With record breaking temperatures set in the UK and Ireland this summer, there’s no doubt that it’s been an absolute scorcher. This could mean that the drop in temperature this autumn will feel even more stark – so HJ chatted to members of the industry to find out how they plan on keeping their clients’ hair health in tip top condition as the sun begins to fade and the leaves begin to fall.
Prevention Is Often Better Than Cure
Marina Hodgins from Fringe Benefits in Gloucester notes that whilst the sun remains, protection is crucial: “Always advise your clients to use a product with spf when in the sun to protect the cuticle of your hair.” Coral Jade, colour expert and owner of Coral Jade Hair and Beauty, takes this advice one step further, highlighting that spf on the scalp is also crucial, unless wearing a hat. Anabel Kingsley, brand president and trichologist at Philip Kingsley, recommends Philip Kingsley Swimcap Water Resistant Mask – a leave-in UV protector that is perfect for clients with end of season holidays booked, as it not only protects hair from the sun, but also salt and chlorine.
But what if it’s too late for prevention? “UV rays have a similar effect on your hair as bleach – they oxidise and degrade its protein structure and damage the disulphide bonds that hold it together,” Anabel explains. “As a result, UV ray exposure can reduce the elasticity of hair and lessen its ability to hold a style. This will cause locks to become dry, brittle and less manageable. Hair will likely drop in volume and frizz much faster than it would due to the sun damage to your scalp.”
Sharon Roberts, bridal hair specialist, points out that this was evident amongst her clients: “I have had a lot of my brides getting in touch in the lead up to their weddings worrying about the longevity of their style choices and whether the heat would affect it and what could I do to ensure the styles would last.
“I always encourage bridal clients to use a clarifying shampoo prior to wedding day styling to give me a clean head to work with. I doubled down during the extreme heat to make sure the scalp was clean and hair wasn’t overloaded with products. Moisturising styling creams with a light hold were also effective whilst styling and curling in giving the hair a sheen and helping with heat protection. Finishing off with an anti-frizz hairspray gave the style the best chance of some longevity.”
The Changing of the Seasons – What To Look Out For
“Change in weather can cause dryness, which can lead to your hair being more porous,” Coral notes. “This results in loss of essential moisture, which can cause hair to look brassy and a lot lighter than what your client may have wanted. “As such, I always recommend that my clients keep on top of their maintenance appointments – especially treatments, glossing and refreshing appointments.”
Anna Stubbs, stylist and digital creator, points out: “During Autumn it is useful to concentrate on repairing the hair so it’s ready for the festive season” – a time which often sees hair undergoing intense styling and frequent heat. “Hair masks with bond building properties are an excellent start,” she shares. Keeping your clients well-informed on how hair behaves is also useful.
Marina says: “People may find they shed more hair (the telogen effluvium phase) as autumn approaches, which can be connected to intensive sun rays during the summer. However, no matter what climate you live in, weather will not affect hair growth” – so there is no reason for clients to skip out on trims for fear of their hair getting too short.
Addressing the telogen effluvium phase, Anabel advises that you tell your clients to look out for ingredients like Iron, Vitamin C (which helps your body to absorb iron) and L-lysine (which helps your body to store iron), as well as Vitamin D and Vitamin B12. “I would recommend our Density Healthy Hair Complex Supplements. Our Density Amino Acid Protein Booster Supplement also contains a protein supplement, which is incredibly important to hair health despite hardly anyone eating enough protein – at least from a hair health standpoint.” Another concern to look out for is excessive frizz. Anabel adds: “When you begin to step from the cold outdoors into centrally heated buildings, the moisture content in the air changes. This results in the protein bonds within the hair to expand and contract, which can cause your hair to frizz up. This may, in turn, mess up the hairstyle you left the house with. The best way to prevent winter frizz is to use products that form a barrier between your hair and the atmosphere.”
Make sure to also educate your clients on how central heating could be damaging their hair too – more on this here.
