Beach hair? I do care!

I’m the first to love my natural beach waves but spending a lot of time in the sun and the ocean can leave a tangle mess at the end of the day. I’m not a hair expert or a hair dresser but here are my favorite products for the perfect mermaid waves and to keep my hair strong and healthy even though I spend a lot of time in the sun and in the ocean.

Wash

I use Kérastase Soleil Bain Après-Soleil an after-sun shampoo enriched with coconut water gently removes chlorine, salt and sand residues, helping to cleanse hair from their drying effects.

Use Conditioner and Tie your Hair

Before I get in the water to play mermaid, I always bring a bottle of conditioner (I try to find reef-safe products whenever I can) with me on the boat and apply conditioner before I make a ponytail or a braid. It helps my hair from forming a giant dread.

I’ve read that the best hairstyles for diving are :

Kérastase Ciment Anti-Usure - Vita Ciment Advance is the first double reconstruction treatment for weakened hair with Topseal protection. It works to rebuild your hair’s internal strength and leaves it full of body, vitality and shine whilst feeling… — Kérastase Ciment Anti-Usure - Vita Ciment Advance is the first double reconstruction treatment for weakened hair with Topseal protection. It works to rebuild your hair’s internal strength and leaves it full of body, vitality and shine whilst feeling incredibly soft.

A low ponytail off to one side
A bun
A french braid
Braided pigtails

I use Kérastase Ciment Anti-Usure - Vita Ciment Advance the first double reconstruction treatment for weakened hair with Topseal protection. It works to rebuild your hair’s internal strength and leaves it full of body, vitality and shine whilst feeling incredibly soft.

Rinse with Fresh Water

I try to rinse out your my hair immediately with fresh water so any excess salt water on hair will be washed away.

(You can also rinse your hair before getting in the water. Saturating your hair with fresh water can prevent salt water from being absorbed into the cuticle.)

Detangle

To make sure I can prevent any knots from getting worse or from ripping my hair off, I use a couple sprays of Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray to detangle my hair.

Dry

I usually use my microfiber towel and I avoid rubbing my hair with the towel to make it dry quicker because this will just cause hair to frizz and break.

Brush

After rinsing, I apply more conditioner or use a detangling solution if needed and I brush my hair as soon as I’m done for the day.

When taking care of your mermaid hair, don’t just use a regular comb or brush. The wrong kind of brush can pull at your hair, get caught in tangles, and cause strands to break. Using a Detangling Brush or wide tooth comb can help remove knots and tangles. I like the WetBrush Pro Detangler, with ultra-soft Intelliflex bristles that glide through your hair, gently working through knots and pugs for a smooth, polished, knot-free mane.

Then I finish by letting my hair air dry.

Hydrate

Salt water can easily strip away the natural oils your hair and scalp produces so another highly recommended diving hair care tip is to put oil on your hair. This will help restore some shine and moisture to your beautiful locks.

I was using coconut oil but then stopped after my hairdresser told me coconut oil could actually damage my hair even more (Is Coconut Oil Actually Making Your Hair More Dry and Brittle?) Apparently coconut oil is not for every hair type so I just use it as after sun skincare for my body. Instead, I now use Kérastase oil to hydrate my hair everyday in the morning and before I go to bed like Kérastase's Chronologiste Huile de Parfum for smooth & nourished hair with radiant shine & a delicate scent or Kérastase Elixir Ultime Nourishing Hair Oil shine-enhancing hair oil for long-lasting fragrance and durable frizz protection.