How to take care of hair during a beach vacation
One of my big passions is snorkeling: beautiful coral reefs, colorful fishes, friendly turtles - I have to see them all! I go on beach vacations as much as my tight work schedule and my finances allow. However, salt water and sun in combination can easily make hair dry, frizzy and damaged. I managed to find ways to keep my hair healthy and shiny despite spending several weeks snorkeling in the ocean. In this article I am sharing my tips and tricks and some products how hair can survive a beach vacation without getting too damage.
Coconut oil
Some people drench their hair in fresh water before jumping into the ocean. Hair saturated with fresh water absorbs less of the damaging saltwater. Since I often go to (remote) places where I would have to carry a big bottle of fresh water just to wetten my hair, I need an alternative: coconot oil. Coconut oil's lauric acid content allows it to penetrate the hair shaft and create a protective barrier, effectively repelling water. Coconut oil is cheap, reef safe and it smells great! Nothing smells more of beach vacation than coconut oil. Before diving into the ocean, I drench my hair from scalp to the very ends in coconut oil. Then I spray my hair with a UV barrier especially for hair.
Hydration Detangler and UV barrier by Rahua
The Hydration Detangler by Rahua has been an absolute lifesaver for my hair. The spray does not only protect hair from UV damage but creates instantly brushable hair while taming frizzy - and it is reef-safe too! After applying coconut oil on my hair, I give it a good spray with the hydration detangler and UV barrier by Rahua. I always carry the spray with me on my snorkeling trips so that I can re-apply it whenever needed. It can be used either on wet or on dry hair.
Protective hairstyle
After applying coconut oil and the UV barrier by Rahua, I put my hair in a protective hairstyle. I usually do a bun with the ends tucked away when I go swimming or just walk on the beach. However, due to the full face snorkel mask, I cannot put my hair into a bun when I go snorkeling. I just braid it tightly, using soft hair ties without metal pieces. The metal pieces can damage your hair, leading to breakage. Sometimes I wear a turban in the water to protect my hair and my scalp from the tropical sun. At the beach, I always wear a hat. A hat protects not only protects hair but also scalp, shoulders, neck and face from sun damage. Sometimes I even wear a silk turban under my hat, especially on windy days, to avoid getting too much sand and dust on my hair.
I avoid handling my wet hair as much as I can. Wet hair is more prone to damage due to its weakened protein structure and increased elasticity. When hair is wet, it absorbs water, causing the hair shaft to swell and stretch, making it more susceptible to breakage and damage from physical stress, such as brushing or tying it up. Therefore I make sure to braid my hair so well that the braid will last for a whole day of snorkeling.
Good aftercare
After snorkeling or swimming in the ocea, when done for the day, I rinse my hair thorougly with fresh water, then shampoo and condition it like I usually do. I make sure to let the conditioner sit for a bit longer. Again, I use the hydration detangler by Rahua and a leave-in product. Since brushing wet hair should be avoided, I just gently detangle it with my fingers. The spray makes my hair so smooth that I feel like it detangles by itself. Every fourth or fifth wash, I apply a nurturing hair mask adapted to my type of hair. When available, I blow dry my hair low and slow. I only comb my hair when completely dry with a wide tooth comb and apply an oil or a serum on my ends to prevent split ends.
Silk pillow case and silk towels
Even when vacationing, I always bring my slik pillow case and my silk towels with me. I slip the hotel’s pillow inside my silk pillow case and I use my silk towels to gently remove excess water out of my hair after washing. I still wear my hair in a protective hairstyle while sleeping, like I would at home.
By applying these tips, I manage to keep my hair healthy and shiny during and after a beach vacation with a lot of swimming and snorkeling. Let me know your hair care advice during a beach holiday!
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