August is here and the summer holidays are in full swing. Whether you are jetting off on a family holiday, spending the week at a local camp, or just trying to survive six weeks without losing your mind, your child’s hair is probably the last thing on your list.
Fair enough. But a little bit of thought now saves a lot of hassle later — tangled knots at bedtime, green-tinged hair from the pool, and the back-to-school panic when you realise their fringe is covering their entire face.
Here is our practical, no-nonsense guide to keeping your child’s hair in good shape through the August holidays.
Before you go away: get the trim done now
This is the single best thing you can do. A quick trim before your holiday means less tangling, less fuss, and less time spent wrestling with a hairbrush when you could be relaxing.
Short, manageable hair is easier to wash after the pool, quicker to dry, and far less likely to end up in a matted mess after a day at the beach. If your child has longer hair, even a small trim to tidy the ends makes a noticeable difference.
We are open throughout August at all three of our salons — Sutton Coldfield, Hagley Road in Birmingham, and Wolverhampton. Walk-ins are welcome when we have space, or you can book online.
Sun, sea, and chlorine: what they actually do to children’s hair
Swimming pools and the seaside are brilliant fun. They are not brilliant for hair. Here is what happens and what to do about it:
Chlorine
Chlorine strips natural oils from hair, leaving it dry, brittle, and sometimes with a greenish tint on lighter hair. The fix is surprisingly simple: wet your child’s hair with clean water before they get in the pool. Hair that is already saturated absorbs far less chlorine. After swimming, rinse thoroughly with fresh water. A gentle children’s conditioner twice a week repairs most of the damage.
Salt water
Sea water is less harsh than chlorine but still drying. The salt crystals left behind as hair dries can cause tangles and breakage. Again, a fresh water rinse after swimming is the answer. If you are on a beach holiday, a small spray bottle of plain water in your bag is genuinely useful.
Sun exposure
UV light fades hair colour and dries it out, especially fine children’s hair. A hat is the simplest protection. If your child refuses hats (most do at some point), a light leave-in conditioner with UV protection helps. Apply it like sun cream — before they go out, not after the damage is done.
The holiday hair routine that actually works
You do not need a complicated routine. Three things cover it:
- Rinse after every swim. Fresh water, every time. Takes thirty seconds and prevents most problems.
- Detangle before bed. A wide-tooth comb through damp hair with a drop of conditioner. Do it at night so you are not fighting knots and a tired child in the morning.
- Tie it up during the day. Braids, plaits, ponytails — whatever keeps it contained. Loose hair plus wind plus sun cream equals tangles that take an hour to undo.
The August nit warning
Nobody wants to think about this on holiday, but August is peak season. Children playing closely together at camps, holiday clubs, and play dates means head lice spread quickly. It is not a hygiene issue — lice actually prefer clean hair.
Check once a week with conditioner and a nit comb. If you catch them early, treatment is straightforward. If you leave it three weeks, you are in for a much longer evening.
Shorter hair is easier to check and treat. One more reason to get that pre-holiday trim.
The back-to-school cut: book it now
September is our busiest month of the year. Every parent in the West Midlands remembers their child needs a haircut in the same week. If you book now, you get the time you want. If you wait until the last week of August, you get whatever is left.
Our prices are the same year-round — no holiday surcharges. And if your child has sensory sensitivities or autism, we offer adapted appointments at no extra cost.
Holiday hair disasters: quick fixes
Chewing gum in hair: Do not cut it out. Rub smooth peanut butter or coconut oil into the gum, work it free with your fingers, then wash. The oils dissolve the stickiness.
Green hair from chlorine: A rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar (one part vinegar, three parts water) usually removes the tint. Follow with conditioner.
Matted knots: Soak the area in conditioner for ten minutes, then work through with a wide-tooth comb starting from the ends and moving upward. Never pull from the root — it hurts and breaks the hair.
Sun-bleached patches: These grow out naturally. A trim tidies the worst of it, and regular conditioning helps the texture recover.
Enjoy the holiday
Your child’s hair does not need to be perfect in August. A bit of sun-bleaching and some pool tangles are signs of a good summer. The tips above just keep things manageable so you are not spending your holiday with a screaming child and a hairbrush.
When you are back and ready for that fresh start, we are here. Three salons, all open through the holidays — Sutton Coldfield, Hagley Road, and Wolverhampton.
Have a brilliant August.
