Going for a dip in
the ocean or the pool this summer? Make sure you've got a game plan for
preserving your beautiful hair.
Not many people
realize it but the ocean/pool water can be quite damaging to your hair. Simply
put, it has a high salt content. What's the problem with that? Salt dries you
up. When your hair is exposed to such a high level of salt content, your body
tries to get rid of the extra salt by releasing moisture from your hair. As a
result of dehydration, you can get coarse and brittle hair, scalp irritation,
discoloration and more hair tragedies you won't be happy dealing with.
So, what can you
do to save your hair? 4-step post-beach treatment:
1. Rinse it all out
There’s no time to
waste. It’s important that you remove all the salt and dirt out of your hair as
soon as possible. Make sure you take at least a minute to carefully rinse out
everything with water. Just using a towel to wipe your hair or air-drying is a
big no-no.
2. Cleanse your scalp
After you've rinsed, focus on cleansing your scalp instead of your
hair strands. When you let dirt build up in your scalp, it not only welcomes
bacteria, but it causes inflammation and dehydration to your entire hair. Use
the balls of your fingers to gently massage your scalp for about 30 seconds to
1 minute.
You don't want to overdo it since your scalp is extremely sensitive after being
exposed to sunlight and sea salt.
3. Double the treatment
As the name
implies, you're going to apply treatment twice. After cleansing your scalp apply
hair treatment to your strands and then wash it out. Once you've dried your
hair with a towel, apply a leave-in treatment. Double treatment helps preserve
the nutrients in your hair and is more effective in repairing the damage in
your hair.
4. Dry Thoroughly
Once
you're out of the shower, take a hair towel separate from the towel you use to
dry your body, and gently pat your hair. Then, use your blow-dryer to
thoroughly dry your hair. Air-drying your hair or leaving your hair wet for a
considerable amount of time leaves your hair cuticles open, which causes
dehydration. Heat will actually help close those cuticles, closing in all the
nutrients and moisture you applied from your treatment.
Follow
these 4 simple steps and you're all set to enjoy your beach days without having
to sacrifice beautiful hair. Want to know more about shampoos and treatment
products for the summer? Ask our expert hairstylists for recommendations!
