A celebrity hairdresser, who has previously styled the hair of Princess Diana, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Michael, has shared his top tips.
With numerous strange ‘beauty hacks’ on social media, distinguishing good ideas from baseless myths can be a tricky task. Fortunately, Nicky Clarke OBE is here to help, confirming that three prime TikTok methods will keep your locks lustrous this summer.
These techniques are particularly helpful for holidays, preventing damage from harsh waters when swimming in the sea or pool.
“[First up,] stick to your usual wash routine whilst on holiday, with the exception of those days you take a dip in the pool or sea,” he said in an interview with Vitabiotics. “Be sure to double cleanse with your shampoo to ensure you get rid of product build-up from any SPF both in your hair and along your hairline, and really work your conditioner into your mid-lengths and ends to restore moisture.”
Double cleansing involves washing your hair twice with shampoo, followed by a round of conditioner. This way, you can make sure any oils and dirt are broken down first, before thoroughly rinsing this away with the second lot of shampoo.
This concept has recently gone viral, amassing a whopping seven million views on TikTok, according to another previous MirrorOnline article. This TLC for your hair may even reduce the amount of times you need to wash per week, as it’ll make your hair cleaner than ever.
But, Nicky claimed you shouldn’t stop at just that. Adding extra conditioner to the ends of your hair before heading to the pool will also help to fight against the impact of chlorine. This harsh chemical is perfect for killing germs in the water, but will strip your hair of natural oils.
So, incorporating this into your holiday routine can help you steer clear of split ends and a brittle feel. This is a hack that’s been endorsed by TikTokers time and time again, with influencer Maddy Peay Millard (@glow.by.madz), among them, racking up 401k like for her pre-pool conditioning tutorial.
Delving deeper, Nicky warned: “It can also affect your hair colour and give it a slight green tint – which isn’t often the desired look… When you’re exposing your hair to chlorine… thoroughly wet your hair with non-chlorinated water beforehand. Your hair will act like a sponge to absorb the clean water, reducing chlorine from coming into contact.
“Post-swim, I would recommend that you wash your hair immediately to remove any trace of chlorine. Otherwise, you risk the chemical sitting in your strands and causing damage.”
The same also applies with sea water. Although it can add minerals to the hair and scalp, its salt content can weaken and dry out hair too. Nicky added: “Just like you would with chlorine, wet your hair before exposing it to sea or salt water to avoid any absorption, which can also lead to dry and brittle hair.
“I would also recommend generously coating hair in a leave-in conditioner to give it an extra fighting chance to withstand any moisture loss.”
