How the sea and sun affect hair and how to protect it

One of the nicest things about summer is lounging by the beach and enjoying the sunshine. But, your hair may suffer while you’re having fun at the beach. Salty water, UV rays, and continuous heat exposure can all lead to frizz, breakage, and dryness.

Hair is severely damaged by the sun’s rays, which deplete it of natural oils and moisture. By dehydrating the hair and leaving it feeling coarse and brittle, saltwater exacerbates the damage. If you don’t use the proper protection, your hair can easily become dull and unattractive.

Thankfully, there are easy ways to shield your hair from the weather. You can maintain strong, glossy, and hydrated hair throughout the summer with the correct maintenance and a few preventative measures. Let’s explore some ways to enjoy the beach and sunshine without compromising the condition of your hair.

Effect of Sea and Sun on Hair	How to Protect Your Hair
Saltwater dries out hair, making it brittle and prone to breakage.	Rinse hair with fresh water after swimming to remove salt and prevent damage.
Sun exposure can fade hair color and weaken strands.	Wear a hat or use hair products with UV protection to shield hair from the sun.
Chlorine in seawater can strip natural oils, leading to frizz and dryness.	Apply a leave-in conditioner before swimming to form a protective barrier.

How sea water affects hair

One of the most widely used ingredients in home care products is sea salt. It is included in hand masks, scalp scrubs, and nail baths. The salt’s composition, which includes calcium, magnesium, iodine, zinc, and other beneficial elements for the body, is the reason for its popularity.

While most people are aware of sea salt’s health benefits, few are aware of how detrimental it is to hair. It’s not hyperbole to say that taking a seawater bath without taking several precautions can reduce gorgeous curls to straw in just a few weeks of vacation.

Anna Loseva, technologist of the Moroccanoil brand:

You must comprehend the mechanics of the process in order to comprehend how sea water affects hair.

The cuticle of hair opens in high humidity or upon direct contact with water. Seawater molecules can readily pass through the hair shaft’s scales.

A large amount of salt from sea water settles on skin and hair. The salt does not appear in the water while it is there, but as soon as the moisture goes, the salt crystallizes.

The image that appears is as follows: the hair shaft’s scales open up and let seawater in. The moisture evaporates leaving only sea salt particles behind, which crystallize and shatter the hair from the inside out.

Due to a lack of moisture inside the hair shaft, the process Anna describes causes porosity, dryness, and brittleness as well as subsequent splitting.

How the sun affects hair

The second potentially harmful factor for the state of hair is sunlight, or more accurately, UV rays. When exposed to the sun, hair is the first to suffer damage and frequently the most.

UV light causes the protein bonds inside the hair shaft to break, affecting the structure and quality of the hair. The destroyed "bridges" have been replaced with new ones that are haphazard and disorganized. The hair consequently loses its natural form and turns brittle and lifeless.

The color of the sun can also change. This is known as hair burnout and is caused by the breakdown of amino acids, which causes the hair strands to turn yellow.

The situation gets worse when the sun shines on the curls, which are already weaker due to the salt and seawater.

What else spoils hair on vacation

There are four additional reasons why hair quality deteriorates after vacation in addition to the two primary ones. They don’t have a particularly negative impact on the health of the hair shafts, but when combined with more dangerous elements, they only exacerbate the negative effects.

1. High air temperature. Heat is an integral part of vacation, and also a companion of dry hair, because high temperatures deprive them of moisture.
2. Chlorinated water. Those who decide to give up sea bathing in favor of a hotel pool are taking no less of a risk, because chlorine destroys the protein inside the hair and makes it vulnerable to the effects of the sun and salt water.
3. Increased sebaceous gland activity. In hot weather, sebaceous glands begin to work more actively and the sebum they produce clogs pores. This results in slower growth and itchy scalp.
4. Wind. Gusts of wind dry out hair shafts, making them lifeless and dry. Often, it is the wind that causes split ends, not only at sea, but also in the city.

Fortunately, there is no reason to be concerned about these factors. If you know how to take care of your hair while at sea, the harm they cause can be reduced.

Hair care at sea: 5 rules of protection

Observe these 5 guidelines to reduce the damage caused by the sun, sea water, and other elements:

1. Wear a hat. A stylish wide-brimmed hat, scarf or baseball cap will protect your scalp and roots from ultraviolet radiation and will perfectly complement your beach outfit.
2. Pull up your hair. Make a fashionable bun, ponytail or braid your hair. This will help hide the bulk of your hair from the sun or not get it wet when swimming.
3. Wash your hair after swimming in the sea. Try to rinse your locks with clean fresh water. While your hair is damp and the scales are open, most of the seawater molecules can be washed off and avoid subsequent crystallization of salt and rupture of hair shafts.
4. Visit the beach at the right time. Avoid being under the scorching sun at the peak of solar activity – then ultraviolet radiation is much more aggressive, and together with sea water it is completely destructive to the beauty of your locks.
5. Use the right cosmetics. A set of cosmetics should include everything necessary to protect, moisturize and nourish hair exposed to water, sun, wind and high temperatures.

We will go into greater detail on the fifth point, hair cosmetics, if you have any questions. Please leave your questions in the comments section.

Cosmetics for hair protection: which products are suitable

Usually, it is insufficient to simply bring your regular shampoo and conditioner because resorts often have different climates and other dangerous elements. Verify that your favorite products are appropriate for taking care of your hair while at sea before packing them in your suitcase.

Anna Loseva: Soft care products are the best; they should ideally be sulfate- and paraben-free. You shouldn’t expose your hair to any more harsh elements than absolutely necessary because the sun and saltwater already have a detrimental effect on it. Consider the external characteristics. For example, when washing colored hair, it’s important to bring color-safe products—those that protect color—to the sea. They will prevent the color from fading and help to maintain its vibrancy.

What hair products to take to the sea

As we’ve already established, taking good care of your hair will keep it soft and fit for your particular hair type while you’re at sea.

Anna: It’s best to avoid packing too many products for your trip because they will only clog your luggage and duplicate each other’s functions rather than enhancing the care. The bare minimum includes cleaning, moisturizing, and protecting products.

What to pack for your hair when you go to the sea:

1. Shampoo and conditioner. It is important that these products provide maximum nutrition.
2. Leave-in conditioner. It will help to additionally moisturize your hair after washing and during the day.
3. Heat protection. It will protect your hair when styling – it will not allow the iron, hair dryer and curling iron to dry out the hair shafts even more.
4. Sunscreen. A spray or cream with SPF will help reduce the impact of ultraviolet radiation on your hair and minimize its destructive effects. An alternative to a leave-in with a UV filter can be a product that reflects sunlight – such products prevent hair from fading.

Of course, you can bring along additional products such as dry shampoo, your go-to hair mask that doubles as an enhanced nutrition tool, and styling products for texturizing and fixation. You cannot take the items from the above list, but you can refuse them if there isn’t enough room in your suitcase.

Hair can become dry from the sea and sun, which makes it brittle and more likely to break from the heat, UV rays, and salt. Use a UV-protectant spray, put on a hat, and rinse your hair with fresh water after swimming to protect your hair. Beach days are a great time to keep your hair healthy and minimize damage by using nourishing conditioners and oils.

Top 5 hair products that you can take to the sea

Moroccanoil, Smoothing Shampoo

For unruly hair, Moroccanoil Smoothing Shampoo is a mild cleanser and tamer. The shampoo evens out the structure of the hair shafts, replenishes lost amino acids, and leaves the hair shiny and silky thanks to the AminoRenew ingredient. doesn’t include parabens, phosphates, or sulfates.

Combining the shampoo with the smoothing conditioner and nourishing argan oil mask from the range yields the best results.

Who is it for? Dry, thin, porous hair shafts in girls with unmanageable hair.

Estel, Curex Sunflower shampoo

Estel’s Curex Sunflower line is a unique seasonal assortment of goods that include UV filters in their design. While using every product in the series yields the best results, using just the shampoo and spray protection is acceptable. Curex Sunflower products not only protect curls but also hydrate them, leaving them glossy and smooth.

Among the drawbacks, the shampoo’s composition is hardly soft considering that sulfates are what purify the product.

Girls with normal hair types are the ones who will fit in.

Using an Estel UV filter-containing shampoo before going to the beach and softer, sparing shampoo afterwards is the best course of action.

Moroccanoil, Glimmer Shine spray

For those who require a complete hair care tool while at the beach, Moroccanoil’s flickering spray is a viable choice. The device simultaneously resolves multiple issues:

• Reflects sunlight and does not allow the strands to fade.
• Creates a protective film that reduces the effects of salt and chlorinated water.
• Gives hair a beautiful shine that lasts all day.

For all hair types that fit.

Londa, indelible lotion Sun Spark

Londa’s Sun Spark lotion is a lightweight, rinse-free, and weightless product that softens curls, smoothes and shines hair, and shields it from the sun. includes macadamia oil and mandarin extract.

Who it will suit: as part of a beachside treatment, all hair types

Wella, Express Conditioner Invigo Sun

After exposure to the sun, Invigo Sun Express Conditioner aids in hair restoration. On hair that has already been shampooed, it should be applied after sun exposure; make sure to rinse it off.

All hair types, including colored hair, as well as hair care at sea following keratin straightening and other salon procedures, can use it.

Questions

How should your hair be ready for the sea?

It’s crucial to give your hair as much nourishment and moisture as you can before heading out on a beach vacation. Your hair will weaken and become more vulnerable to the effects of sea water and UV radiation if you go on vacation with already dry hair.

It is best to reevaluate your care a few months prior to the trip; go to a more mild cleansing, increase your intake of nutrients, and drink more water. You can get a hot wrap or "Happiness for hair" at a salon just before the trip.

As usual, but after every swim, it’s best to do it more frequently. To get rid of the salt, just give your hair a quick rinse in fresh, clean water, or use a tiny bit of gentle shampoo. Everything about doing a hair wash ➜

Is it possible to dye your hair after taking a sea bath?

There are generally no restrictions on coloring your hair after using sea water, though obviously you shouldn’t go straight from the water to the hairdresser’s chair. It’s sufficient to give your hair a thorough rinse before applying dye. You can even use a deep cleansing shampoo.

After swimming, how should your hair be treated?

The editors of NAILS have written a separate piece on the subject titled "Hair restoration after vacation." There, we’ve gathered all the information required and provided the tools to help bring back the beauty of your curls.

What beauty products do you pack for your trip? Tell us what’s in your travel bag in the comments section!

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While spending time at the beach can be very therapeutic for your soul, it’s crucial to keep in mind that your hair requires special attention. If you don’t properly protect it, the sea and the sun can dry it out, making it appear fragile and dull.

Little actions like washing your hair after swimming, using a leave-in conditioner, and donning a hat can have a big impact. In the long run, hair that is taken care of during beach days will remain beautiful and healthy.

You can enjoy the best of both worlds—sun, sea, and gorgeous hair that’s ready for anything—if you have the right protection. So go ahead and enjoy your trip, but remember to take care of your hair.

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