Summer hair & beauty preparation

Getting ready for a holiday involves more than just packing clothes and arranging transportation to the airport. But now we can reveal just how important holiday preparation is to our mental health & wellbeing. Research shows that simply planning a holiday can boost your happiness. In fact, some people start feeling happier as early as eight weeks before their trip begins. And hair & beauty preparations are revealed to be a big part of that happiness. From a new hair colour to a beautiful manicure, the opportunity to invest in some self-care boosts our mood almost as much as the holiday itself.

As well as boosting mood, holiday hair and beauty preparation can simply be an exercise in time preservation; dedicating the hours, energy and funds now to cut down the hours, energy and funds we might require later: ‘high maintenance to be low maintenance’. Whilst we can sometimes fit in last-minute appointments at the salon, most guests opt to schedule their visits weeks or even months ahead to guarantee they are at their best just in time for the holidays.Here’s our top tips for your hair & beauty holiday preparation:

   
2 months before: Consider your hair colour needs
Enhancing your hair colour with lighter tones is almost guaranteed to give you a radiant summer look. Consider beach blonde hues, golden sunshine shades, or try vanilla and caramel highlights, or even champagne blonde balayage. Whatever colour you opt for, you can book in for a simple colour refresh or some highlights around 3 weeks before you go away; that way your hair will look fresh and glossy.

1-2 months before: Begin exfoliating your skin
As summer approaches, our skin prepares for the shift from being covered to being exposed to the sun and warmer temperatures. To achieve glowing, properly hydrated skin, it’s essential to begin with basics like exfoliation. Opt for a quality exfoliator which uses natural ingredients. A good exfoliator will eliminate dead skin cells, boost blood circulation, and unclog pores, leading to smoother skin that responds well to moisturisers.

Exfoliation is a fundamental part of all massages and facials at Obsession Salon & Spa. Treat yourself to a full-body massage and facial at the start of summer and continue with monthly sessions to maintain your skin’s well-being. Call us for a chat or a complimentary consultation to tailor a plan according to your specific skincare needs.

1 month before: Start using serum regularly
Serums play a crucial role in summer skincare by locking in moisture, revitalising the skin, minimising wrinkles, and more. Unlike moisturisers, facial serums have smaller molecules that enable their ingredients to penetrate deeper into the skin. This makes serums the ideal and quickest way to deliver active components like Vitamin E or Hyaluronic Acid to the skin’s layers. One standout serum we adore is Germaine de Capuccini’s Time Expert Hyaluronic serum, known for leaving the skin looking rejuvenated and plump. See the difference before and after using this gorgeous serum on Sally’s hand above.

2 weeks before: Brows and lashes
For beautiful brows and lashes in summer, consider a treatment to make your mornings easier. No more mascara, plucking, shaping and filling. Just get up and go. Now that’s relaxation! At Obsession Salon & Spa we offer a full range of lash and brow treatments from quick lash tinting to longer-lasting LV Lash treatments and from eyebrow shaping to a range of HD Brows services.

HD Brows is a bespoke brow service which combines waxing, tinting and threading to provide you with brows that last up to 6 weeks.
➡ You can read more about it here.
Between now and 31st August you can save £10 and receive a HD Brow Sculpt and a HD Brow Conditioning Serum for just £60 (regular price: £70)

1 week before: Invest in a good cut and hair treatment
Keep your hair in top condition during the hot summer months by booking a regular cut and nourishing hair treatment. A favourite you’ll love is Kerastase Premiere Treatment.
➡Read more here
This new hair treatment eliminates excess calcium absorbed by damaged hair, restoring strength and shine. Ideal for damaged hair, it provides comprehensive care from the scalp to the ends and the results really are noticeable – shiny, healthy hair for the summer. If you forget to book in advance, no problem – just ask during your salon visit, and we can include it while you’re there.
Before 31/8/24 you can save 10% if you have a Kerastase Premiere Treatment in salon and purchase a Kerastase Premiere retail product to use at home.

2-3 days before: Waxing, manicure and pedicure
With lighter and possibly shorter wardrobe attire, waxing is a summer essential. To cut costs on this vital service, think about purchasing a waxing package that offers 6 sessions for the cost of 5. These 6 appointments are valid for a year, and the great news is you only pay for 5 as we throw in a complimentary appointment! Schedule your manicure and pedicure session two or three days ahead of your holiday to ensure your fingers and toes are perfectly groomed. For a lasting colour, we recommend a gel nail polish like Opi which not only has a fabulous range of colours but will last for weeks without the need to touch-up.

On the day
Don’t forget to include after-sun shampoo like Kerastase Soleil in your packing list. While we are diligent about protecting our skin from the sun, we often neglect our hair. Kerastase Soleil Shampoo is perfect for post-sun care, as it not only eliminates chlorine and salt residue from the hair but also moisturises and nourishes it after a day spent at the beach or by the poolside.
Plus, if you purchase three Soleil products, you’ll receive a complimentary Decleor sunscreen with SPF 50 (valued at £15). Alternatively, purchase two Soleil products and you’ll receive a complimentary Kerastase summer gift bag filled with travel-sized products. (Offer valid only whilst stock lasts).

So, whether you tend to leave things to the last minute, plan meticulously, or fall somewhere in between, one fact remains constant: preparing hair and beauty treatments is a crucial aspect of our holiday preparations!