You’re finally on vacation, and you can’t wait to hit the beach! But before you do, you realize that your hair could be a disaster waiting to happen. Between the saltwater and sun, your hair is going to take a beating this summer. I’m here to help! This list of tips will help you achieve healthy hair at the beach, and you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation without having to worry about your hair.
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Ways The Beach Affects Our Hair (and why it matters)
If you’re like me, you take great care of your hair when you’re not at the beach. Think of all the time and money we spend on our mane, investing in
- Haircuts
- Treatments
- Color and highlights
- Products
- Expensive hair tools
But once you get to the sand and surf, all bets are off! Your hair gets wet, tangled, and full of salt. Not to mention all the sun exposure that can fade and dry out your hair. Add in the fact that you’re in a different climate than your hair is “used to” back at home. So what’s a girl to do?
How To Have Healthy Hair At The Beach
Here are some quick and easy tips to adjust your routine and keep your hair healthy at the beach:
1. Use Hair Masks and Oils Regularly
When your hair is already in good condition, it can withstand the sun, salt, and wind at the beach. One way to preventatively boost your hair’s moisture is to regularly use hydrating hair masks and oils. Get your hair in great, nourished shape before you ever leave on vacation!
Once or twice a week spend about 10 minutes treating your hair with a mask like the Olaplex #8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask. I like it because my hair feels SO silky after using it. It’s a 10-minute transformation. Another favorite is the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair – I love that this one comes in a huge tub and it lasts a really long time. It’s the one I find myself reaching for again and again! Especially with the Florida humidity it’s been a lifesaver for me.
You can also use nourishing hair oils on the mid lengths to ends of your hair. This adds moisture and shine and protects your hair from the elements. Trust me, your future self will thank you! There’s a reason so many people (including me) love the Moroccanoil Treatment. It smells fantastic, makes your hair super shiny, and blocks frizz. Win, win, win.
2. Look For Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner Formulas
The second thing that you can do to have healthy hair at the beach is to use hydrating products in the shower. Being at the beach will dry your hair out so think of this as another way to be proactive.
What you want to look for are “hydrating” or “smoothing” shampoos and conditioners. I like the Living Proof No Frizz collection – it has been GAME CHANGING to smooth my hair without making it weighed down. and also this one for a day at the beach because they nourish the hair from the inside out.
Another thing you can look for are sulfate-free formulas, because they can be more stripping. What you want is something gentle and hydrating. Avoid products labeled “detox” or “clarifying” because those types of products won’t give you the hydrating benefits that you’re after. Another super hydrating, smoothing and frizz fighting option I love and use is the Briogeo Farewell Frizz – they even have a travel-sized kit that is perfect for vacation!
3. Pre-Rinse And Use a Leave-In Conditioner
Now that you’re taking care of your hair before your trip and have some great products to use in the shower, let’s talk about your beach day and how you can prep your hair to keep it protected.
The first thing you want to do is to rinse your hair before you get to the beach. Because hair is porous, it will soak up the fresh water and therefore be less likely to absorb the salt water.
While your hair is wet, apply a rich leave-in conditioner (bonus points if it has UV protection built in the formula like this one from Ouai). By applying a leave-in conditioner, you’re giving your hair a shield against the elements. The Ouai Leave-In is one of my go-tos because it does so much – heat protection, UV protection, smoothing, adds shine and detangles. And also smells great!
There are lots of products out there for different hair types and here are a few that I’ve personally used and recommend: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk (fun fact – “rosarco” stands for rose, argan, and coconut oil – a hydrating trifecta!) This brand also has a richer formula that’s great for extra smoothing for thicker/coarser/curlier hair – it’s the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blowdry Perfection Creme.
4. Embrace Protective Hairstyles and Hats
Another tip for healthy hair at the beach is to embrace protective hairstyles like a loose braid or bun. Having your hair up or braided minimizes its exposure to sun and wind. It’s a really simple way to protect your hair but very effective. It’s also a good idea to avoid plastic hair ties that can snag and pull out your hair – look for something like these gentle nylon ones or these silky satin scrunchies (my fave!)
Another easy thing you can do is to wear a hat, especially if you have invested in hair color and want to keep it vibrant. A wide-brimmed sun hat is a must to shield from UV rays. For travel, I like roll-up hats that are easy to pack, and I look for a brim of 4+ inches for maximum protection.
5. Reapply Conditioners At The Beach
Those hair oils that you’ve been using in your routine? Take them with you in your beach bag. Sun Bum sells a 3 oz. one that’s great. If you like to stay at the beach for several hours or even the whole day, reapply your oil from the mid-length to the bottom of your hair. Remember sand + salt = extremely drying conditions for hair so it’s necessary to take 60 seconds to apply a protective barrier.
These products are super easy to carry with you to the beach! I like spray formulas like the ones pictured above, because they’re easy to distribute throughout your head (even if you’re covered in sand!) I also like to throw in a wide-tooth comb for quick and easy detangling on the go.
6. Take Care With Your Wash Routine
Wondering what to do after a day at the beach? If you spent a lot of time in the water, swimming snorkeling, etc. you’ll want to rinse your hair. Take advantage of those beachfront public shower areas to quickly rinse your hair.
Some people like to leave the salt in their hair to get those beachy waves and there’s nothing wrong with that! But what you’re risking is drying your hair out. That’s why doing a quick rinse is an effective compromise. You don’t necessarily have to fully shampoo after a beach day, but rinse your hair at a minimum to keep it healthy.
7. Avoid The Habits That Make Things Worse
There are a few hair habits that are perfectly fine on a day-to-day basis but when you’re at the beach are best to avoid.
Knowing that the beach is likely to dry your hair out, it’s smart to minimize heat styling. Hot tools will only dry out your hair. Consider air drying or occasionally skip the flat iron/curling iron. The best air dry cream I have ever used is the Bumble & Bumble Don’t Blow It cream. It totally works, and comes in 2 varieties – one for fine hair and one for thicker hair.
Wind at the beach can also cause tangling, which can lead to breakage. Be extra gentle with your hair while on your beach vacation! Using a wide-tooth comb or wet brush (I love these and travel with a mini sized one!) will help you to carefully comb through any snags. Invest in a good detangler that will help get the knots out at the end of a long day on the water.
I’ve been guilty of this, but I would recommend against using excessive dry shampoo day after day at the beach. Dry shampoo is fantastic (I especially love this one) but using it too much can dry out your scalp. And you hair is probably already dry from being out in the sun. It’s just too much…take it easy…take a step back…put the can down LOL.
Beach Hair Tips: Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve talked about all the different ways you can keep your hair healthy at the beach, but you might still have some questions. Here’s some more advice to help you prep for your beach vacation:
How do I protect my natural hair at the beach?
Most of the same tips apply here! Here are some additional questions that might be on your mind…
Should I wash my hair everyday at the beach?
Everyday washing isn’t necessary, but everyday rinsing is! The exception to this is if you’re in the pool and exposed to chlorine – in that case you’ll want to fully shampoo because chlorine can make hair dry and brittle and cause discoloration.
How can I keep hair from frizzing at the beach?
I once heard that frizz is your hair literally reaching out (and crying out) for moisture. So your best defense against frizz is incorporating hydrating products in every step of your routine. Think: shampoo, hair serum/leave in conditioner on wet hair, smoothing products on dry hair, and a hair mask once or twice a week.
Beyond products, your styling habits with heat, hairstyles you wear, and wash routine can also play a part. Your hair tools are also critical, and I look for 2-in-1 drying/styling tools – I’ve been using them for years and they’re really effective when paired with the right products.
How do you keep your hair soft at the beach?
A great recipe for soft beach hair is to “cocktail” products. For example, a leave-in hydrating treatment and an oil mixed together are a great combination. It also goes back to not over-washing with shampoo, and being mindful of exposure to heat. Dry hair feels brittle, so do your best to keep hair hydrated and the soft texture will follow.
Healthy Hair At The Beach is 100% Possible
If you found this post helpful, consider supporting Compass & Coastline by clicking on any of the links in this post. I’m an educator in the beauty industry and truly love sharing my knowledge and helping others. I remember when I used to think that frizzy was my hair type and there was nothing I could do about it. But that couldn’t be further from the truth!
If you support me by shopping through my links, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you, which helps me produce more content just like this. Thank you for supporting me! Here’s a shopping list of all the products and tools I shared in this post to make it easy:
Hydrating Masks & Oils
- Olaplex #8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask
- Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
- Moroccanoil Hair Oil
- Sun Bum Strengthening Hair Oil
Shampoo & Conditioners
Leave-In Conditioners
- Ouai Detangling and Frizz Fighting Leave-In Conditioner
- Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Conditioning Milk Spray
- Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Blowdry Perfection Creme
Hats & Hairstyles
- Gentle Hold Seamless Nylon Ponytail Holders
- Silky Satin No-Pull Scrunchies
- Wide Brim Roll-Up Travel Hat
Other Helpful Tools
- For air drying: Bumble & Bumble Don’t Blow It Cream
- For gentle detangling: Anti-Static Wide Tooth Comb
- For gentle detangling: Wet Brush
- Living Proof PhD Dry Shampoo
- Hair tools that smooth: Revlon 1-Step Volumizer or Dyson Air Wrap (definitely a splurge but it can do SO much with all the different attachments)
Wondering About Beach Makeup?
Check out some of my other content for beach makeup, nails and more! Click the images below to read more:
