Long tanned limbs stretching out on the white sand. Perfect beach waves lapping over bare backs at waterside dinners. Manicured hands clutching flowing rose. Summer looks so sexy on our social feeds. But the reality is rather less glamorous – especially if you’re holidaying in the Mediterranean during a heat warning or taking the stuffy Central Line every day (I speak from experience).
There are the itchy mosquito bites, the frayed hairs that take on a life of their own in the humidity – and even the most conscientious sunscreen can’t prevent the odd unsightly tan spot. But help is at hand. Here, London’s beauty pros reveal their solutions to all your summer beauty problems.
Heat damaged curls and chlorine discolored color
“Intense and prolonged exposure to the sun can damage hair. UV rays particularly affect the keratin in the hair shaft, which weakens the hair and makes it brittle,” explains Florence Johnson, co-owner of the Afro hair salon SIMPLY Gorgeous. In addition, the sun dries out the hair. “This can be particularly damaging for curly or Afro hair, which tends to be dry,” explains Johnson. So if you’re planning on taking a dip in the sea or at the beach, remember that “your hair is like a sponge,” explains Tom Smith, artist at Olaplex and international creative director at Evo. “Pre-soaking your locks with clean water and a rich leave-in conditioner or even a repairing mask will ‘replenish’ your hair with nutrients, meaning it will be less susceptible to absorbing chlorine and salt from the pool, and its natural lipids and condition will be less affected by the sun.” Philip Kingsley’s Swimcap mask (£24 for 100ml, philipkingsley.co.uk) is a popular choice with swimmers.
When you’re on land, the best prevention is to cover your head and protect your hair with sunscreen. Smith recommends wearing a hat or bandana and topping up your hair UV protection throughout the day. Try Aveda’s Sun Protection Hair Veil (£32 for 100ml, aveda.co.uk). Better yet, wear your hair in a ponytail so it’s easy to protect from the sun.
Larry King
Or if your locks are already frayed, Smith recommends: “Always start with a clarifying shampoo to remove residue from chlorine, salt, skincare products and sunscreen.” I like Larry King Haircare’s City Life Shampoo (£18 for 100ml, cultbeauty.co.uk). Follow with a deep conditioning treatment. Virtue’s Regenerating Treatment Mask is designed to repair heat-damaged hair (£67 for 150ml, lookfantastic.com).
“Steaming is also a great way to restore moisture to hair that may have been stripped from it,” says Johnson. It uses moist heat to open the hair cuticle of curls and coils to provide a deep clean and allow for maximum absorption of conditioning products. For an at-home treatment, try Steam Bar’s steam cap (£35, thesteambar.com) for 20-30 minutes of steam over a hair mask.
And what if your once-shiny blonde highlights have taken on a greenish cast from swimming? Celebrity colourist Amy Fish recommends using a brightening shampoo with vitamin C to “gently remove the shine”, such as Redken Blondage High Bright Shampoo (£21.51 for 300ml, lookfantastic.com). She then warns: “Resist dyeing your hair at home and make an appointment with your colourist when you return.”
Scaly feet and steamed manis
Do your feet look parched after a summer in Birkenstocks? “When you wear sandals, your feet are exposed to the elements, which leads to dry and dehydrated skin, especially in the sun where moisture evaporates quickly,” explains Hannah Taylor, an ambassador for The GelBottle nail polish. “Sandals also don’t offer the protection and cushioning of closed shoes, which can lead to dry skin due to friction.”
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TGB
To prevent the unsightly look, she recommends exfoliating a couple of times a week: “This helps remove dead skin cells, which don’t build up and form calluses.” Also, try treating your feet more like your face in summer by daily applying “a rich cream or butter that you apply after a shower to keep your skin moisturised.” Margaret Dabbs’ foot scrub (£20 for 100ml, boots.com) is great for this. “Massaging when applying these products can improve circulation and keep the skin supple,” adds Taylor. And if peeling is stubborn, look for a cream with “urea or salicylic acid to help exfoliate.”
And how do you make sure your manicure doesn’t crack or chip? “Gel manicures are more resilient than regular nail polish, so they’re a great choice before a holiday,” suggests Taylor. Use The Gel Bottle’s salon finder (thegelbottle.com/salon-finder) to book your appointment in London. And apply a cuticle oil daily “to keep your nails and cuticles moisturized and to maintain the flexibility of the gel polish and prevent cracking,” says Taylor.
To protect your nails, when doing DIY manicures and pedicures, be sure to use a good quality base coat before applying your chosen shade. Beauty Pie’s Wonderlayer™ Diamond Powder Base Coat (£7 for 10ml for members, beautypie.com) contains vitamin B5 and omega-3 oil to strengthen and smooth. And as for the top coat, choose one with UV filters like Beauty Pie’s Flexiglass™ UV Top Coat (£7 for 10ml for members, beautypie.com). “This will protect the colour from sun damage and, when reapplied every few days, can provide extra protection to maintain shine and colour,” says Taylor.
There’s nothing more terrifying than insect bites in the summer. Cosmetic scientist Sam Farmer advises that once you’ve spotted the spot and cleaned the area, cooling is the best method to stop the inflammation, alongside taking allergy medication if necessary. “If possible, put ice packs on the affected area for a minute or two to help reduce swelling and (if it’s an arm or leg) keep the area elevated intermittently if possible.” And if the bite site looks infected, go to the pharmacy and get advice.
Getty Images
Love sunbathing but forgot to top up your SPF? If you notice yourself getting red, “get out of the sun immediately,” warns Farmer. Next, to calm down, you can “take a gentle, cool shower for about five minutes, or apply cold flannels to the affected area for a few minutes, but avoid putting ice packs or frozen gel pads directly on the skin.” It’s also important to drink plenty of water throughout the day, two to three litres spread throughout the day. If you must go outside, wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. And of course, reach for the aftersun and top it up when needed to stop skin drying out. Once the burn has healed, go back to using it once a day after sunbathing. Green People’s Moisturising Aftersun (£21.50 for 200ml, greenpeople.co.uk) is natural, certified organic, and contains soothing aloe vera, calendula, myrrh oil, and peppermint oil.
Once your skin has healed, what about those unsightly tan lines and telltale pale patches? You might want to wear them with pride, like Sydney Sweeney and Bella Hadid, who have shown off their lines on the red carpet and Instagram, but if you want to fake a glowing complexion, celebrity tanner James Harknett is on hand. “For tan lines, gently exfoliating before tanning is key,” he says. Try Three Warriors’ Tasmanian Sand Scrub (£32 for 150g, threewarriors.co.uk) to smooth and hydrate skin.
Three Warriors
While it may seem logical to “fill in the gaps” left by your natural tan, Harknett warns that this will also tan the edges and create harsher lines. “The best product is a bronzer that gradually blends to your skin tone.” He advises using a beauty blender or sponge. Try Real Techniques’ Miracle Complexion Sponge (£6.99, lookfantastic.com) with Three Warriors’ Natural Tanning Cream (£32.99 for 150g, threewarriors.co.uk). “You can be quite strategic about where you apply the tan layer and make sure you don’t over-tan your real colour and get those darker edges.”
“You need to apply the color gradually until you find the perfect color. You can do this morning and night or over several days,” he advises. He adds that you should gently exfoliate every two to three days to keep the skin smooth and evenly renewed without flaking.
Now all you have to do is enjoy your favorite summer drink again.
