Sun, sea and sand…nothing beats a day at the beach during the summer months. Unfortunately, the very same things that attract us to the ocean might be causing our hair to frizz, fray, and freak out. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way. From UV protection to moisture retention,
Impossible Keratin by Lu is designed to counteract the negative effects of beach hair, but it’s not the only way to ensure our locks can look and feel their best this summer. Here’s why your hair hates the beach and how to keep it happy and healthy before, during and after a visit.
Beach + Hair = Frizz
A trip to the beach offers a chance to lay back, relax, and soak up the sun, right? Not as far as your hair is concerned.
Sun
Sunscreen is one of the first things we pack in our bags for a day at the beach, but our hair also needs protection from the sun. Exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays for long periods of time has been shown to damage cuticles, which is the outer layer of hair. This can cause hair to look dull, sad, or dry. It also increases the friction between one hair strand and another, causing knots, tangles, and roughness.
Impossible Keratin by Lu™ offers UV protection and is one of the secret super-ingredients in every
Lu shampoo,
conditioner, and
styling cream. Make Lu part of your beach hair care routine if you’re planning on sunning it this summer.
Sea
It doesn’t matter if you love to surf the waves, swim, or simply float in the water, your hair is silently begging you to return to dry land. Salt water dries out hair and can remove moisture, which leaves it rough, flat, and dull. If it’s left unattended, split ends and hair breakage will be on the horizon. But don’t worry if you feel like you've got dry hair or damaged hair after a beach vacation. Lu's
Rescue Collection features shatavari, a sacred medicinal plant from India which has an emollient and restorative effect. So your hair won’t need to be afraid to go back into the water.
Sand
Unlike sun and sea, sand won’t do any lasting damage to the structure of your hair. The only problem is that when it finds its way toward your scalp, it’s hard to shake. The first tool you should use to deal with sandy hair? Your fingers! Give your scalp a thorough scratching after you get back from the beach to loosen up those grains of sand. Then, comb your hair with a fine toothed comb, and follow that up with a good shampoo. Any Lu product will help you get sand-free, but we recommend the
Freedom Shampoo in particular to tame your frizz while adding volume to your newly sand-free locks. If you want to try a remedy right out of abuela’s playbook, try rubbing some baby powder into your hair while it’s still dry, before shampooing. Abuela knows!
Beach Hair Care Tips
We all want an Instagram-worthy hairstyle at the beach, with the salt spray misting our locks and our wet hair flawlessly plastered to our skin. But we don’t want our hair to suffer for it. Follow these tips before, during, and after your trip to help your hair appreciate the summer holidays as much as you do.
Before you arrive
- Start your beach hair routine in the lead up to your trip to the beach to give your hair the best chance of combatting damage.
- Give your hair a healthy head start. Your hair will have a much better chance against the ocean water, salt, and sand if it's healthy to begin with. Avoid using shampoos with sulfates, which can dry out your hair and scalp. Instead, choose a vegan or plant-based shampoo like Lu, which is formulated without sulfates. Try our Rescue Bundle, which is designed to nourish your hair back to its healthy state, all while defying frizz and minimizing the effects of humidity.
- After shampooing and conditioning your hair, use our Lock the Look Styling Cream with murumuru butter from Brazil, which helps lock in moisture, soften your mane, and style your hair without worrying about split ends ... even at the beach! Apply a dime-sized amount in the palm of your hand (more for longer hair or more hold) and evenly spread across damp hair, avoiding the roots. Add some more after blow-drying to lock down frizz and add hold. This is a great way to pregame before beach day and infuse your hair with ingredients that will protect it from the elements.
- Cut down the amount of time you use a blow dryer, curling iron, straightener. These hot tools and the heat from the sun are a recipe for damaged hair in the summer.
- If you have long hair, wavy hair, or curly hair, consider braiding it before you go to the beach. The sea salt spray and wind can make your hair extra knotty. Braids can help you avoid this problem.
At the Beach
- Wear a loose-fitting sun hat wherever possible to deflect those harmful rays. This is an easy way to protect your hair while you work on your tan.
- Be sure to dry your wet hair properly using a cotton towel. Cotton’s hollow fibers allow it to suck up moisture like a straw. Unlike synthetic materials found in other towels, cotton stays strong and won’t break down in your hair.
After the Beach
- Rinse your hair after your ocean swim to remove any residual salt.
- One of the best remedies for dry hair after a day on the beach is organic coconut oil. It's a natural ingredient that will leave your hair smooth, silky, and ready for more beachy waves.
- Brush your post-beach hair with a wide-toothed comb or hairbrush that will detangle and prevent breakage.
Why Lu Won’t Leave Your Hair Stranded at the Beach
There are many different ways in which Lu can help protect your hair from the sun, spray, and surf. But perhaps the most important is our patented
Impossible Keratin, which goes one step further than other keratin products by actually increasing the hair's tensile strength. Our vegan formulation really makes a difference to your hair’s elasticity and moisture retention, and helps to form a thermal barrier that leads to less breakage and split ends that can be a result of too much time in the sun. And it works on every hair type and color. With Lu, you can focus more on those perfect beach waves and that perfect beachy look, and less about what the beach is doing to your hair.
