Post-summer hair and skin saviours

As summer draws to a close *major sad face*, it’s time to take a long, hard look at the condition of your skin and hair. After months of spending hot summer days swimming in the ocean, taking dips in your pool and laying worry-free in the harsh heat of the sun, your complexion and locks are probably looking a little worse for wear.

To get the lowdown on why summertime fun can leave you with stressed-out skin and damaged tresses, we chat to the experts and they reveal the best post-summer beauty saviours to reverse the damage...

SAVING SUMMER HAIR

The damage

Drenching your locks in chlorinated or salty sea water does your hair no favours, depleting it of much-needed moisture leaving it dry and frizzy. “Swimming can strip the hair of moisture and chlorine can discolour your hair, especially blonde hair,” explains ELEVEN Australia Co-Creative Director and three-time Hairdresser of the Year, Joey Scandizzo. “[After swimming], make sure you rinse your hair straight away in fresh water and replenish it with loads of moisture.”

Ever wondered why your hair doubles in size (and not in a good way) on a hot day? Well, you can blame humidity for that. “Humidity isn’t great for hair either, no one likes to look fluffy and fuzzy,” Joey adds.

The remedies

When it comes to rectifying weeks - or possibly months - worth of damage, it’s vital to get your mitts on highly moisturising and repairing products. “Summer can be pretty harsh on hair as you swim more and spend more time outside in the sun, so you need to make sure you use the right shampoo and conditioner and use a treatment,” says Joey, recommending ELEVEN Australia Hydrate My Hair Shampoo and Conditioner.

Intensive keratin treatments are also essential for replenishing fried locks and repairing the damaged hair structure for silkier, smoother strands. We love Natura Siberica Oblepikha Oil Complex for Damaged Hair and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Instant Miracle to instantly inject health back into your hair.

Heat styling your hair can make current damage even worse, so try to avoid this for a week or so while you load up your hair with treatments to give it a chance to repair. Also, book yourself in for a trim to snip away fried, split ends - trust me, you’ll feel (and look!) like a new woman.

If you must heat style your hair, blast it with a hairdryer like VS Sassoon 3Q High Performance Hairdryer. It features ceramic technology that helps dry hair 70 per cent faster than a regular hairdryer while reducing damage and stress. Genius!

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SAVING SUMMER SKIN

The damage

Living in the harsh Australian climate, our skin is far more susceptible to damage from the sun's harmful rays. “When our skin is exposed to sunlight, it can cause oxidising, ageing, freckles, and potentially serious damage - especially in Australia, where the sunlight is extremely strong,” warns Panda Peng, National Education Manager for shu uemura. “[It can also] lead to dehydration, dullness and a lack of radiance,” adds Helen Keegan, National Education Manager for YSL BEAUTÉ.

The remedies

The key to replenishing your skin is by giving it a good drink with hydrating and balancing skin care products. “Looking for products that can both nourish, and maintain the balance of moisture, oil and radiance can be a massive help,” suggests Helen. We love facial oils like RosehipPLUS Certified Organic Rosehip Oil and ModelCo Macadamia + Luxury Facial Oil to give your skin the hit of moisture it needs. And, don’t forget to slip, slop, slap every day. “Making sure a good SPF is present in aspects of your skin care and priming routine is also an essential step in long-term prevention of the signs of ageing,” Helen says.

SPF facial moisturisers we love: Ultraderm Daily Protector Moisturiser 30+ SPF, Ultraceuticals Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF 50+

There’s no harm in embracing the power of make-up and dabbing a light-reflecting illuminator under the eyes for a brighter, healthier-looking complexion. “Adding touches of light using the Iconic Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat which gives you the power of eight hours of beauty sleep in a click is a sure-fire way to offset all those late summer nights,” adds Helen.

Skin brighteners we love: NYX Cosmetics Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator, DMK Super Bright

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Is your hair or skin suffering from the effects of summer? What are your post-summer hair and skin saviours?