Want to prevent damaging your hair at the beach? In this post, we’ll cover the 20 best beach hair care tips, to shield your hair from the harsh effects of the sun, wind, and saltwater.
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Planning a trip to the beach? The warm sand under your toes, the bright sun beaming down on you, taking a dip in the refreshing water…it all sounds amazing, right?
But there’s one pretty big issue. The sun, the wind, and the water can destroy your hair.
If you don’t properly protect your hair, those harsh elements can cause:
- Tangles
- Brittle hair and breakage
- Dry, moisture-stripped hair
- Heat damage (yes, the sun counts as heat!)
- A dry, flaky scalp
- Split ends
- Sunburns on your scalp
That’s where your beach hair care routine comes in. Proper care can help keep your hair shiny, soft and healthy while you spend time by the water.
This post includes all of the easy tips you need to know – from what to do before going to the beach, and how to protect your hair while you’re soaking up the sun.
And if you’ve already had your day(s) out in the sun, don’t worry! We’ll also go over the aftercare so you can rescue and repair your hair after the beach.
Whether you’re going on vacation, you live in a beachy place, or you love playing beach volleyball, these tips and tricks are crucial for the health of your hair. Here are 20 amazing tips to add to your summer hair care routine.
Beach Hair Care Tips: Before You Go
Let’s start with the first question you may have: “how do I prepare my hair for a beach day?”
It’s important for the health of your hair to give it the proper care before hitting up the sun and sand. Following these steps will prevent damage while you’re on the beach.
- Use a deep conditioning mask
- Give your hair some extra TLC before you head out by treating it to a deep conditioning mask. These masks restore moisture, repair any damage, and give your hair a much-needed boost. Look for masks that contain ingredients like natural oils, shea butter, or keratin to nourish and strengthen your strands.
- Rinse your hair with water
- If it’s possible, rinse your hair with plain water right before going swimming. Saltwater can strip the moisture from your hair, causing it to feel dry. Rinsing with water beforehand will prevent your hair from soaking up the saltwater (think of your hair like a sponge). If that’s not available to you, move on to the next step.
- Apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner, serum, or hair oil
- This will help protect your hair from tangling, brittleness and breakage from getting swept around in the wind. It will help to keep the moisture in your hair, and prevent your hair from feeling rough and dry when you leave the beach. Bonus if your leave-in conditioner has UV protection!
- Use an scalp SPF product
- Did you know the exposed skin in your hair’s part can get sunburned too? Prevent sun damage to your scalp by using an SPF product specifically designed to use on your part.
- Apply a heat protectant
- Spritzing a bit of a heat protectant on your hair will help minimize damage caused by staying out in the sun, and keep your hair looking healthy and shiny.
- Use a color-protecting product
- If you have color-treated hair, it’s important to take extra precautions. The sun’s rays can fade and change hair color and leave it looking dull. To prevent this, use a color-protecting spray or serum before heading to the beach. These products help to shield your hair from UV rays and keep your color vibrant.
How Do You Treat Your Hair at the Beach?
Whether you’re lounging, playing a sport, or going swimming, here are the best beach hair care tips to keep your hair healthy while you have fun!
- Put it in a protective style
- I totally understand if you love wearing your hair loose at the beach. It looks pretty! But wearing a protective hairstyle is a great idea to prevent getting tangles from your hair whipping around in the wind. A classic braid or bun is always a good choice!
- Wear a sunhat or a scarf
- Wearing a sunhat or a pretty hair scarf can protect your hair and scalp from the sun, wind and sand. Throw it on whenever you’re not in the water to maximize your protection.
- Drink water and other hydrating beverages
- Though it’s not hair care directly applied to your head, staying hydrated on the inside helps to keep your scalp, hair and skin from drying out.
- Reapply your SPF hair products
- If you’re out in the sun for a few hours, you’ll want to make sure you keep up with your sun protection by reapplying your scalp SPF, UV protection product or heat protectant.
Post Beach Hair Care Tips
Next, let’s go over your hair care routine for after the beach. If you want to know how to make your hair look good after the beach, follow these tips!
- Rinse well
- With plain shower water, rinse out your hair. This will get the sand and saltwater out of your hair, and have your hair ready for step 2.
- Shampoo
- Choose a gentle one that’s sulfate free, and won’t dry out your hair even further. If you go swimming often, be sure to use a clarifying shampoo once every 1-2 weeks to prevent buildup.
- Deep condition
- Deep condition again, especially if you are prone to dry hair, split ends and moisture loss. Don’t skip this step if you have curly hair! If your hair feels weak, you can use a strengthening product like a bond builder.
- Condition
- Use a generous amount of a conditioner that makes your hair feel soft, and gives your hair a lot of slip. After letting the conditioner sit for a couple of minutes, you’ll move on to…
- Detangle
- You can use a wide tooth comb, or a Wetbrush. Section your hair and starting from the ends, gently work your way up the hair shaft. If you need more slip to prevent knots and rips, add a bit more conditioner.
- Apply a nourishing leave-in
- After rinsing your conditioner out, apply a leave-in conditioner to help your hair hold onto moisture, and make your hair look shiny and feel soft.
- Apply an anti-frizz serum
- If you’re prone to frizz, you can tame it by applying a serum designed to smooth out frizz and add shine to the hair.
- Avoid heat styling
- As we know, heat styling tools can cause a lot of damage. So if your hair is feeling dry from the beach, skip the tools like flat irons and curling wands. If you want to dry your hair with a blow dryer, be sure to use it on a low setting, whether you’re using the nozzle or a diffuser for curly hair.
- Apply aloe vera
- If you notice a bit of flakiness or you’ve got a sunburn on your scalp, apply a thin layer of aloe vera gel to the area. It will help to soothe and heal the skin.
- Keep tension off of your hairline and ends
- To style your hair after the beach, it’s a good idea to keep it in a somewhat loose style that won’t promote breakage or split ends. After it’s dry, put it up in a clip, relaxed bun or other style that won’t put a lot of stress on your hair.
You May Also Like: 30 Pretty Vacation Hairstyles for Long Hair
Beach Hair Care Tips: FAQ’s
Yes! You may want to stick to a gentle DIY shampoo to prevent your hair from drying out.
Using an apple cider vinegar rinse is an easy way to gently cleanse the hair and remove buildup, without stripping it!
Conditioner is a must, as it will help soften the hair, smooth the hair shaft, and allow you to easily detangle.
It really depends on how often you’re going in the saltwater, and whether you’re taking any protective measures while outside.
If you live somewhere sunny and the beach life is your everyday lifestyle, start with using a gentle shampoo every 2-3 days and see how your hair feels.
Adjust the frequency according to how your hair responds. Remember to condition every time you shampoo, and use a clarifying shampoo a couple of times a month.
Make sure that before and after your beach days, you’re regularly conditioning your hair and using very hydrating and nourishing hair masks. Always condition after washing your hair, as that will help smooth the hair cuticle and prevent frizz.
Use a frizz-fighting serum or hair oil, and avoid harsh shampoos that strip your hair of moisture and cause more damage.
Also know that some level of frizz is normal! Especially if you have curly hair. Do what you can to take care of your hair, but don’t freak out about a little frizz. Embrace it!
There you have it! With these simple summer hair care tips, you can create the best beach hair care routine to make sure your hair stays healthy all summer long.
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