I will never forget the summer that I dyed my hair red. No, not because I felt like a literal superhero (I absolutely did) but because I couldn’t comprehend how quickly my colour faded. One minute it was so red that I'd jump when I caught sight of myself in the mirror; the next minute it was a dull and dowdy, brassy orange, causing the same shock effect on seeing my reflection. The upkeep was wild – and you know what absolutely did not help? The summer. UV rays beating down on it, the scalp sweat that made me wash it more often than usual, and we won’t start on the holiday swimming-pool water. Let’s face it, summer sucks for coloured hair.
While keeping your hair tucked into a hat would be a problem solver, it won’t give us the chic aesthetic we are striving for. Plus, why would we drop serious dosh on hair colour just to hide it on hols? Not a vibe. So, what’s to do? We tapped Tim Scott-Wright, Schwarzkopf Blondme ambassador, to help maintain our hue all summer long...
Can you actually stop hair colour fading?
Okay, first up, a cold, harsh dose of reality. ‘UV rays from the sun act like a bleaching agent, breaking down the colour pigments in hair dye, causing colour-treated hair to lose its vibrancy and appear lighter over time,’ says Scott-Wright. Yes, yikes, but you can prevent this bleaching from taking hold on holiday by making space for hair suncare in your luggage.
It’s important to take the right care products away with you. Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure Sun Protect Travel Set, £27, contain minis that cleanse, condition and protect hair colour (and your scalp) from UV rays.
If you have highlights, ombre or balayage this will work well, but if you have a full head of vibrant colour you’ll need an extra step to fight the fade: during your last colour appointment pre- summer or holiday, ask your colourist to mix a bespoke colour mask for you. Each professional colour brand has a version. ‘You can use this when you notice your hair colour fading,’ says Scott-Wright.
For dye disasters, condiments come in clutch
If, like me, you prefer splish-splashing in the water over poolside posing, listen up – your hair colour does not. Local lido or all-inclusive resort, the chemicals in the pool water can really wreak havoc on your colour or bleach, which can be especially noticeable on blonde tones.
‘If your blonde has gone a funny greenish colour from your hols or from regular swimming, this can be from high levels of chlorine in the water,’ says Scott-Wright. ‘Don’t panic; first, try a clarifying or detox shampoo to remove the impurities. If you are still seeing a tinge of green, this may be because your hair is more porous. A trip to the salon is needed, where they can use a pastel-pink toner to neutralise the green, and restore your blonde.’ If you’re already away and have none of the above to hand, don’t fret – a quick fix can be found in the kitchen. ‘Ketchup is an old favourite – it will do the trick if you’re in dire straits while away until you can get to the salon.’ Apply like a hair mask and leave on for around 15 minutes before rinsing in cold water.
Salon scheduling assistance – here!
Booking your beauty appointments well is crucial around a holiday, when you want to look and feel your best. But hold up before you book in for any colour work, my friend.‘It’s always nice to have your hair feeling fresh for holidays, but be prepared to see fade from the sun,’ warns Scott-Wright. ‘I usually recommend a toner over blonde colour before you go; this will make you feel fab before your hols.’ Then when you're back home, book in for the full works so you can properly restore any lost lustre.’
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
