We love summer – glorious sunshine, warm ocean waters and sundowners on the sands. But while all that heat is perfect for lazy beach days, it does nothing for our hair, male or female hair. The heat can be drying and the salt water can be damaging. But that doesn’t mean you have to stray away from the beach!
The best way to keep your hair healthy is by going for regular trims.
Knocking off those pesky split ends before you hit the beach is an easy to stop them from splitting further up the hair shaft.
Every couple of weeks, give your hair a deep conditioning. If you’re planning on spending hours on the beach, use a conditioner with an SPF protection.
When you’re out in the sun, you should protect your hair the same way you’d protect your skin.
Wear a hat or bandana and lather on some coconut oil before you leave the house to lock in the moisture. There are also plenty of shampoos that contain SPF protection.
Don’t forget that if you have a pronounced part in your hair and wear no hat or just a visor, your part (exposed skin!) will get sunburned if you’re out there in the sun too long.
If your hair is feeling limp and in need of some TLC after your beach day, get a keratin or Olaplex treatment at your salon to restore the health and protein in your hair.
Drinking plenty of water during the day can do wonders for the health of your hair. Eating plenty of fruit like pears and apples will be an easy way to up your fluid intake.
When it comes to washing your hair, less is more. Frequent washing strips your hair and scalp of its naturally occurring healthy oils, so it’s better to avoid too many washes.
Rinse your hair in-between washes with cold water to lock in the moisture or use natural dry shampoo to last longer between washes.
Hair feeling greasy? Soak a piece of cotton wool in witch hazel to get rid of excess oil.
Create your own homemade frizz-control spray with a mixture of Argan Oil and water or a mixture of water, Aloe Vera and avocado oil in a spray bottle and spritz as needed.
Embrace beach hair by staying away from straighteners and hair dryers to give your hair a break. If you simply have to blow dry your hair, ensure it’s on the lowest heat setting possible.
Not looking after your hair properly can result in damage and split ends.
Your hair is especially fragile when it’s wet so ensure you only use a wide tooth comb to gently comb your hair out.
Essential oils are a great way to rehydrate the hair, Use coconut and macadamia nut oils as a mask for your hair – leave it on overnight as you sleep and wash your hair as normal in the morning. Don’t forget to condition afterwards!
LAUREN MORLING is a South African travel writer living in London. A writer by day and a reader by night, she loves beach holidays, taking care of her hair, and traveling to new places. Follow her travels on Twitter.
