Passport? Check. Headphones? Check. SPF? Check. Hair protection? Soon to be check.
Sunnier days are coming. You may not think so now, after the long, drawn-out winter that we’ve experienced here in the UK, but summer is finally on its way and whether you’re maximising the British weather on a staycation or jetting off to warmer climes, get your holiday hair must-haves ready.
Applying factor 30 or higher is likely already a part of your daily beauty practices, but do you give the same love, care and attention to your locks? Our hair is often an overlooked part of our sunny weather routines but is no less important.
Much in the same way as UV rays can cause ageing to the skin cells, they can also compromise the hair’s fibres, leaving them dehydrated, brittle, dry and with split ends aplenty. This is only exacerbated if you’ve bleached or highlighted your tresses.
“You should always protect your hair from the UV rays”, says Angelo Vallillo, award winning hair stylist. “These can damage the hair and reduce strength. I would recommend a headscarf - make sure it’s silk because it’s better quality and works well when you use hair conditioner”.
Including moisturising formulas to your mane care is also essential to replenish parched strands. You may be a fan of that ‘effortless beach hair’ look but the salt-water, chlorine and sun can leave you with a gritty texture, harsh remnants left behind as well as faded colour, fried split ends and we’ve all been there; a burnt, flaky scalp.
Using a shampoo that provides a thorough cleanse works to counteract this as well as a mask that you can leave on throughout your sunbathing or after a day of lounging. There are oils too, and all of these products counteract previous damage, protect further, minimise discoloration and prevent dryness. They will also pack hair with nutrients that are able to penetrate the cuticles for intense nourishment.
You could also use a leave-in conditioner, “Shampoo your hair in the morning and then leave the conditioner in to go about your day” recommends Vallillo. “Ultimately, you’re going to be in and out of the pool or sea anyway which will either be very salty or filled with chlorine, so having the leave-in conditioner in your hair will help to protect it from those and the intense sunlight, as well as keep it feeling soft”.
If you thought that frizz and a sun-soaked trip went hand in hand, this need not be the case. “Preventing frizz is all about the products you use”, he adds. “Make sure you use a high-quality shampoo/conditioner and coat your hair in a good leave-in conditioner that will prevent frizz because the sun is hitting the products as opposed to your hair”.
Shop below for the best holiday hair products for city jaunts, beach breaks and beyond.
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Best rosemary oil products for hair growth: Top shampoos, conditioning treatments and essential oils
Philip Kingsley Swimcap Water-Resistant Mask
After a few too many hours in the sun, head back to your hotel and whip out this Philip Kingsley mask to bring the pamper experience away with you. Pair it with a face mask and lather your whole body in aftersun for head-to-toe relaxation.
The Swimcap Water-Resistant Mask was originally designed for the US Olympic synchronised swimming team and so you can expect high performance in terms of protection against chlorine or salt water. It actually contains sunscreen as well as hydrating heroes.
Buy now £20.00, lookfantastic
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo 1000ml
There is a reason why Pureology’s Hydrate shampoo is often found in our ‘best’ round-ups: it’s quite simply a very good product. The scent alone will be enough to convert you to the world of the vegan haircare brand (it has notes of patchouli, bergamot and lavender), but you’ll stay for the transformation of your tresses that will appear healthier, hydrated and vibrant if treated with colour.
Sage, green tea and jojoba form the basis of the formula that are nourishing and protective. These nourishing powerhouses are combined with the brand’s patented Antifade complex that should buy you some time between salon appointments and prevent further environmental aggressors from affecting your hair.
Buy now £19.04, lookfantastic
Sachajuan Suncare Collection
With only one see-through bag to fill with 100ml products, you may often prioritise your skincare favourites, but Sachajuan is making a convincing case to swap in its Hair In & After The Sun Kit. Not only does it arrive in a reusable pouch that is hand luggage-ready but the products themselves are packed with UV protecting ingredients that are designed to counteract dehydration caused by the likes of sun, sand and sea.
Hair in the Sun is a styling product that’s lightweight and non-greasy. Think of it like SPF for your hair. It contains a copolymer complex made up of coconut oil and cinnamon and ocean silk technology using sea algae and proteins that acts as shield on the precious strands to deflect damage from UV rays.
Hair After the Sun is a leave-in treatment with a light holding effect that harnesses a similar technology to up the moisture levels of your mane, turning parched locks to nourished, while locking in your style of choice.
Buy now £45.00, Cult Beauty
NUXE Sun Moisturising Protective Milky Oil for Hair
Luxury French pharmacy label NUXE has got your SPF covered, from its skincare heroes to this specialised formulation for the hair. The brand uses high-quality natural extracts that imbue a delicious aroma that will put you into the holiday mood. When the sun is in full force, you’ll want this milky oil texture on hand for the hydration that it brings. Layer it onto your locks so it can work its shielding magic as a protective layer from elements that may cause dryness and a lacklustre appearance. It comes in the form of a mist so couldn’t be easier to apply. Spritz it over your mane to impart the benefits of coconut and jojoba oil.
Buy now £16.00, Cult Beauty
Bumble and bumble Hairdresser's invisible oil heat/UV protective primer
While improving the overall health and condition of your locks, this mist from Bumble and bumble helps shield locks from heat damage. It’s packed with six nourishing and protective oils that work hair magic but don’t feel greasy or heavy on application. It smooths hair, preps for styles, prevents further UV damage, tames flyaways and even defrizzes, while also detangling. It has little in the way of fragrance so acts as an invisible miracle worker (the clue is in the name) that you can slot into your routine with ease.
For a simple heat protecting spray, the brand also has a Heat Shield Thermal Protection Mist (£27).
Buy now £27.00, Boots
Moroccanoil Treatment Original
Thirsty, dry locks have met their match in the form of Moroccanoil and the brand’s signature treatment. This oil has been a stalwart on best buy lists since its inception and there’s very good reason for that - quite simply, it works.
Lather it onto your hair overnight or while heading to the beach to give your strands the chance to soak up every bit of the goodness contained within the formulation. It uses argan oil that is rich in antioxidants and gives your hair that silky feel to the point where you’ll want to run your hands through all day.
While boosting radiance, it will also smooth flyaways, detangle and even speeds up the amount of time it will take to do your traditional heated styling, which can only be a benefit for your time and the health of your hair.
Buy now £33.11, Amazon
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
If you haven’t seen Color Wow on TikTok, you’ve almost definitely seen it on various online retailers. This miracle product is a top choice for almost instant styling and impressive results. The brand’s Dream Coat Supernatural Spray is easy to use: simply spray it on damp hair before styling.
This heat-activated product acts as an anti-humidity spray and is designed for all hair types including wavy, curly, dry, colour-treated - and extensions too. The hair mist acts as an invisible waterproof cloak over the hair, seeking to repel moisture and minimise the look of flyaways.
Heat-activated polymer technology delivers a compressing effect as you blow-dry or straighten, while resisting weighing down hair or leaving a greasy residue.
Buy now £21.60, lookfantastic
Oribe Bright Blonde Sun Lightening Mist
No need to squeeze lemons into your locks to achieve the blonde hues of your dreams. Simply call on Oribe and its Bright Blonde Sun Lightening Mist to maintain golden colourways that can go brassy in the sun or due to chlorine. The luxe American haircare label combines hair-loving ingredients (with no peroxide in sight) that take inspiration from nature with reparative properties.
Imparting a healthy shine, the formula includes the label’s signature complex as well as chamomile and lemon (that’s not been fished out of a drink) to provide the brightening effect. It is also brimming in antioxidant power to protect against the elements and offer UV protection.
Buy now £37.00, Selfridges
Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo with Aloe Vera
After a day spent rotating between extended periods of time horizontal on a sun lounger and dipping in the sea, you may be noticing that your hair is straw-like in texture. This may be due to dehydration and so you’ll need an ultra-nourishing shampoo to counteract this.
Haircare extraordinaire Christophe Robin has just the solve with its Hydrating Shampoo with Aloe Vera. It can be used by any and all hair types where the lightweight formula cleanses away dirt and grime, while imparting the moisturising heroes of aloe vera that make up just one component of the 20 minerals, 18 amino acids and 12 vitamins within the formula to leave a lustrous shine.
It works to remove impurities that can be interfering with the healthy head of hair that you deserve without stripping essential oils or disrupting the hair’s barrier. What’s more, the formula is 98.6 per cent naturally derived so naturally there’s no parabens, silicones and SLS in sight. This is the larger 500ml size to see you through your holiday-filled summer calendar.
Buy now £27.00, lookfantastic
Leonor Greyl L'Huile De Leonor Greyl
We like to lather this oil on our whole head before sunbathing to encourage our strands to soak up the nourishing goodness. While we’re bronzing, it gets to work counteracting dryness and repairing, especially for coloured locks. The formula’s highlights include copra oil and mongongo oil to restore your holiday hair, while acting as a natural filter from UVA and UVB rays. Top up after you dip in the pool or sea to safeguard from sea water and chlorine.
Buy now £27.20, lookfantastic
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Your Ultimate Restore and Shine Routine for Damaged Hair
Your holiday hair kit nailed in one, look to Shu Uemura to elevate your routine from start to finish. This bumper pack has dehydrated, dull, damaged and stressed-out strands in mind, doing its utmost to lavish locks with a deeply hydrating formula.
Start with the Silk Bloom shampoo and conditioner that have nourishing argan oil at their heart. Paired with ceramides and vitamin E, it has a restorative effect that strengthens the hair fibre and builds body. Follow with the masque that builds on the nourishment and style with the help of the camellia oil-infused Essence Absolue. This protective product forms a barrier against external aggressors that can leads to dryness and frizz, instead leaving hair more manageable, tamed and shiny.
Buy now £159.62, lookfantastic
Living Proof No Frizz Intense Moisture Mask
If your locks have been known to reach Monica Geller-levels of unruly on your humid holiday exploits, a frizz-fighting mask will be a staple part of your warm weather haircare. Living Proof has masks targeted for every concern and hair type and the No Frizz Intense Moisture Mask is its intensely conditioning formula that turns disobedient strands on their head.
For fine hair, you’ll find you don’t need much of the product to have an impact, but it can be applied just as well to thick textures where the creamy nature has a smoothing effect by injecting possible flyaways with moisture. Your locks are left silky, sleek and disobedient no more.
Buy now £36.00, lookfantastic
Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil
Aveda has an entire line devoted to suncare for the hair and this is one of the bestsellers in the collection. The spray acts as an invisible veil on the individual strands to protect against damage and dryness caused by UVA and UVB rays.
The plant-powered label harnesses the power of natural ingredients like wintergreen and cinnamon bark oils to prevent that brittle texture going hand in hand with your holiday look. It is water-resistant and has the signature Aveda scent that’s a combination of fresh zesty and floral notes like neroli, ylang ylang and citrus. It’s aromatic but it goes beyond just the superficial to keep colour vibrant and split ends at bay.
Buy now £23.50, Sephora
R+Co SUN CATCHER Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner
This vegan haircare label opts for natural ingredients in its product line-up and forgoes nasties to the tune of parabens, sulphates, mineral oil or petrolatum. SUN CATCHER will immediately transport you to warm summer nights with its beautiful scent. It has notes of palo santo, white cedarwood, smoky tobacco leaf, pine needles and waterlily, for a aroma that is warm, musky yet still light.
While scenting your locks, it also makes hair easier to style with its detangling effects and strengthens the strands. This is made possible due to the inclusion of vitamin C within the formula. The antioxidant protects against UV damage and is combined with restorative vegetable collagen, radish root extract to improve scalp circulation and topped off with hyaluronic acid and coconut oil for a nourishment boost.
Apply to dry and damp hair and go easy as a little goes a long way, particularly if you have finer locks.
Buy now £30.00, Cult Beauty
