How to rescue your post-holiday hair

Great tips for damaged hair. Photo / Thinkstock

Auckland salon owner Lucy Vincent-Marr recently fitted in a brief escape to Vanuatu. Here she shares her hair rescue tips.

If your hair is hammered post-holiday, what is the best way to disguise this and restore its condition?

First of all, start with the condition of the hair by delivering a super-powered dose of small molecular proteins to penetrate the internal fibre and strengthen from within. (Try Vincent-Marr's own Sans Nourishing Hair Hydratant, $42, or her other recommendation, O+M The Power Base, $39.)

Secondly, to disguise damage, work on instantly restoring the pH as this is what gives hair its reflective shine and brilliance and helps detangle and smooth. (Try Sans pH Shine Corrector, $65, or O+M Original Detox Shampoo and Conditioner, $38 each.)

Any tips on getting through the next few months of sunshine?

For long days in the sun, work some of your favourite hair treatment through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair and cover under a hat as UV rays are unkind to colour and condition. (Try O+M Seven Day Miracle (pictured), $39, as a leave-in moisturiser.)

For blondes, use a good quality shampoo that contains violet colour pigment to help neutralise unwanted yellow tones that come from UV wear and tear. (Try Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel Wash, $48.)

Don't be shy about keeping your ends fresh and clipped. Split ends that are left will split further and require more to be cut off in the future.

Viva recommends stepping up your shampoo and conditioner choice for summer to a more intensely hydrating formula or, if you need it, one for damaged hair. (Try Joico's KPak Reconstruct or Moisture Recovery.)

If your scalp is oily, remember hair ends can still dry out so concentrate conditioner here and keep it away from the roots. Alternate a mask with your conditioner and look for products with UV filters if you are outdoors often or have coloured hair which will fade fast and lose its lustre in the sun. (Try Pureology's colour care ranges.)