Beach season is upon us, and with warm, sunny weather comes bouts of dry and damaged hair from too much saltwater exposure. But don't worry, yet — you can still have soft, silky locks all summer long, thanks to a few remedies.
Rebecca Craigie, hairstylist and owner of Coconuts Hair Shack in Indialantic, Florida, is no stranger to treating hair that's been damaged by sun and saltwater, since her salon is located a block off the beach.
"Some of the signs of sun or salt damage are brittleness, dry split ends and frizz," Craigie tells Shop TODAY, adding that those who highlight their hair are even more likely to see signs of sun and salt damage since lightening can dry out your locks. "Wetting hair with fresh tap water before swimming can keep it from absorbing drying chemicals and salt. Spraying hair with a leave-in conditioner or hair sunscreen will [also] protect those locks."
Craigie also suggests regular hair trims to keep split ends from creeping up the hair shaft and allowing hair to air-dry as often as possible to reduce heat damage.
What kind of products can help treat sun and salt damage?
"You want to look for products without added sulfates or parabens since these ingredients can strip the hair of natural oils," says Craigie. "Also look for products that are moisture- and protein-rich."
Craigie also suggests using a deep conditioning treatment weekly to give dry hair back the moisture it needs, leaving them on for between three and 10 minutes before rinsing.
But Craigie's number one recommended product that nourishes your tresses and reduces damaged ends: Olaplex's No. 3 Hair Perfector.
"Use it once a week on wet, towel-dried hair or even dry hair before getting in the shower," Craigie explains. "Apply liberally and brush through the hair to evenly saturate it, then leave on for a minimum of 10 minutes, but up to 90 minutes for super-damaged hair."
"This product is not meant to be left in," she warns. "You must shampoo and condition afterwards."
Looking for some other items designed to help repair summer hair damage? We've rounded up the best hair products recommended by experts and editors that are designed to return moisture to hair that's been dried out by the elements.
Expert-recommended products to repair hair
Good for dry hair: Authentic Beauty Concept Hydrate Mask
- Super soft
- Very hydrating
- Great for curly hair
- Smell may be strong
Size: 6.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Organic oat milk, almond oil, natural mango, basil
Rogerio Cavalcante, a hairstylist, colorist and the founder of The Second Floor Salon in New York City, refers to this hydrating mask as a deeply nourishing and lightweight treatment that you should apply weekly. "It contains natural mango and basil to purify and nourish for smooth hair with movement and shine," explains Cavalcante.
Lightweight mist: Aveda Sun Care Protecting Hair Veil
- Protect hair from the sun
- Helps make hair shiny
- May be greasy
Size: 3.4 oz. | Key ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, coconut oil
"This is a must for the pool or beach for those who cannot stay away from the water," suggests Cavalcante. "This waterproof UV barrier protects hair from sun damage," he says. This lightweight spray forms an invisible screen to help protect hair from sun exposure, according to the brand.
For the blonde beach goer: Moroccanoil Protect and Prevent Spray
- Super soft
- Great heat protectant
- Product may leak
Size: 5.4 oz. | Key ingredients: ArganID, varisoft, heliogenol
Cavalcante suggests this Moroccanoil spray for the blonde girls who like to swim. "This leave-in help with brassiness and color fade," he explains. This mist comes in both full and travel size, so it's perfect to store in your carry-on for your next trip to the beach.
For healthier beach hair: Rahua Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier
- Makes hair soft and shiny
- Great detangler
- Easy to use
- Residue may be thick
Size: 6.5 oz. | Key ingredients: Morete (buriti) oil, Rahua, sacha inchi, organic mango sugars
"This detangler is amazing to have at hand in the pool or beach!" says Cavalcante. "It smells good, the formula is clean, and makes hair soft and easy to brush. Just apply some before and after going in the water to get healthier hair at the beach," he explains.
Stay safe from the sun: Pureology Color Fanatic Heat Protectant Leave-In Conditioner
- Very soft
- No sticky residue
- Nice smell
- May be heavy on hair
Size: 6.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Camelina oil, coconut oil, olive oil
Jennifer Korab, a celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon in Hillsborough, New Jersey, is a big fan of Pureology's Color Fanatic. "It offers 21 benefits. Within that has UV protection, offers moisture, hydration and color protection. These are all key benefits to sun and salt-water damage," explains Korab.
For the swimmer: Living Proof Clarifying Detox Shampoo
- Good for fine hair
- Smells good
- May not lather well
Size: 8 oz. | Key ingredients: Glycerin, limonene
Cavalcante recommends applying this shampoo once a week while on vacation and one a month in your daily life. "This shampoo cleans hair from buildup and minerals present in the pool and beach water," says Cavalcante. According to the brand, this detox shampoo removes 97% of product buildup with only one wash.
Editor-recommended products to repair hair
The multitasker: dae Mirage Mist Leave-In Conditioner
- Weightless heat protectant
- Smells great
- Leaves hair soft
- May make hair frizzy
Size: 5 oz. | Key ingredients: Rose of jericho, prickly pear seed oil, cactus flower extract
"I prefer to use as few products as possible so that my oily hair doesn’t feel even more weighed down," shares associate editor Lauren Witonsky. "Excited to have found this new all-in-one that acts as a heat protectant, prevents breakage, adds shine and more — while still feeling weightless. Plus, it smells so good that I’ve even gotten compliments on it," she explains.
For the curly-hair girl: Aveda be curly advanced™ Intensive Curl Perfecting Masque
- Leaves hair feeling hydrated
- Smells amazing
- May be tough to rinse out
Size: 6.7 oz. | Key ingredients: Vegan curl-perfecting peptide, kokum seed butter. baobob seed oil, sunflower seed oil and shea butter
“I grew up near the beach, and my hair gets extremely dry after a day in the sun," says commerce editor Amanda Fama. "Recently, this hair mask has totally revived my ‘do, adding hydration and refreshing my waves after one use. I can’t wait to use it more this summer after weekend beach trips," she explains.
Frequently asked questions
There are steps you can take to help keep your hair safe before getting into the water. "Soak up your hair in fresh water before getting in the pool or ocean," says Cavalcante.
"When hair is saturated with freshwater, it absorbs less chlorinated or salt water, which can help reduce the drying and damaging effects. This simple step creates a barrier that can protect your hair from absorbing harmful substances present in pool water or seawater," he says.
"To protect your hair from damage even more, you can apply a leave-in conditioner or even a regular conditioner if nothing is at hand before swimming, and reply between breaks," says Cavalcante.
Anything with parabens and sulfates can dry hair out more.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY team rounded up the best scents by reaching out to a hair stylist to get a better understanding of which products to use to help combat sun and saltwater damage. We also sorted through numerous shopper reviews and included a couple of editor favorites as well.
Meet the experts
- Rebecca Craigie is a hairstylist and owner of Coconuts Hair Shack in Indialantic, Florida.
- Rogerio Cavalcante is a hairstylist, colorist and the founder of The Second Floor Salon in New York City.
- Jennifer Korab is a celebrity hairstylist and owner of Renaissance Salon in Hillsborough, New Jersey.
