After what was, in hindsight, a horrific early childhood with my boy-short crop, as soon as my hair grazed my shoulders, my penchant for maintaining long, luscious locks began.
This summer I vow to take a different approach and to freshen up my look. I’m counting on styling products, summer hair saviours and expert tips and tricks to change things up for the better, and perhaps will inspire you too.
Perhaps the California sun-kissed look will be your summer go-to?
However, there are a few essential tips to hitting the top notes when performing the “back from holidays look”.
According to the team from the Dessange Salon in Sydney’s Paddington, highlighting or balayage should be performed free hand using a brush for a painterly effect.
“The colour should be applied on the surface of the hair, darker at the roots and lighter on the midlengths and ends. Concentrate the amount of colour as you move further down your hair.”
“Play with the colour and light according to the style and natural movement of your hair – much like applying bronzer, consider where the light hits.”
Editor Loves: L’Oreal Casting Sunkiss Jelly is the most convenient way for that California glow this season . The jelly-like formula is easy to apply and requires no rinsing as it is activated by heat. RRP: $12.95 available from pharmacies, department stores and variety stores.
Colour is just as definitive as the condition in your quest for steadfast summer hair.
Sydney celebrity stylist Dario Cotroneo says, “Soaking up the rays all day is great, but prolonged exposure can make hair dull and lose its shine. Give your hair the same SPF treatment as your skin by bringing along a broad-spectrum sun protection hair spray. This will keep your hair smooth and prevent the drying effects of the sun.”
Editor Loves: Veils aren’t just for your wedding day… the Aveda Sun Care Protective Hair Veil has a lightweight, water-resistant formula that provides invisible protection from sun exposure and helps to minimise colour fade, damage and dryness. RRP: $44.95 for stockist details please call 1800 706 377.
To protect your colour on seasonal scorchers, Antonio Corral Calero, Moroccanoil Global Creative Director Protecting says colour treated hair starts right at the colouring process.
“My number one tip is to apply a treatment from root to tip before a colour process. It will absorb instantly into the hair to help fill gaps in the cuticle layer and create a thin, protective layer around strands for an even colour application and safe treatment process that won’t alter the colour results.”
Editor Loves: A weightless finish for every styling scenario the Morocannoil Treatment features the signature argan oil based formula absorbing instantly to protect and restore shine. RRP: $26.50/ $55 for stockists call 1300 437 436
Combat humidity-inducing frizz at the source – your shower.
Philip Barwick, owner of Muse hairdressing suggests, “Blot excess water from your hair after washing it and don’t rub with your towel.”
“Work in a leave in anti-frizz serum or lotion into damp hair before styling. When combing damp hair, make sure you use a wide toothcomb made of a non-rough materials, like carbon or wood,“ he adds.
“Also be nice to your hair by combing from the ends first and moving upwards and always in sections. For extra nourishment use hair oil. Always.”
Editor Loves: The Kérastase Discipline range is the saving grace for the girl who just can’t seem to tame her wild mane. The Maskertine is ideal or sensitised, damaged and thicker hair types with it’s in-depth damage repair and surface-morphing polymer formula (RRP: $60 available form selected Kérastase Paris consultant salons).
Antonio stresses the importance of conditioning after a hair treatment for maximum care and ease of styling.
“Masks are great for a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a week. As they are extremely rich in moisture, they can replace your daily conditioner when you use them,” he says.
“After using the protein-enriched mask, I recommend following with your favourite conditioner to detangle strands and keep hair silky soft,” he adds.
Editor Loves: Defy and defuse dreads with Original&Mineral’s Know Knott detangling spray (RRP: $28.95 originalmineral.com) and rid the birds nest made by sun and salt water with the Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash ($32.95 available from leading salons nationwide), you actually won’t know how you did without it.
So now we’ve decoded the colour and care it’s time to get into some serious styling.
Celebrity stylist Richard Cavanagh says when comes to up-keeping curled hair in the humidity, “The best way to keep curls from dropping is to use a slightly smaller wand – you’ll get a slightly crisper curl to start but it’s going to fall out into the right shape. The smaller the section of hair that you use and the smaller the wand, the tighter result of the curl.”
“Some people might think it’s a good idea to use a flat iron or iron the hair before curling, what happens is the curl will just drop straight out,” Richard says.
“Also careful to choose the right hair serum as some silicons contained aren’t very good with hot tools,” he adds.
Editor Loves: Noted. Luckily for us, ghd have made their first foray into the world of multi-benefit stylers and we couldn’t be happier. The ghd IV styler with it’s curved barrel it curls hair as easily and effectively as it’s signature power-straighten. For your no-drop curl, caress your now unstoppable locks with the VS Sassoon Total Protection Salon Professional Curling Wand featuring tiny silicon bumps that help to control and spread the hair while styling (RRP: $59.95 available from department stores and electrical appliance outlets).
And while we’re at it, now you can get Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s beach waves:
Prep:
• Apply a light treatment to damp hair from mid-shaft to tip to create perfect foundation for smooth, shiny results.
Style:
• Rough blow dry hair until 60% dry. Then, with a bristle brush finish drying straight, creating soft bounce at the ends.
• Once dry, spritz hair with a heat protecting spray to maintain hair’s health during styling.
• To create natural looking, light volume, use a 1” barrel curling iron to gently enhance the ends. This gives a soft, effortless wave.
Finish:
Finish with a mist of hairspray for long-lasting hold and comb through hair with your fingers to achieve touchable waves.
