The hair mask you should always pack in your beach bag to protect your hair all summer
Summer is brutal on hair. Between sea salt, UV rays, heat and air conditioning, the hair fibre dries out and weakens far faster than you might think. Yet a few simple habits are all it takes to keep it looking its best from the first beach day to the end of the season.
Looking after your hair from the moment you hit the beach
The first reflex to adopt is protection on the sand. Limit UV damage with a protective spray, a cap or a wide-brimmed hat. Watch out for scalp burns, which can weaken the hair follicle, warns hairdresser Delphine Courteille.
Salt is another real threat. “Salt dries out the hair fibre. Slipping a pot of moisturising mask into your beach bag is the ultimate game-changer,” says Parisian hairdresser Etienne Sekola. He recommends applying it after every swim, in small amounts: a hazelnut-sized amount for fine hair, a walnut-sized amount for thick hair, working it through the lengths and ends.
That way, the hair fibre has no time to deteriorate between dips. Another post-swim essential: spritz on a leave-in conditioner to detangle more easily and rehydrate. It also helps prevent colour from shifting if your hair is already dyed or highlighted, confirms Delphine Courteille.
“The hair has no time to suffer, and it stays silky all summer long.”
The right washing routine on holiday
Coming back from the beach without rinsing your hair thoroughly is a common mistake. The non-negotiable step is a long, thorough rinse, followed by a rehydrating treatment. And you should only wash your hair roughly every three days.
Etienne Sekola suggests reversing the usual routine: “Apply the conditioner first, then work a light shampoo through the roots only.” Another option worth rediscovering: co-washing, which means washing your hair with a conditioner instead of a conventional shampoo.
One last tip for pool lovers: run your hair under cool water before diving in. This simple step prevents it from absorbing too much chlorine.
- Rinse thoroughly after every swim in the sea
- Apply a moisturising mask after every time you get out of the water
- Only wash your hair roughly every three days
- Spritz on a leave-in conditioner to detangle and rehydrate
- Run your hair under cool water before getting into a pool
Cutting back on aggressive habits to protect the hair fibre
Obsessive brushing does more damage than good. Now that brushes have made a comeback as a must-have accessory, there is a tendency to overdo it, laments Delphine Courteille, not only by repeating the gesture a hundred times a day, but by starting in the wrong place: always begin with the last third of the lengths, never at the roots.
It is better to stick to one or two brushing sessions a day. The rest of the time, gently detangle with your fingers. This preserves length and reduces breakage.
Heat styling tools are largely unnecessary most of the time. “The heat and the wind act as a natural diffuser. In thirty minutes, hair is dry,” says Etienne Sekola. No blow-dry needed: polished hair can be achieved in other ways on holiday.
Embracing natural styles and summer-ready looks
The wet look is a simple, on-trend option. Slick your hair back, wet or dry, with a wax or aloe vera gel: all over if it is short, just through the first third if it is longer. A pretty low ponytail tied with a scarf also works perfectly for a slightly dressed-up summer evening, suggests Etienne Sekola.
For a wavy result inspired by the latest runway shows, Delphine Courteille shares her method: “Braid your hair into four plaits while it is damp, pin them into a single bun, leave to dry and undo them for the evening.” This requires no heat tools and delivers a naturally polished finish.
Looking after your skin and body during summer
Hair is not the only thing that suffers in the heat. Skin also demands extra attention. In summer, it is not simply oily, it is often dehydrated and stripped of nutrients by UV rays, heat, salt and air conditioning, notes Janine Knizia. Using only very light textures does not provide enough lipids or structural support.
To give your face an instant boost, a flash massage can be done every morning. First apply an oil-based treatment to help your hands glide, then use gentle pressure in the hollow above the collarbones to stimulate the lymphatic points. Next, hook your index and middle fingers and sweep from the chin up to the ears, ten times on each side.
Avoiding overstimulation also helps preserve a healthy glow. “Taking short moments of calm each day, with no interaction at all, helps regulate cortisol, which has a direct impact on skin ageing,” says Janine Knizia. Carra Sutherland, founder of Happy Sport & Detox, agrees: carve out a few minutes each day alone, to breathe, walk, or lie down with your legs up against a wall.
Toning the bust in under two minutes can also make a visible difference by the end of the holidays. With the palms flat and fingers spread, massage the upper chest with gentle circular movements, working up to the base of the neck, using an oil rich in vitamin E.
