How To Protect Your Hair Extensions on Holiday

Sun-kissed locks are the perfect accessory for your holiday vibe. Alongside a bikini and a fabulous tan, long and effortless hair will pull together your beach ensemble and look simply divine. If you’re wearing hair extensions on holiday, then you’ll want to know how to care for them, so they look in tip-top condition when you’re miles away from your hair salon of choice. 

As dreamy and romantic as the typical summer holiday can be, the conditions aren’t always ideal for hair care. Pupils attending hair extensions training courses learn that warm temperatures are known to cause the dreaded frizz, due to moisture in humid conditions. Similarly, swimming in chlorine or salt water can cause your hair to quickly dry out and appear dull or lifeless.  

Here are the best ways to protect your hair extensions whether you’re swimming in the sea, lounging in the sun or styling your artificial locks for an evening out. 

Wear a hat 

The best way to approach protecting your hair in the sun, is to care for it as you would your skin. Wearing a hat will provide a natural barrier between your hair extensions, your natural locks and the sun’s strong UV rays. A nice, wide-brimmed straw hat looks incredibly stylish and will maximise the protection for your hair. This will also prevent you from burning your scalp which can lead to unsightly red patches followed by dandruff as it peels. If you don’t have a sun hat to hand, then a summer headscarf will do the job perfectly too.

Use a sun protection spray 

It’s also sensible to add hair products with a high SPF straight to the strands of your hair. A leave-in spray will be most convenient so you can just spritz and head to the beach without worrying about your locks becoming damaged. Without such protection, the sun’s UV rays can cause dyed hair to fade or adopt a rust-like shade after being out too long. 

Be careful to check the ingredients first – you’ll want to choose a mineral-based spray and avoid any sunscreen products containing ingredients such as avobenzone or octocrylene which are both known to cause discolouration. 

When applying your spray, it’s best to smooth it down the length of your hair and try to avoid the micro ring or tape extension in case it makes your extensions pull a little loose. 

Swimming with your extensions 

So, first up – should you swim with your extensions in? If they’re clip-in extensions, then you should remove them first. But if you have tape or micro ring extensions, then your best option is to leave them in and sweep your hair back into a ponytail or a plait. This will stop them from becoming too tangled and being difficult to brush through, as we all know tugging your extensions can damage your locks. 

If you’re swimming in the pool, then be mindful of the chemicals added to the water to keep it hygienic. Chlorine and other pool chemicals are harsh on hair and can cause discolouration. If your natural locks or human hair extensions are blonde, then the effect can be more pronounced, leaving you with a greenish tinge to your mane. 

The way to get around this hair horror story is to make sure you wash your hair as soon as you get out of the pool. Try to use a shampoo that has been specifically developed to remove chlorine, such as Soleil by Kerastase. 

Daily hair care 

A day on holiday can throw a lot of sand, salt and sun at your hair, so it’s important to nourish your locks at the end of every day. If you’ve been using plenty of product during the day, a thorough cleanse will help to remove this build-up. Remember to pay attention to the lengths of your strands as well as the roots but try to avoid the bonds. You can even apply a deep conditioning after- sun mask to your locks for a little extra nourishment. 

Styling your holiday locks 

Wearing your hair extensions long and with plenty of volume is incredibly on trend, and luckily this happens to be the easiest look to style too. Depending on the quality of your hair extensions, you might be able to get away with leaving them to dry naturally in a tousled style. If you do need to use heated styling tools such as straighteners, tongs or a blow dryer, then remember to use a protective spray beforehand and switch to the lowest heat setting you can manage. 

Prefer the hair off your neck? A loose ponytail looks super sexy, as does a side braid which hangs down to one side of your face. 

If you’re wearing your hair in a more formal updo, then you may want to use a hair spray to ensure your locks hold in place. Again, use a hairspray with inbuilt SPF, but you might also add a humidity spray to repel any water in the atmosphere. 

Long-term hair extension care 

Depending on the type of hair extensions you have, along with how quickly your own hair grows, you hopefully won’t need to revisit your salon of choice for somewhere between six to ten weeks. This is great if you’re planning to take an extended summer vacation somewhere. 

Of course, one way to move away from being dependent on your preferred salon stylist is to learn exactly how to apply and style your hair extensions yourself. Hair extensions training courses are affordable and provide you with all the tools and experience you need to quickly become an expert in this niche area of styling. 

Secret Salon Academy offers fully accredited hair extensions training courses at our venues in Manchester, Birmingham and London as well as online. By enrolling on our single day beginners’ courses, you’ll be qualified and receive your Secret Salon Academy diploma in just a few hours. To learn more, check out our range of hair extensions training courses dates here or call us on 0161 707 9390.