It’s the peak of summer and youre ready to hit the beach or pool for some fun in the sun with your friends. You have your beach bag, towels, sunblock, sunglasses and selfie stick. You ask yourself am I missing something? Yes, you are missing something! Protection for your hair. In theory, we love the idea of diving into the water and coming up looking like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, but then reality hits us.

Here’s a few tip and tricks to help save those locks from the sun rays, salt water and harsh chemicals from chlorine.

PRE SWIM

1. WHIP YOUR HAIR INTO A BRAID OR TWO

Fight tangles with a braid(s) to keep your hair in place. This will help keep things in order and avoid the chaos when you’re ready to shampoo your hair. It also prevents anything from snagging or pulling on your lovely locks.

2. USE A LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

If you are swimming in a chlorinated pool, rinse your hair first then apply leave- in conditioner to your lovely locks. This also helps keep the pool clean by rinsing all of your styling products out of your hair. Spraying your hair with a leave in conditioner acts as a coat between your hair and the water.

3. WEAR A PROTECTIVE LAYER

Coconut oil is not only great for cooking but its also great for your hair. Try applying a small dime size amount of coconut oil to your hair especially dry ends. This will help with color treated or really dry hair. The oil acts as a protective layer between your hair and the salt water. Salt can be abrasive and act as a natural lightner (bleach)  to our strands so this is a very important step to remember.

4. WEAR A SWIM CAP

You can skip all the steps above by simply wearing a swim cap to your mane.

POST SWIM

1. WASH AWAY THE TROUBLE

Rinse your hair immediately after swimming. Rinsing helps remove chlorine or salt water and preps the hair for shampooing. You don’t want chlorine or salt water sitting in your hair baking in the hot sun changing the color of your hair or even  worse causing breakage.

2. APPLY A LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

After rinsing , apply a spray leave in conditioner and use a wide tooth comb to detangle your hair from ends to roots.

3. CLARIFY

After you gently detangle your hair apply a clarifying shampoo and gently shampoo away all chlorine and debris from swimming.

4. MOISTURIZE

After clarifying your locks, use a moisturizing shampoo to replenish the moisture that the chlorine and hot sun rays have robbed from your hair.  Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. Let the conditioner sit on at least 2 to 5 minutes if you’re pressed for time. Seal in the moisture by rinsing with cool water and style as desired.

If you’re at all concerned about damage that can be caused from swimming in the pool or beach. Rest assured that by following these simple steps your locks will be protected from any damage that could happen by not following these tips and tricks. No go and enjoy some fun in the sun and don’t forget to get some R&R in. Rest and relaxation that is lol!