Shea Butter.
bh tip: If you love multipurpose products, invest in a hair and body oil to give your whole body a boost of moisture. We love the Botáni Coconut Glow Body & Hair Oil and RECREATION Luxury body + hair oils ($95, www.recreationbeauty.com).
Jose does warn however, that these hair treatments (which make your locks nice and soft and shiny) must be reapplied continually to maintain results. It’s not a one-treatment-cures-all kind of situation. You must implement the right kind of routine…
The routine
If you’re repairing summer-ravaged hair, Jose suggests that your first step is investing in a hydrating shampoo. Try the O&M Hydrate and Conquer Shampoo ($32.95, adorebeauty.com.au), Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo ($49.95, adorebeauty.com.au) or Pureology Hydrate Sheer Shampoo.
This next step is where the treatments and masks above come in. “A great tip I always tell my clients is to swap out their regular conditioner and replace with a treatment,” says Jose. She advises you use it until it runs out and then go back to your usual conditioning routine again. “You would usually see results in around six washes,”she says.
Next, Jose advises using a leave-in conditioner – especially if you’re going to be swimming or in the sun. “ALWAYS,” she says, “this will be a huge helpt for protection.” beautyheaven loves KMS MOISTREPAIR Leave-in Conditioner, Deep Muk – Ultra Soft Leave-In Conditioner and John Frieda Frizz Ease® Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioner.
Keeping a mini serum in your handbag is a must, according to Jose. She suggests applying it throughout the day or before a gym, swim or sun session. beautyheaven loves Original & Mineral Frizzy Logic Shine Serum Mini ($9.95, adorebeauty.com.au), Alfaparf Milano Semi Di Lino Sublime Cristalli Liquidi and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Smooth-Intense Anti-Frizz Serum.
The extra mile
Here at beautyheaven, we’ve had our fair share of damaged hair, so we have a few final tips for getting your locks back on track after months of damage.
- Using a heat protectant before heat styling is non-negotiable, but find one that not only protects your hair from future damage (we all know how important that is) but also has ingredients that work to repair it, like the heat-activated ghd Advanced Split End Therapy.
- Try sleeping on a silk pillowcase like the Lilysilk 19 Momme Terse Silk Pillowcase with Piping. It feels SO boujee but can also help prevent hair breakage so your strands stay soft and strong.
- Be gentle with wet hair. Try and let it air dry or, instead of roughing up and potentially damaging your locks with a towel, try ‘plopping’ your hair up into a T-shirt. Read all about the trend here.
Did your hair suffer some damage after summer? Have you tried any of these treatments?
Main image: @leamichele
The best hair treatment product i use is Shishedo Fino. It is honestly the best thing ever. My curls are so healthy thanks to this product.
Now really well stocked with nice goodies that work from olaplex, fanola, kerastase and trying more . Exciting.
I mostly hibernate throughout summer. I love Justice & Olaplex. I use a microfibre towel to dry my hair & I sleep on satin pillowcases – I don’t like to use silk.
I think i need to buy some hair treatments, the ones I have are not that good
My hair needs these!
Salt in my hair is not my problem as I dont go in the sea.
I recently tried a silk hairwrap but I hated it. Kept slipping over my head & rustled in my sleep. The miniscule improvement in my hair was not worth it, but a silk pillowcase might be a good alternative.
How about a treatment for an often itchy scalp; dandruff NOT the problem
It hasn’t been much of a summer in Sydney – lots of rain!
I’m just coming to the end of my hair care stash so I’m on the lookout for something new.
Great tips…
I use Garnier hair food as a leave in conditioner. Happy with the result and great value product.
Thanks for the info
I’m using a hair oil by Palmer’s at the moment – not due to damage from hot weather but because my hair is just very dry.
i need this!
Before moving to Qld my hair was in really great condition even though I used home colouring to hide the grey. Now I have to use hair masks to help keep my hair in good condition, but sadly the water here just doesn’t help at all.