A professional stylist to the stars offers a little insight into summer haircare

May 30, 2008 08:11 GMT  ·  By

Whether we like it or not, summer can be pretty tough on our hair. It's not just the heat we're talking about here, although that can of course cause a lot of damage. But summer is the season when people begin to spend an alarming amount of time in pools or dipping in the ocean, which means that in addition to harmful radiation from the sun, hair also gets increased exposure to chlorine and salt - which, as we all know, leave it damaged, coarse and frizzy. What are we to do, then? Here are some possible answers from celebrity hairstylist and Priv? salon owner Laurent Dufourg.

The first thing to do, he says, is consider the condition of our hair and ponder whether or not time has come for a radical change. Lighter, shorter cuts are more fashionable for the summer, but he acknowledges it's not an easy decision to make. "The dilemmas are often similar to wanting a wardrobe change - should someone keep their hair long in a ponytail or a bun all summer, or do you go for a shorter cut easier in hot weather? To make a decision look at your hair condition - if damaged because of dry hair and over blow drying, cut it - and condition: treat your hair like your skin", Dufourg advises us in an interview beauty site Raging Rouge.

For many of us, summer also means that our usually well-behaved hair is becoming increasingly irritated due to heat, excessive moisture and prolonged exposure to water, which means that we have to combat both frizzy and flyaway hair. To this, Dufourg recommends using an anti-frizz or straightening serum, which has the double benefit of keeping hair shiny and eliminating any unsightly flyaway locks. Also, use a deeply conditioning hair mask at least once a week and never hit the beach without applying a leave-in conditioner to your hair. Trimming your hair more often than you usually do is also a good idea. A final recommendation from Laurent Dufourg is to never leave home without first applying a finishing texture spray, which does anything from styling to holding your summer hairstyle in place. Have fun!