Irish summers may be mild, but sun holidays, sea dips, and long weekends at the coast all put your hair through its paces. Sun exposure, saltwater, and chlorine can strip moisture, fade colour, and leave your locks dry and damaged. Thankfully, the hair experts at Peter Mark are here to help you maintain healthy, vibrant hair all summer long with exceptional salon services and professional haircare products.
From pre-beach prep to post-swim repair, we’ve gathered top professional tips and must-have products to keep your hair looking salon-fresh throughout the sunny season.
Why Sun and Salt Are a Threat to Your Hair
Prolonged UV exposure breaks down keratin, the protein that keeps hair strong and smooth. It can also dry the scalp and dramatically fade colour-treated hair. UV radiation oxidizes hair pigment, whether natural or dyed, causing colour to fade quickly. Meanwhile, saltwater strips away natural oils and increases porosity, leading to brittleness and breakage, especially in coloured or chemically treated hair as it is already more porous than natural hair causing it to lose moisture more quickly.
Before You Go Out – Prep & Protect
Use the Right Shampoo and Conditioner
Your choice of haircare products is crucial when heading away to the sun. Knowing which shampoo and conditioner to pack is the first step, and luckily our favourite professional haircare brands have tailored ranges to meet all of our sun care needs.
Use a UV-Protective Spray or Cream
Before heading outdoors, shield your hair with a UV-protective product. Try the Kérastase Soleil UV Mist or Semi di Lino Sunshine Hair Protective Milk, both are lightweight and ideal for summer styling.
Apply Leave-In Conditioner or Protective Cream
To lock in moisture and create a barrier against salt and wind, apply a hydrating leave-in conditioner. We recommend Olaplex No.6 or the Kérastase Nutritive range for effective beach-day defence.
Tie It Up or Cover It
Minimise exposure by styling your hair in a braid or top knot, or covering it with a scarf or wide-brimmed hat. These not only protect your hair from sun and tangling but also add a touch of summer style.
After Swimming – Rinse & Rehydrate
Always Rinse Hair with Fresh Water
Salt and chlorine continue to damage hair long after you leave the water. Keep a water bottle handy to rinse immediately, especially when you’re at the beach and can’t wash it ‘til later. A de-tangle spray like Semi di Lino Moisture Detangling Fluid and wide tooth comb or FARO Detangler Brush are essential here to comb out your hair without causing breakage. When you’re back, wash with a salon-quality clarifying shampoo and follow up with your clarifying conditioner and sometimes a deep conditioning mask.
Use a Clarifying Shampoo Weekly
Remove salt, chlorine, and product build-up with a weekly cleanse. We love Joico K-PAK Clarifying Shampoo or other clarifying shampoos available in our salons.
Follow with a Deep Conditioning Mask
To restore moisture, treat your hair with a deep conditioning mask like K18 Leave-in Repair Mask, Olaplex No.8, or a Redken All Soft Heavy Cream. Use weekly for best results, but when exposed to UV rays, chlorine and saltwater, it can be good to use more often.
Expert Advice from a Peter Mark Stylist
💡 Pro Tip:
"Soak your hair before you swim - just like dry skin, dry hair acts like a sponge. Saturating it with fresh, cool water and layering in your UV protectant before hitting the beach or pool will give that extra bit of help to prevent it from absorbing as much salt or chlorine.
Also, don't forget that your scalp also needs protecting too. This is the one area we sometimes we neglect. If you scalp is exposed to the sun, always use a scalp friendly UV protectant and reapply at intervals throughout the day. Nioxin Scalp and Hair Treatment from systems 2 and 4 give UV protection for your scalp." – Emma, Peter Mark Retail Education Manager
What If You Already Have Damage?
Signs of sun or salt damage include dryness, breakage, colour fading, and frizz. Don’t worry, Peter Mark offers a range of in-salon treatments including Olaplex, Kérastase Fusio Dose, and colour-refreshing semi-permanent services to get your hair back in shape.
Holiday-hair Refresh Hack
How to Avoid Washing Your Hair Every Day on Holidays
You may not want to wash your hair every day on holidays, so what’s the plan? The answer lies in a great dry shampoo! K18 has just released a ground-breaking non-aerosol dry shampoo with results lasting for up to three days*. Once you follow the ‘rinse and rehydrate’ steps above, you can apply the K18 Airwash Dry Shampoo to dry hair.
💡 Pro Tip:
For best results, give your hair a quick blast with cool air where you’ve applied the product to really freshen up your look.
At-Home Essentials for Ongoing Protection
Stock your summer haircare toolkit with:
- A UV-protective spray
- A hydrating leave-in conditioner
- A clarifying shampoo
- A deep repair mask
Book a Holiday Hair Prep or Repair Service
🏖️ Back from the beach? Book a post-summer repair session with our experts.
📅 Book your appointment today
FAQs
What’s the best way to protect hair from saltwater?
Rinse with fresh water before and after swimming, apply a protective cream, and wear your hair in a protective style like a braid.
Do I need sunscreen for my hair?
Yes! Use a UV-protective spray like Kérastase Soleil UV Mist to shield your strands from harmful rays.
What shampoo removes salt and chlorine from hair?
A clarifying shampoo like K18 Detox Shampoo is designed to remove build-up and restore hair balance.
How do I fix hair damage after a holiday?
Use home haircare treatments like Semi di Lino Sunshine After Sun Treatment and book in-salon treatments like Olaplex or Kérastase Fusio Dose to repair and nourish your hair.
