Whether you’re jetting off to Ibiza, Mykonos or Barcelona, you’ll want to look and feel your best when going on your summer holiday. With Google searches for ‘hair appointment’ (2,000 searches) and ‘nail appointment’ (6,000 searches) spiking this month, how do we know when the right time to book is for our 1 or 2 week vacation?
If you find this whole process overwhelming, you’re not alone! Luckily the global beauty and wellness experts at Fresha have put together a summer holiday prep calendar detailing exactly when to get all of your beauty treatments done before your travels.
1 month before departure – hair removal
Whether you’re a waxing or a laser hair removal girly you’ll want to book your final hair removal appointment about a month before you depart. This allows for any irritation that might occur to calm down.
We advise people to avoid sun exposure on their desired treatment area for 2-4 weeks before their session, as the laser treatment makes the skin more sensitive to heat and UV rays.
1-2 weeks before departure – hair treatment
Now is the time to be thinking about any major changes you might want to make to your hair, so that your ends are neat, and your colour is fresh.
However, if you’re opting for hair lightening, there are extra precautions you must take on holiday to avoid the discolouration of bleached hair. The sun is known to draw out the melanin in the hair, causing it to discolour. Wearing a hat or hair wrap is the easiest way to limit all exposure, but if you want your hair out in the sun, try and limit direct exposure to the sun for prolonged periods of time.
Pro tip: use a scalp protector spray to stop your hair part burning while out in the sun.
2-3 days before departure – nails, lashes, brows
A few days before departure is the perfect time to get a mani pedi. Whether you go for classic French or intricate designs, nails should be booked as close as possible to your holiday to ensure you’ll have the freshest set.
A few days before you jet off is also a great time to have any brow or lash treatments done. A popular brow treatment is a tint and then either a wax or a thread. For lashes, you can opt for LVL, a treatment that lifts your natural lashes or, if you’re wanting something more dramatic, opt for lash extensions.
Day before departure – last minute at home DIY treatments
The day (or night before) you might want to do some at home pampering. Combine a hydrating face mask with a nourishing hair mask to feel well and truly pampered.
It’s also a good idea to exfoliate your skin before going away, follow up with a moisturiser and body oil for a last-minute glow.
While away be sure to keep up with any aftercare your beautician has recommended, and of course wear sun cream!
James Bridgman, resident holiday planner and Head of Marketing Communications at Fresha, warns that while following this holiday prep calendar will help you be ready for your trip, make sure you allow plenty of time to book your appointments to avoid disappointment. “Consider booking all your appointments at least once 1 month before your trip, so that you can plan accordingly and avoid a last-minute rush. And if you’re getting a haircut, remember to leave a few days for it to grow out so it looks perfect for your big trip.”
Our internal data shows that waxing has a huge spike in May – July in preparation for summer, while hair and nails appointments also spike over the later summer months. If your holiday is around the corner and you haven’t made your appointments yet, keep an eye out for any cancellations to secure a last-minute appointment. Weekend appointments are always the busiest, so try to book in on a lunch hour or later in the evening during the week.”
Let the experts do the work with appointments for hair, make up, nails and so much more with Fresha.