Mar 31, 2010

Prepping Hair For Summer


Summer is approaching and for hair color it is a great time to start prepping the hair before and during the sun, water, heat, and lighter shades added, reds etc. One of the worst mistakes that are made is not preparing the hair before coloring it in the summer months or just before, If you don't take the time to make sure that the ideal conditions are met then you'll be unhappy about the hair color job and health of hair. So why do we need to approach the hair differently? The first thing is that when the warmer weather comes it is a fact that hair color fades faster and highlighted hair gets lighter. The lightening of highlights does not concern me as much in fact I am someone who loves what the sun does to highlighted hair if it is prepped prior, however if it is not prepared the hair becomes dehydrated (dry) and lifeless. The same applies to tints (all over colors) the hair colors not only fade but the actual composition of the hair changes which makes it harder for the tints to stick to the hair.


A hairdresser should take into account the condition of the hair and make sure that the color services whatever route is taking is sealed with glosses and treatments in the salon, with a summer homecare maintenance program i.e. shampoo and conditioner which should be different then their winter regime. Starting in the spring and knowing certain clients hair colors that have the tendencies to have challenges in the summer I like to add glosses and a series of deep hydrating treatments. The hair glosses can either have color to them or clear, I apply them immediately after the color service and continue doing this till the fall. The clear gloss is the one I prefer to use on my highlighted clients this way the actual colors are not altered and the hair is protected with an added bonus of shine. For homecare I suggest products that are specifically designed for protection, from shampoo, conditioner, to even styling aids and I also recommend for home use a protein based treatment for once a week. All this might sound like a lot but we all know how hair reacts in the summer, and if hair is not approached this way it can become disastrous and expensive to fix after the summer is long gone.

The key in successful seasonal hair coloring and happy hair is in the condition the hair is in to begin with, and remembering a simple guideline to prepping the hair;

Condition: Treatment

Color Service: Tints, Highlighting, Perming

Sealing: Glossing

Protection: Shampoo and Conditioner

Style&Finish: UV protection styling aids

my recommended produts

Aveda Sun Care After-Sun Masque and Sun
protective hair veil


Aveda Color Conserve Shampoo and Conditioner


Aveda Damage Control

33 comments:

  1. I love posts like this, I get great ideas and product suggestions thx hcc

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  2. It is true that if the hair is not preped for the summer wear it will end up faded and dry

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  3. The whole aveda line is superior Love the post

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  4. I think glosses and sun protection products are a must, I have seen to many people with the worst hair conditions when they don't put effort into their hair for summer

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  5. love the advice and LOVE aveda!!!!

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  6. prepping hair for the summer is a wonderful idea i did'nt think to put a gloss on for sun protection,, this is why your GREAT!

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  7. when i tint a client after the summer it never sticks, because the hair is usually dryer i'll go for pre-summer preping this year

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  8. nothing compares to aveda products and their gloss,, love it!!!

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  9. Great post! great product recommendations

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  10. when the hot weather is coming a great hairdresser should always switch the products around, and i agree there should be glosses applied to seal all colors

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  11. great info for us non-hairdressers ;]

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  12. I am a redhead who hates the summer on her hair, I will be sure to take this info to my stylist thank you...

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  13. I have been trying to get my salon to switch over aveda for some time now,,, I love the information and suggestions HCC

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  14. i agree with you hcc a little sunkissing on hilites is fantastic when it is properly prepped for it

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  15. hair products should be altered seasonally, a glaze or gloss is the ideal thing to do, nice posting!

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  16. you are so insigtful,, I love your sidebar too!!!!

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  17. i always try and reccomend treatments for the clients but they think its just a ploy and more money, what they don't realize is that it costs them more to fix the dryness

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  18. great post and information as always,, love aveda!!!!

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  19. hair gets so trashed in the summer it only makes sense to prepare it so not only the hair color lasts but the condition which i feel is more important at the end of the day is in top shape. love the post

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  20. love your recommendations. and I appreciate how you share your experience +)

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  21. a few deep treatments, and a couple of glosses and you have beautiful summer hair colors,, nice post!

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  22. I think avedas sun protection hair veil is the best!! no one should be without it -]

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  23. i tell my clients to use a deep conditioner a few day's before coloring their hair , and then right after color i apply a glaze. works very time and if their hair is really dry I add the treatment on the hair the same day as color, glaze

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  24. condition of hair is key for successful summer hair colours.

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  25. great advice! I try everything you share and it always works,,

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  26. love the guide lines all sensible. great posting

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  27. the info is great, damage control rules!!!

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  28. fantastic post and product suggestions i so love aveda and you.....

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  29. glosses are great for the summer they really protect the hair color, i will try your guidelines they make perfect sense

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  30. love your philosophy! aveda does have the best products.

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  31. wonderful post and great product recommendations for "happy" hair!

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  32. HCC and Aveda are the best!!!! =)

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  33. No coloured hair should be without colour treated shampoos and conditioner, and less added heat to the hair used in the summer will also help in keeping colors fresh.

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