Maintaining your gorgeous locks at the beach or on the patio can be simple. Clairol consulting colourist Luis Pacheco gave us 6 tips for effortlessly beautiful hair:

(1) Go with your natural curl.

“Avoid straightening and blow drying - the humidity in the air will work against you and it will win,” says Pacheco.

(2) Choose Caramel: lighten brown or black hair one or two shades and choose a caramel shade that will go with tanned skin.

“As skin warms up and bronzes in the summer, so should your hair colour,” he says. “Brunettes [who went ashy] during the winter should soften; if you're of a cooler skin tone stay neutral ... this also applies to blondes.”

(3) Retouch your new growth only, allowing already coloured hair to fade naturally with the sun.   

(4) Maintain hair health by choosing a colouring product that amplifies your natural tone – stay within two shades of your true colour (lighter or darker). Avoid drastic changes and highlights as these will more likely cause hair damage.

(5) Preserve blonde locks by extending the time between washes.

“The second hair is exposed to water, it causes the cuticle to open, allowing artificial pigment to fall out of the hair shaft and causing colour to fade,” says Pacheco.
   
Quick Fix: Try a conditioning treatment to seal your colour between touchups.

(6) Choose products that contain sunscreen to shield against UV damage and use a quality conditioner regularly.  Your best bet?  Cover up with a stylish summer hat!

How are you protecting your colour this summer?

by Sandy Caetano