No fear hair

Balayage Riviera, this seasonís new highlighting service from LíOreal Professionnel. Photo / Supplied

If your hair is anything like mine right now, it probably looks a bit the worse for wear.

Faded colour, dry ends and a tendency to frizz are all summer staples.

Beach hair is the reason, and though some may say it's a beautiful look, they mean the hair you see in a magazine, not the crunchy mop that results from too much exposure to the elements.

Given the price of a good cut and colour, it's a worry seeing your style pack a sad.

To help prolong your hair investment, it pays to work with, rather than against, nature. Protect your hair just like your skin, and treat it to moisturising shampoos and restoring conditioning treatments. Go easy on the heat styling, so you don't do more damage and do use thermal protection while blow-drying or using straighteners. But the most cunning trick is to consider colour carefully.

Emma Ecott, creative director at Servilles Takapuna, advises techniques like Balayage, the French term used to describe the sweeping, freehand style of adding natural looking streaks, rather than bleaching hunks of hair in foils. Think supermodel Gisele Bundchen, with her tousled mane, rather than scary skunk stripes.

Balayage isn't just for blondes or to transform mousy hair. Similar techniques can introduce this natural looking light-and-shade effect to darker hair too.

Another summer tip is to ask about colours that are least likely to turn brassy, which means auburn tones (like mine) can prove high-maintenance due to their tendency to fade fast. To help maintain colour, it's worth trying one of the raft of new colour protection shampoos - most professional brands do versions.

"They won't fix a colour that isn't right, but they help after a few weeks when hair fade is a problem," says Ecott. She recommends getting your stylist to select a good in-store or take-home treatment that's right for your hair type. Shampoos and conditioners should also be be "really hydrating to deal with that beachy, frazzled look."

I'm a big fan of Pureology shampoo, which has helped my colours last longer, but with the bonus of leaving hair super soft.

Ecott says blondes with lots of highlights should consider toning down their colour for a more graceful look.

A semi-permanent colour at the roots can make bleached hair a little darker, but by allowing the hair to fade out to blonde at the ends, a sun-kissed look is maintained. If hair is brassy, then going lighter can be the answer, but only if its condition is up to this, otherwise darken up a little.

Ecott likes L'Oreal's Shine Blonde shampoo.

Those with dark or red hair, should use a natural colour over the top to tone down any out-of-kilter highlights.

Ecott says winter hair trends are for strong, solid colours, and while she's already in the mood to work with this more extreme fashion look, for wearability she says a more subtle approach is less demanding.

"You've got to be able to carry it off," she says of the darker shades ahead, which include blood red and blacks, and cooler tones for blondes. Cuts are becoming shorter and stronger, with panels of strong colour. Longer hair has more defined fringes and blunter ends after seasons of natural styles.

But for now, it's definitely best to stick with colours and easy-care cuts that work well under the sun.

Summer shampoo sample:
Kerastase Soleil Anti-damage shampoo $36, Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure Color Save Sulphate-Free Shampoo $27.30, Wella Biotouch Color Protection Shampoo $24.50, Redken Color Extend Shampoo $31, Pureology Essential Repair Anti-Fade Complex Shampoo, $40.

Travel limited edition:
Kerastase Oleo-Relax Travel Set, with mini shampoo and treatment in pouch, $40.

Stockists: Professional salons and specialist shampoo shops.