Protecting coloured hair through a Gulf summer

Colour does not fade at one steady rate. In Sharjah it fades in bursts — a weekend by the water, a fortnight of long afternoons outside, a month of sitting under an air-conditioning vent at work. Each of those does something different to the hair, and each has a different answer.

What the sun actually does

Ultraviolet light breaks down the colour molecules sitting inside the hair shaft. Warm tones go first, which is why brunettes turn brassy and blondes turn yellow rather than simply going lighter.

A hat is more effective than any product. Where a hat is not practical, a leave-in with UV filters applied to the mid-lengths and ends before you go out will slow it down.

Salt water and chlorine

Both are drying, but chlorine is the one that shifts tone — particularly on lifted or ash-toned hair, where it can pull green.

The habit that works: rinse your hair with clean water before you get in. Hair that is already saturated absorbs far less of what it is sitting in.

Air conditioning

The least dramatic and most persistent of the three. Constant dry air pulls moisture out of the cuticle, and a raised cuticle loses colour faster. A weekly mask is not vanity here; it is what keeps the cuticle flat.

Washing

• Wait 48 hours after colouring before the first wash.
• Wash less often than feels natural — every second or third day.
• Use lukewarm water and finish with a cooler rinse.
• Choose a sulphate-free, colour-safe shampoo.

When to come back

Most colours hold their tone for four to six weeks in this climate. A gloss or toner at the six-week mark costs less than a full colour and buys you another month before the roots need attention.

If you are not sure whether you need a full colour or just a refresh, send us a daylight photo on WhatsApp before you book — we would rather tell you honestly than sell you the longer appointment.