How to have beach-perfect tresses

Whether you're heading to the beach while you still can before the humidity and heat kick in, or are heading off to cooler shores for your holidays, your hair will always need special attention at the beach. You'll want to look super stylish and protect it at the same time as the sun, salt and sand all take their toll on the condition and colour. So follow our easy guide to make sure you and your hair look hot all summer long.

Easy Styling

Tousled tresses

Wild-textured, loose hair is a no-brainer at the beach. This is an easy look that suits all face shapes and hair lengths, and calls for very little effort. Simply follow these steps to get it right. Wash your hair the day before hitting the beach. Take a coin-sized amount of styling mousse in your palm, run your fingers through your entire length and leave to air-dry.

To create texture, use a sea-salt spray through your locks and keep frizz to a minimum with an anti-frizz serum. Just a small amount will tame wild hair. Don't forget to keep some headbands or claw clips handy to keep your tresses in check if the sea breeze turns wild!

Buy: Lee Stafford Anti-frizz DeHumidifier, Dh42, Spinneys

Buy: Label. M Sea Salt Spray, Dh80, Toni & Guy salons

Wet casual chignon

There's nothing more sophisticated than no-nonsense tied-up hair on the beach. This is a practical look for anyone with long or medium length hair, and will help you stay sweat-free. You could either tuck-in a regular ponytail or twist hair into a casual chignon after applying a conditioning mask through the roots. Not only can you tame hair with the mask, but you also treat the tresses to a repair treatment all day. To finish, smooth flyaways with a bit of glossing mousse or serum.

Buy: Fekkai Silky Straight Ironless Smooth Finish Serum, Dh130, Sephora

Buy: L'Occitane Sensitive Scalp 5 Essential Oils Concentrated Hair Mask, Dh125, L'Occitane stores

Hair saver kit

More than styling, you need to prep your hair to fight the harsh effects of the sun, sea and sand during the beach season. The best way to keep hair from sun damage is by ensuring it's in top condition beforehand. Regular conditioning with hair masks the week before and taking a break from styling tools will ensure healthy, frizz-free hair even after sun exposure. Don't be fooled into believing your hair is in great health if you've just been smoothing a silky conditioner in the name of hair repair treatment. "Conditioners only smoothen the hair's outer layer so it's easier to comb and appears frizz-free on the outside," says Khaled Kahel WHO IS THIS?. "They don't provide nutrients or repair the damaged hair's health in anyway. Your hair can look smooth and still be weak inside. You need to nourish your hair with an intensive repair mask at least twice a week." And it is especially important to repair your hair before you head out to the beach and subject bleached, coloured and treated hair to further damage.

Must-have protection kit

Miriam Quevado Hair Spray Solar, Dh200, Bloomingdale's:

Heard of sunblocks for hair? Our hair's ageing process is hastened as much by the environmental exposure as by the chemical treatments we subject it to. That's where this especially designed protective solar spray comes in. Its caviar and silicone ingredients shield damaged hair not only from the effects of the sun but also the salty sea water effectively, preventing dryness and colour fading.

Label. M Deep Cleansing Shampoo, Dh60, Toni & Guy salons:

A regular hair wash won't rid you of the salt and sand residue that deposits in the hair and scalp after a swim at the beach. But this clarifying shampoo can be your antidote to unsightly swimmer's hair. Its peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree oil ingredients get rid of the build-up, bringing hair back to its squeaky clean original state.

Fekkai Salon Technician Color Care Rapid Results Moisture Mask, Dh200, Sephora:

When exposed to the sun, your hair loses moisture ending up dry, brittle and faded. Use this rich mask before sun exposure to supply your hair with an extra dose of moisture-retainers and to keep the colour from fading.

Sachajuan Over Night Hair Repair, Dh330, Harvey Nichols:

Just like our skin is best repaired at night, chemically-treated hair responds very well to overnight damage control with a concentrated nourishing treatment. And when you plan to expose hair to harsh elements the next day, this kind of nutrient-rich overnight serum acts as a preventive protection. Its Ocean Silk Technology fortifies the hair, to so it's better equipped to handle the combined assault of the sun, sand and saltwater.