I‘m almost squeaking with excitement because for the first time in nearly three years I’m about to take off for nearly a week in the sun. So that’s cossie, TICK!, floaty frock, TICK! and SPF, TICK! - but I know that I also need to take good care of my hair and scalp, as they can both suffer from UV (even sunburn if hair is on the thin side), sea water and chlorinated swimming pools.

So I asked Belle Cannan, founder of Salon Sloane, and leading colourist Tracy Hayes for tips and products to keep my coloured, tends-to-dryness mop healthy and glossy.

As Belle explains, sun, sea and swimming pools damage hair so it can morph pretty quickly to becoming dry and dehydrated with split ends and prone to frizz; plus the colour fades and it’s difficult to style.

Belle’s mantra is ‘Protect & Treat’ plus Correct if necessary so that your crowning glory keeps its lustre and looks gorgeous. But do ask your own colourist for their tips, she says. And, if you scroll right down, you will find Belle’s simple tricks for Styling.

(Do shop around when buying products as there are lots of offers currently.)

PROTECT

Wear a wide-brimmed close woven hat and if your hair is thinning, consider a specially formulated SPF to protect your hair and scalp from sunburn. Belle suggests L’Oreal Professional Series Expert Solar Sublime UV Filter Spray/£16 for 125ml.

Philip Kingsley Swimcap/£19.50 for 75ml, shields hair from sun and chlorinated water. But do wear a real swim cap too!

Sisley Hair Protective Fluid/£76 for 150ml, forms a protective film that promises to protect hair from the harmful effects of ‘Salt, Chlorine, Sun’. Part of Sisley’s Hair Rituel range, alongside the mask below.

TREAT

L'Oreal Elvive Wonder Water 8 Second Hair Treatment/££9.99 for 200ml. This rinse-out hair treatment resurfaces hair fibres to leave hair looking shiny and glossy; ideal for long, damaged, dry, frizzy hair.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer/£35 for 150ml. This legendary pre-shampoo treatment (originally formulated for Audrey Hepburn) deeply conditions, nourishes and hydrates hair giving bounce and shine.

Sisley Regenerating Hair Care Mask/£76 for 200ml, with shea, macadamia, camellia and hazelnut oils to intensely nourish hair fibres and allow overall regeneration of scalp and hair.

CORRECT 

If blonde hair goes brassy your first aid product is a violet shampoo, which will cancel any yellow/orange tones. Two violet-toned shampoo/conditioner duos did very well with our testers in Beauty Bible Awards this year: click on the names below for Comments and to order.

Fudge Professional Everyday Clean Blonde Damage Rewind Shampoo and Conditioner/each £15 for 250ml

Pump Blonde Shampoo and Blonde Toning Conditioner/each £20 for 250ml 

Also consider:

Philip Kingsley Pure Blonde Booster Colour-Correcting Weekly Mask/£26.50 for 150ml, which targets brassy bleached hair.

For styling and adding volume, try Fudge Professional Styling Violet Xpander Foam/£9.99 for 200ml. This will help banish brassy tones and increase hair density so your hair looks and feels fuller from root to tip.

Brunettes can also face dryness and colour fade in the sunshine and may throw out red/orange tones. Try the Fudge Professional Cool Brunette Blue toning range; this offers a sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner, which will instantly erase unwanted warmth from your hair. It also contains repairing Opti-Plex technology to improve the hair quality and smooth the cuticle. WARNING Do not use on blonde lights or balayage, as it will tone the blonde an unwanted green! (This happened to Sarah with one product and she ended up with turquoise lights….

STYLING

Belle’s simple tricks are perfect for keeping hair looking chic – these work for most lengths with a bit of adapting. Do have a play and see what suits you best. Always use silk ties and scrunchies (lots online at different prices) so you don't damage hair fibres.

Pony tail: gather up all or some of your hair at the back of the crown, keeping it fairly tight round the hairline then pull some pieces out around the front to make it look softer.

Low bun: gather half your hair into a tie or scrunchie, letting the rest hang loose, then twist one or both halves into a fan shape above the knot and pin.

Half way plaits: Make plaits through the front of the hairline – however many or few you like - and tie or pin back, leaving the rest to hang loose.

Prize Draws