Toothpaste and toothbrush - check; moisturiser - check; suntan lotion - check ….... …...

When you’re packing in readiness for your holidays you probably remember to take the above items and lots more, but do you take anything to protect your hair in the (with a bit of luck!) hot sunshine?

Sea air, salt water, chlorine, sand, wind and scorching sunshine are all elements that can play havoc with our tresses when we’re on holiday and our hair can become more damaged during two weeks in the sun than during the entire rest of the year.  The sun’s ultraviolet rays can not only cause major damage to skin but they can also have an incredibly bad effect on hair, removing moisture and depleting its natural oils.  Windy weather can cause hair to become tangled, causing split ends and breakage.  Salt water and chlorinated water can both cause colour to fade and leave curly hair wilting.  Chemicals used in the colouring and perming processes weaken hair and cause moisture to be lost at a greater rate than hair that is untreated, so chemically treated hair is even more susceptible to damage than hair that is untreated.  White hair in particular is particularly vulnerable to damage from the sun because its natural pigmentation (melanin) has been lost and the pigmentation is what, to some degree, helps filter out the sun’s harmful rays. 

The Davines Su Shampoo. Great for when your hair has been exposed to sun and salt water.

Take a look at these handy tips to prevent your hair going from ‘hot’ to ‘what?????!!’ on your holidays:-

• Keep hydrated.  Water has other uses than for swimming in and one of those uses is for drinking.  Keep a bottle of water with you throughout the day and take a drink at regular intervals.  By doing this you’ll ensure that you’re keeping not only your body hydrated and healthy but your hair too.

• Wash away the chlorine.  While a dip in the pool is always incredibly tempting and invigorating, all that chlorine can be very damaging to hair, especially blonde hair which can turn brassy or, even worse, an interesting shade of green!   The heavy metals, such as copper, which are contained in chlorine are what ruins hair colour.  The chlorine initiates the process by causing damage to the hair cuticle and the heavy metals are then able to enter the inner structure of hair, causing more damage.  In order to remove these metals, hair needs to be washed thoroughly with a specially formulated after-sun shampoo which will remove all traces of chlorine.  If you use the pool every day then you’ll need to wash your hair thoroughly afterwards on a daily basis to remove the chlorine.  Before going into the pool you should wet your hair with tap water because wet hair absorbs less chlorine than dry hair does.

• Protect your hair from the sun.  You might love the way the sun lightens your hair but UV rays cause damage to hair and skin.  They break down protein in hair, leaving the colour lacklustre and causing hair to dry out.  So, as well as slapping a high factor sun cream or lotion on your face and body, your hair also needs good protection from those damaging rays. To keep hair protected, healthy and sexy when you’re on holiday use hair products that are specifically formulated for hair that is exposed to the sun and the elements.  Davines Defining Invisible Styling Cream is a leave-in cream that is suitable for all hair types, especially coloured and dry hair.  It contains protective, nourishing ingredients with styling properties to give hair body with natural, soft control.   Soy Proteins and Rice condition and restructure hair, giving it volume and shine, while Rice Bran Oils and Avocado moisturize, nourish and soften hair.  Sunflower Seed Oil and UV filters combat the action of free radicals, giving hair protection from heat styling and the sun.

• Treat your hair to a deep conditioning treatment.  Apply an intensive conditioning mask to hair, leave it on and give it around 15 minutes to work on your hair.  Sitting outside in the sunshine will allow the ingredients to penetrate your hair even more deeply.  Giving your hair this kind of intensive conditioning treatment will mean it’s supremely nourished and protected, leaving it soft and shiny.

So there you have it. Top tips to help keep your hair protected and in great condition while you’re away so you can look your best while you’re out and about, having fun in the sun!

Having dry, straw-like hair that’s a million miles away from sleek, soft hair is no fun!  If you have dry hair though, there’s no need to despair because in a few simple steps you too can have shiny, soft, healthy hair.

Dry hair is caused by a lack of moisture and natural oils which are produced by the scalp, as well as a lack of lipids (essential fatty acids).  A diet which is deficient in essential vitamins and nutrients can also lead to dry hair, as can health problems such as hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid).

There are other external factors that can also cause dry hair, such as chemical damage from bleaching, colouring and perms, damage caused by the use of heated styling equipment such as hair straighteners and hairdryers, and environmental damage from pollution, sun and heat.

You can manage your hair and and keep it healthy, hydrated and soft by following these simple tips:-

• Shampoo once or twice a week, which is more than enough for dry hair.  Shampooing too frequently strips hair of its natural oils.

• When shampooing your hair be particularly gentle as dry hair tends to be brittle and can break easily.  Gently massaging the scalp can increase the production of natural, healthy oils. Shampoo your hair using lukewarm water and a gentle, nourishing shampoo formulated specifically for dry hair (a good shampoo will have a pH level of between 4.5 to 6.7).

• Always use a rich, nourishing conditioner after shampooing which will restore moisture to dried out hair.

• Deep condition your hair once a week using an intensive conditioner.  Davines NOUNOU PAK / Nourishing Repairing Mask is especially formulated for dry, brittle hair and is rich in Olive Butter (deeply nourishing and a rich emollient), Cherry Oil (packed with Omega-6 essential fatty acids) and Jojoba Oil.  

• For hair to be in a healthy, strong condition it needs a moisture content of at least 8%, with the right balance of natural oils and proteins.  Haircare products that contain humectants will help restore essential moisture to your hair.  Look for water based products that condition and hydrate hair.  

• Reduce your use of hair styling products, such as hair gels and hairspray.  They contain chemical ingredients that can damage hair and irritate the scalp.  Mousse should not be used on dry hair - use a thickening hair lotion instead.

• Whenever possible, allow your hair to dry naturally.  If you do use a hairdryer then make sure it’s on the lowest possible setting and dry hair down the hair shaft as this will keep the hair cuticle smooth.

• Get hair trimmed around every 6 weeks so that frayed ends are removed.

• If you’re out in the sun a lot then use a hair sunscreen or cover your hair with a hat!

To deal with dry hair from the inside out it’s essential to get proper nutrients from the foods we eat as a healthy, balanced diet is vital not only for our general health but for the health of our hair.  A lack of Vitamin A and C in your diet, for example, can lead to dry hair, so it’s important to make sure you get enough of these.  You should make sure that your diet is rich in vitamins, minerals, good proteins, calcium, carbohydrates and essential fatty acids.  Making sure your body is well hydrated is also essential for healthy skin and hair, so drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day is extremely beneficial and will produce great results! 

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Following on from our last post on Davines Melu, we promised a follow up post. And here it is!

Chemicals used in hair treatments such as perms, highlights and relaxers can be very damaging to hair and lead to brittleness, fragility and dryness.  

Chlorine and salt water can dry out hair because they can soak into the hair follicle and saturate the hair.  Mineral deposits in water can also cause problems in the form of build-up on hair.  Silica and calcium dehydrate hair, reducing its body and shine, and they can also create build-up on the scalp which results in flakiness.

Washing hair too frequently can cause dryness as the hair’s natural oils, which are essential for it to be smooth, soft and healthy, will be stripped away.  On the other hand, not washing hair often enough can lead to dirt and hair product build-up which will result in hair looking lifeless and dull.

By following some simple steps you’ll be able to get your damaged hair back into great condition and keep it that way!

1. Protect your hair from the elements.  Invest in haircare products with UV filters as these will shield your hair from the rays of the sun.  In colder weather wear hats or scarves to give hair protection from the harsh elements.  

1. Limit your use of heated styling equipment.  Instead of blow drying your hair after every wash, for example, let it dry naturally as often as you can and only use a blow dryer when you absolutely have to.  When you do use heated styling equipment, use the lowest setting possible as this will be much kinder to your hair then blasting it with temperatures that are far too high - the settings on heated styling equipment (even the lowest setting) can literally ‘cook’ hair.  When using heated styling equipment always use a good hair styling product that will give protection from the heat and keep your hair soft and smooth.  

1. Cut back on chemical treatments.  Your hair will really benefit greatly from not being regularly assaulted with chemicals!  No amount of conditioning and hair products can save hair that’s been over chemically treated from looking and feeling dry and ravaged.

1. Protect your hair before you go swimming.  Chlorine has a worse effect on light brown and blond hair, but it can be damaging to all hair colours and hair types. If you swim in a pool or in salt water a lot you should drench your hair with water first and then apply a good conditioner.  When you’ve finished swimming rinse hair thoroughly.  
2. Wash your hair less often.  Dry hair only needs to be washed once or twice a week as this will avoid essential oils in the hair being stripped away.  Greasy hair needs to be washed more frequently, perhaps daily or every other day depending on how greasy the hair is.  Over-washing greasy hair can actually increase sebum production because the hair and scalp are stripped of their natural oils which in turn causes the glands to excrete more oil as a way of combating that!  Supplement your hair washing regimen with a shampoo which is specifically formulated for damaged hair, which should be used around once a week.  

One worthy of mention is the Davines Detoxifying Environmental Damage Recovery Shampoo removes accumulated pollutants while adding much needed moisture to hair, leaving it shiny and bright.  

Damaged hair is very easy to identify.  While healthy hair is shiny, soft and full of life, damaged hair looks coarse, dull and lifeless, and can be prone to flakiness and split ends. There are several ways that hair can become badly damaged, including:-

Exposure to the elements, which can leave hair looking badly in need of help!  Hair is exposed to the elements daily and sun exposure, UV rays, wind and pollution can lead to hair strands becoming weakened, and cold weather can make hair dull and dry. Exposure to the sun can also result in split ends.

Over brushing and the use of hair accessories can tear at hair and cause split ends.  

Excessive use of heated hair styling equipment, such as hairdryers, hair straighteners and curling irons, can cause major damage to hair.  The heat levels on heated styling equipment can be so high that hair is literally ‘cooked’, resulting in it becoming very dry, brittle and prone to breakage. 

So where can you start to make things better? Well firstly, you could try the Davines Melu shampoo, which is formulated to give protection to long or damaged hair. Strengthening, cleansing and nourishing you'll get great hair that is protected against mechanical damage and dead easy to comb into the bargain.

Secondly, you could stick around for our follow up post on five easy steps to repair damaged hair.