Why You Should Skip The Shampoo After A Dip In The Ocean
Summer haircare and winter haircare are two entirely different ballgames. In the winter, your hair may be dry and prone to dandruff, whereas, in the summer, you need to get ahead of the heat and protect your hairstyles with humidity-fighting products.
But what happens when you go to the beach, take a dip in the ocean, and come out with your hair feeling sticky from the salt and looking frizzy when it dries? Everyone talks about the salty, beachy waves, but in reality, your hair is crying out for help.
Before you start trying to figure out how to style your hair with a bandana to protect your locks, know that the sexy beachy look is totally possible. All you have you have to understand is how salt affects your hair and how to work with it — by adding a few habits to this year's beach routine, you can smooth frizzy hair during humid summer weather.
What salt does to your hair
Dipping your head underwater at the beach may feel refreshing when it's hot, but there are some side effects that come along with it. On a positive note, salt is a wonderful exfoliant for your scalp, helping to flake away dead skin and product buildup. It also effectively purifies your scalp of excess oil that nests there in the summer heat, and promotes growth by stimulating circulation through the process of exfoliation. In fact, some people detox their hair monthly, using a homemade sea salt scrub made of coarse sea salt and clarifying shampoo, to cleanse and replenish their scalp.
Unfortunately, the sea salt that's found in ocean water can also be harsh on your locks, making your hair dry, brittle, and prone to breaking, split ends, and frizz. This results in tangles that, when brushed, can cause excess hair loss.
Haircare is a finicky game; the blessing it brings to the scalp by removing oils also causes damage to your hair. So how do you enjoy the beach uninhibited and without worrying too much about your hair?
The right way to care for hair during and after a day at the beach
Enjoying your summer by going to the beach shouldn't be a choice between haircare or scalp care. You can have both by washing your locks in nature's saltwater if you apply a conditioning product after your dip. Whether you opt for a protective oil or a leave-in conditioner, be sure to focus on putting the product on the ends of your strands and slowly work your way up, massaging it into your hair. Be sure to avoid the scalp, so that it doesn't look greasy later on.
When you're home and ready to wash your hair in the shower, don't. Shampooing can further dry out your hair, leading to a multitude of hair and scalp issues. Instead, try a cool or lukewarm shower, which is better for healthy hair, and co-wash. Co-washing, or skipping the shampoo and washing with just conditioner, can be beneficial to beach-goers because it moisturizes the hair after its oils have been stripped. You can also choose to wash without any product at all. Or, if your hair is prone to breakage, a deep conditioner can be your savior.
When combing your hair, use a wide-tooth comb, as it will cause less hair loss. To better protect your hair throughout the day, applying a conditioning product before you even head out to the beach is a smart idea, as the sun can also have a drying effect.