Paul Mitchell Director Of Education Stephanie Gelston says salons will see a huge influx of clients mid-spring, all wanting to dramatically lighten and lengthen their hair for summer.
But have they left their run too late?
Stephanie gives us the inside scoop on what you can do now to make sure your hair is ready for lazy summer beach days and hot summer nights.
1. Get Real
Many women want lighter hair in summer, with blonde making a huge trend comeback in warmer months, says Stephanie.
When looking to lighten your hair colour it is important to work within the parameters of your natural hair colour and condition.
Stephanie says trying to lighten your hair to a level too far from your natural tone can damage your hairs condition and create an unflattering end result.
So seek professional advice as to what lighter level will best compliment your skin tones, complexion and work with the condition of your hair.
2. Go Pro
When it comes to lightening your hair it is best to leave it to the professionals, she warns.
Home colouring can be tricky and unpredictable at the best of times, but lightening is a whole new level of complicated.
Seek professional consultation and application from a trained stylist, who will be able to flawlessly lighten your hair disaster free.
Try this:
Protect your hair colour with the new launch Paul Mitchell Ultimate Color Repair Mask, 150ml, RRP $37.50
3. Plan for change
If lightening or lengthening your locks is your end goal for summer, talk to your stylist about creating a treatment plan to get you there in manageable steps.
“Gradual change is the best way to maintain the health of your hair and ensure that your over all colour, conditioner and style is natural and flawless” explains Stephanie.
“So working on your summer hair in six week intervals across the cooler months will ensure you have your ideal hair in beautiful healthy, shiny condition in time for summer.”
If undergoing a dramatic colour change or growing out a short cut, you will inevitably go through styles that are not your ideal whilst you work toward your end goal, she warns.
Try styling your hair in different ways to get through these rough patches.
Try this:
Braids, plaits, top knots and big soft curls are great styles to try to make it through tricky hair phases
4. Hydrate thirsty hair
Hair can become very dehydrated in the cooler months as we spend more times indoors and ramp up use of blow-dryers and heat tools.
Adopting an ultra-moisturising at home maintenance system in cooler months will help keep hair in optimal conditioner for summer; soft, silky and super shiny.
Try this:
MarulaOil Rare Oil Replenishing Shampoo 222ml RRP $36.00 & Conditioner 222ml RRP $37.00
5. Don’t skip your trims
The worst thing you can do when growing your hair skip your regular trim. Whilst in theory you may think this will help your hair grow faster, in reality the opposite is true. Skipping trims can result in increased split ends and hair breakage, meaning that when you do finally visit your stylist you could lose inches of your ends when damaged strands are removed.
A micro trim every 6-8 weeks is ideal for snipping of split ends and keeping hair in optimal condition as it grows.
