Beach: 4 mistakes that ruin your hair!
Burning sun, salty sea spray, and abrasive sand: this is the explosive cocktail that threatens your hair from the very first days of summer. Without a rigorous strategy, the hair fiber becomes dehydrated, breaks, loses its shine, and sometimes even changes color. To avoid these problems, it's best to be aware of common mistakes and the steps you can take to really protect your hair.
Why does the beach weaken hair fibers?
- Unbalanced pH: Seawater has a pH of around 8.2, which is significantly more alkaline than the scalp (≈ 5.5). This alkalinity lifts the protective scales of the hair and weakens the hair shaft.
- Hygroscopic effect of salt : Sodium chloride draws water out of the fibers, causing internal dehydration and accentuating dryness and roughness.
- Oxidation by UV rays Keratin is degraded, leading to loss of strength and color alteration.
Mistake 1: Delaying rinsing
Leaving salt and sand to dry on your hair is like rubbing sandpaper on your cuticles. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water as soon as you get out of the water, then apply a mild shampoo with a physiological pH, free from harsh sulfates but rich in buffering agents (citrate or lactate) to bring the pH of the scalp back to around 5.5.
Mistake 2: Neglecting sun protection
Melanin in hair absorbs some UV rays, but it is quickly depleted. Hair filters (antioxidants, organic filters) form a film that limits the photodegradation of keratin and pigments. Protect your hair before each exposure:
- Spray on a UV-filtering hair spray rich in antioxidants.
- Reapply after swimming or every two hours.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat during peak hours (11 a.m.–4 p.m.).
Mistake 3: Using a hair dryer, straightener, or curling iron without heat protection
After bleaching, the fiber is already dry. Adding a temperature above 150°C accentuates water loss and denatures proteins that are already weakened. If the use of heated tools is unavoidable:
- Pat your hair dry with a microfiber towel; do not rub.
- Apply a heat shield made from film-forming polymers (chitosan).
- Limit the heat (120–140°C) and keep the appliance moving constantly.
Mistake 4: Neglecting hydration and repair
After washing, the cuticle remains slightly open; without targeted care, moisture evaporates. Adopt a winning trio:
- Hydration : glycerin, aloe vera or panthenol immediately after each shampoo.
- Nutrition : vegetable butters (shea butter, mango) and oils rich in omega-9 once or twice a week.
- Repair : biomimetic ceramides or hydrolyzed proteins as a weekly mask to fill in gaps in the cuticle.
Should you wash your hair every day?
- Daily contact with salt Yes, gentle daily washing is essential to stop oxidation.
- Hair protected (high bun) : a simple rinse and light care are sufficient.
Post-swim routine
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- Physiological shampoo: massage the scalp 1 mm.
- Express mask (3 mm) nourishing, rich in ceramides.
- Final rinse with cool water to tighten the scales.
- Quick-drying microfiber towel.
- Lightweight oil serum for damp hair to seal in moisture and add shine.
