The sun is shining, holidays are booked, sunscreen is at the ready – and all set to be applied to your hair? Just as SPFs have become an essential part of skincare, the haircare industry is pushing anti-ageing shampoos, conditioners and treatments on beauty consumers. But is it really necessary to lavish your locks with as much attention as your face?

“Every client who comes for a consultation is concerned about the effects of ageing on their hair,” says trichologist Philip Kingsley, who has clinics in London and New York. “Hardly anyone over the age of 35 doesn’t have a few strands of grey, and after 40, the hair shaft becomes finer in dimension so there’s a reduction in volume, although not al-ways in the num-ber of hairs.”

“The most obvious change is loss of pigmentation, as we see more grey hairs over time,” says Frauke Neuser, principal scientist at Procter & Gamble Pantene. “In addition, the hair’s geometry [or shape] becomes more irregular, leading to changes in flexibility and manageability. Lastly, the scalp produces less sebum as we age, which can lead to dryness.”