SUMMER HAIRCARE TIPS WITH CELEBRITY HAIRSTYLIST– Barry Finnegan

Barry Finnegan is one of Irelands top session stylists and his work has been published in many top magazines including: Irish tattler, U magazine, VIP and Social & Personal. He has also tamed to locks of well known celebrities such Maura Derrane and Jordan to name but a few.  I caught up with him to discover his summer hair secrets.



Q. What hair colours are in fashion this summer?

A. As far as colour goes, it’s all gone a lot softer, so we are seeing a lot more natural tones coming through from the catwalks. Mocha shades and golden hues are really big at the moment. Platinum blondes and really bright blonde shades are out of fashion and the keywords this summer are natural, glossy and muted - Transformers star Rosie Huntington Whitley is the perfect poster girl for this trend with her long tumbling, honey blonde locks.

Q. Speaking of blonde hair – do you have any advice for women who may have over processed damaged locks?

A. Absolutely! I see a lot of over processed, damaged blonde heads coming into my salon but there’s a lot that you can do to get your hair back into tip top condition. Most women who have damaged hair believe that a really good conditioner will help to sort the problem out - but that’s only part of the solution. A conditioner adds moisture to the hair but over bleached hair needs protein to help it repair. Your hair will feel quite hard, like cardboard, after a protein treatment but that’s good, because it’s helping to feed and nourish your hair, bringing it back to life.


Q. What’s the biggest mistake that women make with their hair?

A. Probably because of the recession, a lot of women are not going into the salon to get their hair trimmed and as a result I’m seeing a lot of split ends and broken hair. If you want to keep your hair in tip-top condition it’s important to get your hair trimmed every six weeks. I’m also seeing a lot of home dye disasters and, yet again, that’s probably because women are trying to save money by using home dye kits. In many ways it’s a false economy because it can take a lot more money to try to fix a DIY dye that’s gone wrong.


Q. How can you protect your hair from the summer sun?

A. Chlorinated water can give hair a greenish tinge – so it’s important to try to protect it when you are in the pool. When you are swimming a lot in chlorinated water, it is essential to use a professional shampoo and conditioner as they contain UV protection. They are also not surface acting, they actually penetrate the cuticle and remain in the hair when rinsed, therefore protecting the hair while in chlorinated water. When getting out of a swimming pool always rinse your hair thoroughly under the shower. You don't always have to wash it with shampoo - a good rinse can be sufficient - but if your hair has changed colour a good clarifying shampoo will usually repair the damage. Always protect your hair from the sun by using a conditioner on it when you are out in the sun – or wearing a sun hat as this will ensure that your colour does not fade.

Q. What are the key hair trends this summer?

A. There’s two key looks really coming through at the moment and I’m being asked to do them over and over again. The first is a seventies inspired style that’s perfect for summer festivals. You start off by crimping the hair and then you brush it out. Then you catch pieces up towards the crown and clip it up in a casual way ,so that there are loose, wispy bits framing the face; It’s a great look with a laid back bohemian feel to it. For evening, there’s been a big return to vintage looks and 1940’s inspired – as worn by Dita Von Teese. That means pin curls, beehive styles and old fashioned set hair. It’s return to old world glamour and is perfect for girls who want to stand out from the crowd.



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