A hairdresser’s guide to bringing dry, thirsty hair back to life

The UK isn’t always famous for glorious weather but, when summer finally arrives, we certainly make the most of it. Holidays, beach days, barbecues and afternoons in the garden all do wonders for the soul. Unfortunately, they don’t always do wonders for our hair.

As a qualified hairdresser, I lost count of the number of clients who came into the salon after their holidays saying exactly the same thing.

‘I don’t know what’s happened to my hair. I’ve tried every shampoo and conditioner I can find, even some of the expensive salon ones, but it still feels dry.’

Some had highlighted hair. Others had coloured hair or perms. Even clients with completely natural, untreated hair often found themselves battling dryness after weeks of sunshine, sea water, chlorine and heat.

The good news is that dry summer hair is usually very treatable. You simply need to understand what’s happening to your hair and give it the care it really needs.

Step One: Check Your Ends

Before spending a fortune on miracle products, have a really good look at the ends of your hair.

If they’re splitting, unfortunately no product can permanently repair them. Split ends continue to separate, which is why a tiny trim every 8-12 weeks is one of the best habits you can get into.

I’m not talking about chopping inches off. Often just a light dusting of the ends is enough to keep your hair looking healthier and stop the damage travelling further up the hair shaft.

Once that’s done, you can concentrate on restoring the moisture and strength your hair has lost.

Why Summer Can Leave Hair Feeling Like Straw

Hair has a protective outer layer called the cuticle. Think of it as tiny overlapping roof tiles protecting everything underneath.

Strong sunshine, salt water, chlorine, heated styling and even windy weather gradually roughen this protective layer. When the cuticle becomes lifted, moisture escapes more easily, the hair feels rough, tangles more easily and loses its beautiful shine.

If your hair has been coloured, highlighted, bleached or permed, it’s even more vulnerable because those services alter the structure of the hair.

That’s why your hair often feels wonderful before your holiday and a little sorry for itself when you come home.

Your Shampoo Matters More Than You Think

One of the first things I’d recommend is changing your shampoo if you’re using a harsh one.

Professional salon shampoos are generally formulated to work closer to your hair’s naturally slightly acidic pH. This helps the cuticle lie flatter after washing, leaving the hair smoother, shinier and easier to manage.

A good shampoo doesn’t just clean your hair. It prepares it for the conditioning treatment that follows.

The Secret Weapon: A Weekly Reconstructor

This is where many people go wrong.

They keep changing shampoos when what their hair really needs is rebuilding.

A quality reconstructor isn’t simply a richer conditioner. Many contain hydrolysed proteins, such as keratin, silk or wheat protein, which have been broken down into tiny molecules. Some of these are small enough to penetrate damaged areas of the hair shaft, where they help reinforce weakened sections and improve the hair’s ability to retain moisture. Others attach themselves to the outside of the hair, smoothing the cuticle and helping to protect it from further damage.

Think of it like renovating an old house. Some of the work strengthens the inside while the rest restores the outside so it looks beautiful again.

Don’t expect miracles after one treatment.

Hair that’s been battered by sunshine, chlorine, sea water and heated styling often needs time to recover.

The first treatment starts the process.

The second builds on it.

By the third weekly treatment, many people notice their hair feels softer, looks shinier, brushes more easily and has much of its natural bounce and movement back.

Consistency really is the secret.

Don’t Forget Moisture

One mistake I often saw was people assuming that more protein automatically meant healthier hair.

Healthy hair needs a balance of both protein and moisture. If your hair starts feeling stiff or brittle after repeated protein treatments, it’s usually a sign that it’s crying out for moisture as well.

A good moisturising conditioner used after every wash will help keep your hair soft, supple and manageable while your weekly reconstructor helps strengthen damaged areas.

My Simple Summer Hair Rescue Routine

If your hair is feeling dry after weeks of sunshine, here’s the routine I’d recommend.

• Have a small trim if your ends are splitting.
• Swap to a quality salon shampoo.
• Use a good conditioner after every wash.
• Apply a reconstructor or deep-conditioning treatment once a week.
• Reduce heated styling while your hair recovers.
• Rinse your hair with fresh water after swimming in the sea or a chlorinated pool whenever possible.
• Wear a hat or use a UV hair product if you’re spending long periods in strong sunshine.

Simple changes really can make an enormous difference.

A Hairdresser’s Top Tip

One thing I always used to tell my clients was not to judge a product after using it once.

Hair that’s been dried out over several weeks isn’t going to recover overnight.

Give your new routine a little time to work.

After the first treatment you’ll probably notice your hair feels softer.

After the second, it should feel smoother.

By the third, many people notice the shine returning, less frizz, easier brushing and hair that simply feels healthier again.

Sometimes patience really is the best beauty treatment.

A Final Thought

One of my favourite moments as a hairdresser was watching someone look in the mirror and smile because they finally felt confident about their hair again.

Beautiful hair isn’t about buying the most expensive product on the shelf.

It’s about understanding what your hair needs, looking after it consistently and treating it with kindness.

A little extra care during the summer months can make all the difference.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my first article on Vixen Lifestyle.

I’ll be sharing plenty more tips on hair, beauty, health and wellbeing, so I hope you’ll visit again soon. Until then, enjoy the sunshine and be kind to your hair!