In Dubai, ‘summer’ is a byword for bad hair. Everyone seems to have it. From big and frizzy to flat and greasy, it’s a no-win situation — unless you know how to fight it. Luckily, we do, and we’re happy to help. You’re welcome.
Invest in some summer scarves
If you wear a hijab, summer is the time to look for lightweight fabrics to keep your
head cool and your hair fresh. And there’s no need to spend a fortune either.
Supermarkets such as Carrefour might not be the first place you’d think of for fashion but they’re full of pretty summer scarves to see you through until September.
Available at: Carrefour, Mall of the Emirates
Slather on a conditioning mask
If you spend your days in an office with the AC ramped up, your hair could be paying the price. For a moisture boost this summer try L’Occitane’s delicious smelling summer protection gel conditioning mask. Infused with angelica, lavender, geranium, mint and eucalyptus, it smells great and it’s got UV protection too so you can slap it on and wear it by the pool. What’s not to love?
Available at: Dubai Mall, 04 339 8148; Dh155 for L’Occitane gel
Try KeraStraight
If you’ve got big, bulky hair, this is the treatment for you. Forget the name, it’s not a straightener. This product is more of a de-bulker, if you will.
KeraStraight originated in Brazil and uses the hair’s natural protein, keratin, to smooth and strengthen it. More importantly, it does not contain formaldehyde, unlike many other traditional straightening formulas.
The solution is applied to the hair, then left on for up to 30 minutes, before being set with straightening irons. This helps seal the good stuff in. It doesn’t smell great, but don’t let that put you off. The solution is then rinsed out and your hair is styled.
The result is silky hair with much less weight — and it lasts for two to four months, which is more than enough to see you through a sticky summer.
Available at: Pastel, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah, Dubai, 04 394 7393; Dh1,000 to Dh2,500, depending on hair length
No more blow drying
If you’re ready to commit to a permanent solution for unmanageable hair, summer is the time to do it. Permanent straightening will iron out your kinks for good and alter the structure of your hair (until the regrowth), making it more manageable and removing the need for blow drying. Like the sound of it?
You need to commit at least a morning to the process, maybe even a full day if your hair is long, but the results are more than worth it. The treatment involves the application of several solutions, then a whole lot of straightening to seal them in, but the outcome is astounding.
You will not need to straighten your hair again until the roots come through. The only downside is that this is a permanent solution so make sure you know what you’re committing to.
Available at: Jen’s Hair Salon, 04 331 1425; Dh2,000+ for L’Oréal straightening treatment
Go up in the world
An updo might not be your go-to style, but for summer it’s a life saver. A neat bun works for a day in the office but for something a bit fancier, why not try a hairpiece? Don’t be afraid, the styles available these days are pretty well-priced and they don’t make you look like you’ve convinced a cat to curl up on your head. The mail order range from ASOS is particularly good and they deliver free to Dubai. All you need is a few pins and you can transform a bad hair day into the hairdo of your dreams with little effort.
Visit www.asos.com
Switch to dry shampoo
We’re aware that it may sound crazy to wash your hair less over the sweaty summer months, but bear with us. Any hairdresser worth their shampoo will tell you it’s bad for hair to be washed too much and that an over-zealous routine will only add to your problems. Dry shampoo is the secret. Spritz it onto your roots in between regular shampoo days rather than washing your hair, and you can make a professional blow dry last longer and reduce greasiness in one go.
Available at: Boots; Dh10 for Dry shampoo
