SUNSHINE and beaches - the perfect mix for relaxing those aching muscles and giving your hard-worked body a holiday. Trouble is, your hair will probably hate it, so give it a treat when you get home.

IF RAINWATER is good for hair, then we should all be shiny and glossy after this summer. However, sun (especially foreign sun), sea, even sea air, and chlorine all play havoc with your tresses and there comes a time when they need a treat.

We've been looking at some of the deep treatments on the market. These are the products that promise to get your hair back into condition almost instantly, restoring its gloss and bounce and preventing you from looking like the wicked witch. Sounds too good to be true? Well, you don't get miracles, but some of them made a difference.

Times of treatment vary from one minute to 15 minutes, but longer treatments didn't necessarily mean better results.

PROBLEMS

Some "treatments" were little different form ordinary conditioners - making hair easier to comb and not much more.

Some were too heavy for the hair, weighing it down with gunk.

Some said they would restore shine, but only made hair greasy.

Some made hair so soft that it was impossible to style and just slithered out of shape.

OUR FAVOURITES...

GUM TOFFEE MUD £3.99

Time: 10-15 minutes.

This was most peculiar. Smelt strongly of toffee - very tantalising as you spend the time waiting for it to work. But, despite smelling very sweet and sickly, it was very effective. Hair looked glossy yet kept its shape well - and didn't smell of toffee once it was rinsed.

WELLA VIVALITY INTENSIVE REPAIR HAIR MASK £3.99

Time: 5-10 minutes

Another where you had to devote a little time to sitting around with your head covered in the cream before getting back into the shower again. But it was worth it. It made hair feel good and it styled quite well afterwards.

AUSSIE 3 MINUTE £5.29

Didn't have a particularly nice smell - but not as bad as some of this range, which can smell most odd. The bonus of this was that it took only three minutes. We liked it. It left hair feeling glossy and nice, but still kept its shape. Good one.

WORTH TRYING...

ANDREW COLLINGE 1 MINUTE WONDER 99p

Time: one minute

Fine as an ordinary conditioner, but that made it very expensive and it wasn't really that special

NEUTROGENA £3.99

Time: one minute

This smelt nice, was light, not greasy and was quite effective. But not so much a hair treatment, more a glorified conditioner.

JOHN FRIEDA £4.95 SHEER BLONDE HAIR REPAIR

Time: 3-15 minutes

Made hair feel good, but also made it totally collapsible.

JOHN FRIEDA KELP HELP £4.95

Time: ten minutes

This smelt nice and was good to use, but made hair too soft. It just collapsed when we tried to blow dry it. For free flowing locks only

VO5 HOT OIL £2.99 for 3

Time: one minute

These are the ones you put in hot water for a minute, then use on your hair BEFORE you shampoo. This makes it more effective and prevents a greasy sheen. This wasn't brilliant, but it was quick and easy.

WEREN'T IMPRESSED WITH...

SUPERDRUG HAIR RESCUE 99p

Time: one minute

Made hair feel greasy rather than glossy.

TIBET MASQUE £2.95

Time: 5-10 minutes

This didn't do much for our hair, also left it feeling a bit sticky.

REMEMBER...

...there is more to hair than what you put on it. It is also a wonderful barometer of the state of your health. If your hair doesn't respond to conditioners, it could well be that it's a symptom of something else. Time to look at your lifestyle - or consult a doctor.