The biggest mistake with blonde highlights isn't made in summer - it's made before it. Hairdressers warn that most women go into the season with hair already drained from coloring, and that's exactly when the sun, chlorine and salt hit hardest.

The logic is simple once it's explained. When hair reaches summer with an open cuticle or with dryness, the damage from external factors multiplies - the color fades faster, and the highlights lose their shine within a few weeks. "Beautiful blonde doesn't depend on the color alone, but on the health of the hair," stylists say, and that's the point the coloring industry rarely emphasizes.

What to do instead? Tip number one - leave the big color corrections for September. Before your holiday, do only subtle, strategic touch-ups on the highlights, not a complete transformation. Tip number two, more important - invest in a deep hydration treatment at the salon that will close the cuticle and seal the fibers before you head to the sea.

For the season itself, the routine is simple but it has to be consistent: generous hydration with conditioner after every wash, an intensive mask once a week, and - a detail many forget - a protective spray with a hair SPF before every trip to the beach or pool. After swimming, rinse your hair with fresh water to remove the salt and chlorine. And less blow-drying and straightening; let your hair dry naturally. Healthy hair holds blonde longer than any new color does.