Post-summer hair detox: because your locks are in need of some serious TLC after this heat

Re-discovering Your Hair’s Mojo After the Summer

Welcome to our Marie Claire Masters series, a regular beauty franchise that celebrates and utilizes the expertise of women who are bossing it in their fields. Each month these Masters will educate, demonstrate and impart some of their industry wisdom to you the dedicated Marie Claire reader. From current trends and hot topics to how tos and how not tos, these beauty whizz kids are at our beckon call. So get reading, you never know what you tips you might pick up. KT – Digital Beauty Editor

Hi, I'm Nicola Clarke - I am the Creative Colour Director of John Frieda Salons, and in the past I've done Kate Winslet, Kate Moss, Kate Beckinsale, Cate Blanchett and Kate Bosworth's colour. All the Kates! I am the Marie Claire Hair Master and I'm going to divulging some of my tricks and secrets that I normally only share with my clients. With the end of the summer holidays here and everyone making their way back from the sun, hair needs a bit of TLC.

I don’t know anyone who would say that their hair is at its best after the summer. Sun, salt water and chlorine can all take its toll, so autumn is a great time to focus on restoring condition and bringing colour back to its best.

How to combat brassy tones

Warm blondes are often transformed into harsh, brassy tones by the sun. Not only is this unflattering on almost every skintone, but it leaves roots standing out sharply in contrast. Next time you're in the salon, ask your colourist about a toner. I tone down brassy shades on my clients by applying one after fresh colour, and will be very careful about adding more bleach to the lengths; if the client is keen to stay as blonde as possible I will break up lowlights with ultra-fine highlights at the root. My advice to avoid further brassiness? Use the best purple shampoo – it really works to neutralise yellow tones.

Redken Color Extend Blondage Shampoo, £10.05 Look Fantastic

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How to blend your roots

If summer sun has made your hair too blonde, root blending is a great way to tone it down. I recommend applying darker colour with Balayage to bring out the contrast, toning down overly blonde shades to give hair a fresh, youthful look.

Go for a California Cleanse

We've introduced California-inspired cleansing treatments into the John Frieda Salons - they're perfect post-summer, because they removes all build up of chlorine, product, sea water, you name it. All the things that after the warm months dull and damage your hair. They work as a ‘deep cleanse’ for your hair, removing build up from hard water or chlorine; and in true West coast style they are natural, vegan, sulphate and paraben free. Hair is left bright, healthy and glossy.

From £20 at John Frieda Salons

As we make our way into the colder months, having massively overdone this summer - it's the perfect time for a detox.

For you bod and your hair.