How to Prepare Your Hair Colour for a Perth Summer
If you've invested in a good colour appointment, a Perth summer can be one of its biggest threats. Sustained UV exposure, salt water, chlorine, and the dehydrating effect of long hot days all work against colour-treated hair in ways that build up slowly — until one day you notice what was a rich, toned colour is now dull, faded, or brassy, well ahead of when it should be.
With a bit of preparation and the right products in your corner, you can get significantly more life out of your colour through summer. Here's how.
Book a Toning Appointment Before Summer Hits
The best time to get your colour refreshed or toned is at the start of summer, not the end. Going into the hottest months with fresh, well-toned colour means you start from a stronger baseline — the fade that happens through November to March leaves you at a better point than if you'd started the season with colour that was already a few weeks past its best.
UV Is Your Colour's Biggest Enemy
UV light breaks down the pigment molecules in colour-treated hair much faster than it affects natural colour. This is particularly noticeable in toned blondes, which can go brassy within a few weeks of sustained sun exposure, and in vivid or fashion colours, which often fade significantly faster in high-UV conditions.
UV-protective hair products — sprays, leave-ins, and conditioning oils that contain UV filters — provide a meaningful layer of defence. They're not total UV-blockers, but they slow the rate of pigment breakdown considerably when used consistently.
Salt Water and Chlorine
Both salt water and chlorinated pool water are genuinely damaging to colour-treated hair. Salt is hygroscopic, meaning it draws moisture out of the hair shaft, while chlorine is an oxidising agent that actively bleaches pigment over repeated exposure. Rinsing hair with fresh water before swimming — so the hair absorbs clean water rather than pool water — reduces how much chlorine or salt is taken in. A leave-in conditioner worn into the ocean or pool adds another protective layer.
Summer Hair Care Routine
• Use a colour-safe, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to reduce pigment strip with every wash.
• Apply a UV-protective leave-in product every morning, especially before outdoor activities.
• Rinse with fresh water before and after salt water or pool swimming.
• Use a deep conditioning treatment weekly throughout summer to counteract dehydration.
• Book a toning appointment mid-summer if you're spending a lot of time outdoors — it prevents brassiness from getting ahead of you.
Plan Your Summer Appointments at Alex Royer Salon
We recommend clients book their summer colour appointment in October or early November, before the peak UV period really sets in, and plan a mid-summer toning visit around January to keep things fresh through February and March.
If you're in Dianella or the northern Perth suburbs, get in touch to lock in your summer colour schedule with our team at Alex Royer Salon on Bayley Street.