5 tips on how to take care of your curls at the pool or beach (2023)

FAQs

How do you take care of curly hair in a pool? ›

Chlorine isn't good for any hair type, but it's even worse for curly hair because curls are naturally drier than straight or wavy tresses. Before going in the pool, slather your hair (wet or dry) with a rich conditioner. Curly hair is porous, and the conditioner fills those holes before the chlorine can seep in.

Spray hair with a water/conditioner blend right before swimming. When you fill up the hair cuticle with this blend there is less space for the pool or ocean water to soak in. Layer and Seal with oil. After you wash and condition the hair make sure to layer with a leave in conditioner, curl definer and oil.

When you know you will be swimming in salt water, you should wash and condition hair as you normally would and then apply a pre-swim treatment designed to protect your strands and scalp from damage. If it has UV ray blocking sunscreen as part of the formula, even better!

Chabbi suggests using bottled water to give your hair a quick rinse both before and after swimming, and then applying a hair oil like Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum or Chabbi's own Adel Atelier Argan Oil. If you have time and ability, Dagenais also suggests using a cleansing conditioner.

Saltwater is damaging because it dries out your hair and scalp, it strips it of all its water, leaving it rough and dehydrated. This lack of moisture for your hair leads to split ends breakage and dandruff on your scalp.

For a beach-wave look, I simply wash out my hair with water (no shampoo or conditioner) and let it air-dry. The salt from the sea leaves my hair with the perfect volume and wave.”

Ocean water or salt sprays can give hair texture and enhance appearance. In addition, the salt can improve the curl by tightening it up. That is why your hair gets extra wavy when you are at the beach!

PROBLEM CAUSED BY CHLORINATED SHOWER WATER

Hair Strength: The cuticles of naturally curly hair are more 'open' compared to the ones on straight hair. The open cuticles make it easier for oxidizers for chlorine to penetrate the hair shaft, incurring more damage and causing the curls to become frizzy and dry.

I usually recommend misting the hair lightly with water to reactivate the product for those with coily, curly, and wavy types. You could use a little gel to finger coil into the hair or a curly detangling brush to work through (though this might be more time-consuming).

Before a swim

Apply light oil or leave-in conditioner on your hair and soak your hair with fresh water before you step into the pool. When you saturate your hair with fresh water and have an oily barrier around, absorption of the chlorinated water is minimum. Similar science works for your skin as well.

Does salt water help curls? ›

Can sea salt spray give you curly hair? Sea salt spray, while excellent for taming frizz and adding volume to your curls, won't in and of itself give you curly hair. Sorry! However, it's still a great product for incorporating into your routine if you're aiming to create perfect waves.

This is because cold water closes the hair cuticles and pores in the scalp. This process adds luster and shine to the hair as the cuticles have been closed. It helps in sealing in the hair's moisture and also helps in clumping your coils and curls together for even more definition.

You can use bottled or distilled water as much as possible during your wash session, or at least for the final rinse. Purified water still has minerals in it, but it would still be softer than your tap water. Distilled water contains no minerals, so this would be your best bet for going calcium-free.

Saltwater and chlorinated water can cause damage to your hair even once you're out of the water. If you don't wash your hair with fresh water after you finish your swim, the saltwater or chlorinated water can sit in your hair for the rest of the day and make your hair dry out and cracked.

The salty water makes it look fuller and feel thicker, and you get to enjoy the best hair day you've had in months. Beach hair is essentially the opposite of dull, lifeless hair. It's got volume, texture, definition.

A spritz and a scrunch of sea salt spray on damp hair adds as much volume, texture, and surfer-girl swag as a quick dip in the ocean. Sounds simple, right? It is! There are just a few basic steps to take before you can start spraying your way to perfect beach hair.

They tend to be straight at the crown and start forming a defined wavy texture at the midpoint of the locks that continues down to the ends. It has a moderate amount of volume and thickness and doesn't lose its shape easily. Even wet hair still maintains a noticeable wavy pattern.

How do you keep curly hair from frizzing at the beach? ›

In turn, salt – or sodium chloride and magnesium sulphate (both elements present in the seawater) create extra crosslinks within your hair strand, which curls and curves it, thus putting the “waves” in your beach waves.

What is pineappling hair? The pineapple hair technique, a term coined by the NaturallyCurly community, is a way to protect your curly hair when you sleep. Done correctly, the pineapple hair method creates a beautiful pile of curls on the top of your head, which resembles the shape of—yes, you guessed it—a pineapple.

Only brush curly hair when it's wet, damp, or has a layer of slip between strands and the bristles. Brushing dry hair is an instant recipe for frizz and will loosen your curls right out of shape.

Yes, you can wet natural hair everyday, and it is actually advised to do so to maintain moisture. Let's be clear though: by wetting your hair, we don't meanwashing it. We simply mean rinsing natural hair either in the shower or spritzing water over your hair.

Wash your hair first with cold water and a conditioner before you go for a swim. This has two benefits; first, the conditioner coats the hair, creating a protective barrier between your hair and the chlorine. Secondly, washing your hair in cold water will help close the hair cuticles.

Although you might be tempted to wash your hair every day, swimmers should aim to only wash their hair a couple of times a week. Washing your hair two to three times a week with a good quality shampoo and conditioner will help get rid of chemical buildup and keep your hair looking shiny and healthy.

Does water help curly hair grow? ›

Water nurtures cells and provides them with required hair vitamins from the foods you eat. Sometimes, all you need is water instead of hair vitamins. Drinking enough water daily will not only aid in hair growth, but will also help keep your scalp healthy and promote healthy hair growth.

It helps in sealing in the hair's moisture and also helps in clumping your coils and curls together for even more definition. However, while warm water creates frizz, cold water tends to flatten the hair.

The Natural Approach

Using simple, household items like baking soda or apple cider vinegar can take the last of the remnants of chlorine out of your hair too. If you're wondering how to use any of these to treat your hair, simply take one part apple cider vinegar and four parts water and apply that to your hair.

Swimmer's hair is hair that has become dry, damaged, and even discolored due to extended exposure to the ocean or the chemicals in most pools. While this condition can come about from extended time spent in the ocean, it is far more common to happen to those who spend large amounts of time in classic pools.

Use coconut or olive oils to nourish and hydrate the hair during and after swimming. Applying coconut oil (rich in lauric acid) cab help prevent protein loss caused by chlorine water and reduce further damage (2). Massage coconut oil gently on damp hair to protect it from chlorinated water.

Wash it out

Make sure that you rinse your hair in the shower right after your swim to remove chlorine and bacteria that was soaked up by your strands. Consider lightly shampooing your hair right away to ensure that you get it all out. Ask your hair stylist about shampoos that are meant to remove chlorine from hair.