We know holiday hair can often take on a life of its own, but the good news is – we have a host of expert tips and tricks to ensure your hair stays in tip-top condition on holiday…
De-Frizz
Humidity can cause your hair to become really frizzy, but luckily a new range of hair preps on the market are designed to target and tame unruly tresses. John Frieda Frizz Ease 6 Effects Serum, R109,95 for 50ml, is a must – you’ll get shine, heat protection and frizz control for up to 72 hours. The day before you fly, spray it on towel-dried hair and then blow-dry to seal hair cuticles.
As well as SPF, we now have FPF (frizz protection factor) too – an anti-humidity complex that reduces up to 82% of frizz, as found in in leave-in tamer Redken Frizz Dismiss Smooth Force Lightweight Smoothing Lotion Spray FPF20, R475 for 125ml. Choose an FPF to suit your hair texture and humidity level For fine hair in less humid climates, use FPF10; or choose FPF40 for coarse hair in the tropics.
Protect
Chlorine can strip away natural oils in your hair, seriously drying it out, and leaving it brittle and more prone to damage. Apply an intense treatment to damp hair so that when you’re in the pool or the sea, it will never fully rinse out, which will create a barrier against chlorine and help to minimise frizz. A fave for the job is Dove Intensive Repair Mask, R80,95 for 200ml. Rinse hair with fresh water before and after swimming to limit the amount of chlorine being absorbed, and so limit the damage.
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A great investment to make is a conditioner that you can simply spritz in your hair after a dip to repair any damage and nourish your locks, such as Hask Repair That Hair Leave-In Spray, R149,95 for 177ml. Also try using L’Oréal Professionnel Série Expert Sealing Repair Lipidium Double Serum, R386 for 30ml, which coats each strand with lipidium to reconstruct split ends and stop further damage.
Style
Soft waves are an easy look and best achieved when hair is wet. Divide hair into two equal parts, twist each into a bun at the back and secure. Once dry, release and you’ll have tousled waves. If you have a natural wave, Lush Sea Spray Hair Mist, R215 for 100g, can be applied to wet hair, mussed up and then allowed to dry naturally for texture, volume and movement.
Condition
Try a hair mask weekly for softer, healthier locks. This helps especially if your hair is coloured, or if it’s feeling parched from the sun, heated appliances or a loss of oestrogen. The at-home treatment takes 10 minutes:
Step 1: Remove tangles using a wide-tooth comb.
Step 2: Shampoo hair, then towel-dry by squeezing out water; never rub, or you’ll ruffle up the cuticles, which need to stay flat for softer hair.
Step 3: Part hair into sections. Apply a conditioning mask halfway down. Comb hair through to the ends, from the top, so most of the mask is on the lengths (the oldest, and driest parts).
Step 4: Leave on for 7 to 10 minutes, rinse and let it dry naturally. You’ll see the difference after one treatment with Moroccanoil Restorative Hair Mask, R550 for 250ml. Or if your hair is in need of some intense TLC, then try Kérastase Resistance Masque Thérapiste, R475 for 200ml.
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Embrace Curls
Put your hair in a braid throughout the day so that when you take it out in the evening, you’ll have ready-made waves. Put in Creightons Styling Crème Gel, R109.95 for150ml, before you do the plait to give your hair some grab; then, to hold the wave and give definition once you take the plait out, Pureology Curl Complete Uplifting Curl, R350 for 190ml, which maintains beautiful curls while banishing the frizz.
Fix it Fast
In hot weather, updos can look pretty either as a bun with a soft fringe, or slicked back with gel, adding a chic, low knot. To glam it up, create volume around the crown or from the forehead; this instantly changes a look. Take a section of hair from the forehead, apply a volume-boosting spritz of Batiste XXL Volume Big and Bouncy Dry Shampoo, R74,95 for 200ml, massage in the product, tease, then pin back into a quiff. You can leave the lengths of the hair loose, or pull back into a ponytail. Holidays should be all about relaxing, so get comfy with the whole undone, messy, natural-wave feel. Scrunch a salt spray, such as Keune Design Salt Mist, R237 for 200ml, into damp hair, blow-dry, and embrace your natural beachy waves!
