Beach hair is luxurious as a theory. All the music videos and movies show women going to the beach, splashing in water, hanging out in the sand (or pool) and always having amazing hair. But, anyone who has ever gone to the beach knows that is not always — or ever — the case. Hair gets tangled in the ocean and with the wind. Sand gets in it at the beach, chlorine in a pool, and dirt in a lake. Plus, there's sun that will dry it out. Luckily, there's a ton of products for all kinds of hair needs. From protecting from sunburn with SPF scalp spray to detangler to leave-in conditioner and oil or curl mouse or serum, there's a way to protect hair. Or, in many cases, moisturize it. And when it's time to style, products help create beautiful and healthy beach waves that don't require hot tools or too much time.
And if dinner along the shore calls for a more intricate 'do, there's styling heat protectants on the list, too. Basically, it's good to be prepared to protect hair from the elements, whether it's from the heat, from frizz, water, or wind. Summer is a particularly drying time as it is, and with humidity, and being near water, making hair go the way one wants to can be a challenge. With certain products, it can be a lot easier, or totally avoidable. There's nothing worse than tangled, fried hair and nothing packed to fix it.
This may seem like a lot of work for hair, but as long as a beachgoer is prepared, it'll be fine. Because going to the beach is worth it — and the cute summer hair with these products will be, too. Of course, mom shouldn't forget about packing kids or baby for the beach. That is arguably even harder, but we have a list for that, too. So take a look at the products below and start making the packing list.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Strength + Moisture Leave-In Mask
Swimming can stress on the hair — from the drying sea salt to a pool's chlorine, it will need a revamp on vacation. This leave-in mask will help to strengthen and repair.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Strength + Moisture Leave-In Mask ($28, Briogeo)
Coola Scalp & Hair Mist Organic Sunscreen SPF 30
Face, arms, and legs aren't the only parts of the body that need sun protection, scalps do, too. Protect it with SPF using Coola's scalp and hair organic sunscreen mist.
Scalp & Hair Mist Organic Sunscreen SPF 30 ($26, Coola)
Juice Organics Color Protect Leave-in Treatment Spray
Protect color-treated hair while at the beach. Use a natural leave-in treatment spray like this one from Juice Organics to prevent fading and protect from heat damage.
Juice Organics Color Protect Leave-in Treatment Spray ($11, Thrive Market)
Drybar Prep Rally Prime & Prep Detangler
Wet hair is often knotty hair and could use a good detangling spray to prevent breakage. Bonus: Drybar's detangler also protects against heat damage.
Drybar Prep Rally Prime & Prep Detangler ($23, Ulta)
Kiehl's Silk Straightening Cream
Summer weather is usually amazing, except when it gets a little too hot, sticky, and humid. Keep straight-styled hair styled straight by using a straightening cream before a blow-dry. Curly hair can also benefit from it as it also tames frizz.
Kiehl's Silk Straightening Cream ($17, Saks Fifth Avenue)
R+Co Pinstripe Intense Detangling Spray
Detangling sprays are not all created equally. This one from R+Co also creates shine and hydration in a lightweight formula.
R+Co Pinstripe Intense Detangling Spray ($24, Saks Fifth Avenue)
Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray
The Living Proof restoration (and perfecting spray) has everything in one bottle: detangling, shine, strength, hydration, and heat protection. It's also formulated for color-treated hair.
Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray ($29, Ulta)
GHD Heat Protect Spray
If going to the beach is part of a larger vacation, that means going out to eat or having a night on the town. And that means doing hair. Protect from the hot tools with heat spray.
GHD Heat Protect Spray ($22, Sephora)
Matrix Biolage Sb Smooth Shine Milk Styling Product
Windy, hot day? The Matrix Biolage shine milk styling product can help bring hair back to life. It claims to help get hair ready and detangled for styling.
Matrix Biolage Sb Smooth Shine Milk Styling Product ($13, JCPenney)
Aveda Volumizing Tonic
Revive hair with Aveda Volumizing Tonic after a day in the sun and sand. It's made with "certified organic aloe and wheat amino acids to help build body and add shine."
Aveda Volumizing Tonic ($22, Aveda)
The Easy Ouai Kit
If brand loyalty is important for hair, the Ouai kit is a good grab with multiple styling products needed for the best post-beach hair. The products — Air Dry Foam, Rose Hair & Body Oil, and Wave Spray — come in a travel bag to easily take to the beach.
The Easy Ouai Kit ($25, Sephora)
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
Women with curly or wavy hair, rejoice! This shampoo frees hair of dirt and grime without stripping the hair. The sulfate-free shampoo includes "ultra-hydrating shea butter and avocado oil to increase hair softness and enhance the body of curls without weighing them down."
Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo ($24, Briogeo)
Texture Beach'n Spray Texturizing Beach Spray
Keep hair in place and protect from humidity (for 24 hours) with the Beach'n Spray texturizing spray. As the description states, it "provides texture with buildable hold."
Texture Beach'n Spray Texturizing Beach Spray ($19, Ulta)
Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel
For hair that needs more than a little spritz to shield it from the elements, this climate control heat and humidity gel should do the trick. How it works: "Wheat protein and pliable styling polymers form a weightless flexible lattice that expands as heat or humidity rises to hold curl definition without frizz."
Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel ($50, Ulta)
DevaCurl SuperCream Coconut Curl Styler
Lock curls in place after a post-beach shower with coconut curl styler from DevaCurl — "whether you want to smooth, soften, shape, stretch, moisturize, define, control, boost volume, twist-out, tame frizz, add shine, or switch-up your look."
DevaCurl SuperCream Coconut Curl Styler ($28, Ulta)
L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Deep Nourishing Treatment
As a last defense against humidity, an oil treatment is the perfect solution. It smooths hair by locking cuticles and split ends in place.
L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Deep Nourishing Treatment ($7, Ulta)
John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray
Embrace the beach waves with clean or sea-wet hair. Spritz in this sea salt spray for sultry beach waves without the trouble of styling. Just spray and go.
John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray ($10, Target)
Moroccanoil Beach Wave Mousse
Skip the hot tools and embrace the natural beach look with beach wave mousse. It is the beach after all. Bonus: It also nourishes hair and protects it from the sun.
Moroccanoil Beach Wave Mousse ($11, Saks Fifth Avenue)
Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz
For those with naturally textured hair, this kinky-curly Spiral Spritz spray holds up. It can boost, define, and create more hydrated, shiny curls.
Kinky-Curly Spiral Spritz ($13, Target)
Paul Mitchell Color Protect Locking Spray
Sun and a fresh color job don't go together well, but the color can be protected with product. The Paul Mitchell Color Protect Locking Spray protects color from fading and the sun.
Paul Mitchell Color Protect Locking Spray ($14, Amazon)
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