5 tips for going blonde this summer

Every year we get a mini-flood of customers who want lighter hair for the summer. This year is no exception: in fact the hotter weather has made our customers more sociable and even more eager to lighten!  Here are 5 tips for those thinking of going blonde this year.

1. Plan ahead

How much commitment do you want? Is this a "just for the summer" lightening or a long term affair? Look at ultra-trendy ombré and balayage techniques if upkeep might be an issue. 

2. Condition, condition, condition

Beach blondes rock, knackered or salt-frazzled locks do not. Condition before you lighten to get hair in its best shape possible, the condition after every wash to maintain moisture and shine levels.

3. Change you routine

Lightened hair needs extra care - you may need to change your shampoo, conditioner or both. 

4. Use protection

Protect lightened hair from UV with a good leave-in conditioner or styling product and protect from heat damage during styling. Frizzy blonde is ALWAYS awful!

5. Choose your tone

Very dark hair will look better with caramel and toffee blondes. Lighter hair can take ash, light beige and white blondes. Check against your skin tone too - very tanned against very ash blonde can look trashy.

Enjoy the sunshine and yes, blondes really DO have more fun!

Phil xxx

Here comes the sun . . . and there goes my colour!

Why does hair colour fade in the sun??

Annoying isn't it? Beautiful subtle tones all reduced to a washed out mess with shades of orangey gold.

Synthetic dyes are made of clever things called polymers. By the time they're in the hair the polymer molecule is relatively long and stable. Then comes nasty UV! Think of the polymer as a type of plastic, then picture what happens to plastics when they are left in the sun: they fade, go brittle and eventually break. This fading and breaking of the molecule is exactly what is happening to your hair colour. Add the fact that the cuticle of the hair opens in the heat resulting in loss of moisture: your lovely shimmering tones don't stand a chance!

What can you do?

• Work on maintaining the condition of the hair EVERY wash
• Wear a hat?!
• Use a UV protection hair product whenever there's a chance of exposure to the sun. Check the labels - there's UV protection in a wide range of specialist products AND a lot of general styling products too
• PERSONAL OPINION - Reds tend to fade quicker in the sun, so maybe avoid them for the summer months and bring them back into your style for the autumn
• Factor a little fade into the equation - made reds or coppers slightly richer or more vibrant, browns a little deeper and don't be afriad of a little gold in your blonde.

Enjoy your summer!

Phil x