August can be particularly problematic when it comes to maintaining healthy, shiny hair. Humidity levels are ramped up causing excessive frizz and the sun (if it’s bothered to make an appearance) along with excessive exposure to air con, chlorine and salt water all have deleterious effect. Plus hotter bodies produce more sweat which can lead to greasy, limp-looking locks.
I was somewhat bemused when it was suggested to me that these issues could mostly be resolved by reconsidering my hairbrush. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever really con-sidered my hairbrush so a re-consideration would be novel. For my wavy hair type, brushing has always equalled a sort of frizzy flatness that I would rather avoid than encourage but, as with so many things, it comes down to using the right tools.
I’m going to clarify from the off that an Altesse brush demands a significant investment. Their Beauté Care and Shine brush will set you back £210 (altesse-studio.com) but this is a brush for life. Each of its boar bristles are strategically placed to minimise pulling, help add volume, and also massage the scalp as it works through your hair. I’m aware that boar bristles won’t be suitable for everyone and apologise to those who won’t or can’t use them but due to their fibrous structure, they are unique in their capacity to grip the natural oils of your scalp and distribute them evenly as you brush in a way that can’t be replicated with nylon or wood alternatives. So we have scalp massage, effective sebum distribution and hair conditioning without even having to think about any hair care products. Pretty impressive.
Consistent use – and by this I must tell you that Altesse Studio recommend 100 strokes a day which is admittedly a commitment – will result in shinier, stronger hair which is less prone to breakage and loss. Sounds tempting? Finally, a word on the ergonomically designed olive wood handle. It doesn’t just look premium, that classy-looking handle is also doing a job; olive wood is a natural insulator and works to limit the static created by brushing.
Four Other Ways to Protect Your Hair This Summer
1/ Shield hair and scalp from UV rays: just you use SPF over exposed flesh or cover up your body to protect against scorching sun exposure, your hair and your scalp need your care and consideration. I never go on holiday without scooping up a Charles Worthington’s Sunshine Protect spray from the travel aisle in Boots (£3.49 boots.com). Another recommendation has to be the (near legendary) Swimcap from trichologist Philip Kingsley (£24 philipkingsley.co.uk), a water-resistant cream which provides coverage against chlorine, sea water and UV rays. Or, go for a stylish scarf (like the Summer Friday Twilly scarf £67 shopcjw.com) or a hat and make like a glamour queen.
2/ Limit heat sources: Embrace slicked back styles and tame flyaways with a little help from Briogeo’s new Sleek Stick (£19.55 briogeo.com) which combines yuzu and plum oil to deliver a frizz-free finish from a travel-friendly super glideable format. If buoyant curls are your go-to, FFØR Pre:Curl Gel (£20 fforhair.com) will help hold and define curls and coils while giving them a hydrating boost and if your curls need teasing out or you’re after beachy waves, use heatless curlers overnight to wake up to satisfyingly decent twists and ringlets in the morning. Kit•sch’s satin wrapped Flexi Rods are a great choice (£13 lookfantastic.com). Alternatively, to keep hair smooth and untangled overnight, Drowsy’s XXL Pillow Scrunchies (£30 drowsysleep.co) are made from 22 Momme padded silk to cocoon your hair, keeping it snag-free as you sleep.
Finally, let me tell you that Newcastle-based Paul Bryan, founder of StaticJam has created a near miracle with his Calm Down and Frizz Off Anti-humidity spray (£22 staticjam.com). Whether it is damp or humid, heat-scorched or coarse this product will leave your hair lusciously smooth and fuller-looking. I don’t say this lightly, but I can’t be without it.
3/ Use hydrating products: With so many environmental aggressors looking to suck the moisture from your hair, you need to use products which actively work to replenish hydration. If you’ve never tried Christophe Robin (perhaps because the price tag could be prohibitive to some) then take advantage of this incredible offer currently available at lookfantastic.com. For just £50 you’ll get products worth a whopping £175 which they’re billing as a summer survival kit and having used the range I can only agree. Another spenny but worth-it option is a tube of Alterna’s Caviar Replenishing Moisture CC Cream (£44.90 alternadirect.co.uk). This doubles as a leave-in conditioner and a styling cream and works to moisturise, smooth and protect hair against breakage and UV damage. A less expensive option could be to go down the hair mask route. Hair Proud’s Hydrate and Nourish Pre-Cleanse Mask (£9.99 iamproud.com) will infuse hair with strengthening biotin and nourishing amino acids or for seriously damaged locks. Or Noughty’s To The Rescue is a richly intensive treatment to be used after washing which contains Noughty’s own blend of oils and oats to repair ravaged lengths (£9.99 boots.com). I also just have to mention Gingerful which is formulated specifically for redheads to keep colour vibrant but the gorgeous softening ingredients they use will benefit any hair colour or type (gingerfulhair.com).
4/ And finally, always rinse thoroughly after exposure to chlorinated pool water and/or saltwater.
