During the summer season, everybody is eager to spend weekends at the beach. However, after our clients come to us to have a haircut or trim after spending a weekend at the beach, they wonder what the effects of salt water are on their hair. Although almost everybody likes having a nice thick mane after being in the sun, nobody can avoid the concerns about the dryness of hair on Sunday night.
We are constantly receiving such questions from our clients at First & Mane and would like to share our knowledge on the impact of the ocean on your hair with you. Book an appointment at First & Mane to get tailored advice!
Benefits of Salt Water
Firstly, when we recommend styling hair in a way that will result in a messy hairstyle after surfing, we suppose that he wants to have a thick and voluminous hairdo. Thankfully, saltwater contains lots of crystals, which are excellent texturizers. As a consequence, after drying the hair, the crystals remain on the head, creating friction between hair strands and increasing the volume of hair. Is salt water good for your hair? In this sense, absolutely.
Another positive effect of salt is that it provides natural cleansing for your hair. Being an excellent exfoliant, salt helps in removing dead skin cells from your scalp, cleaning and refreshing your hair. Finally, if you have some problems with excessive oiliness of the scalp, salt water can solve the problem since it serves as an astringent that narrows the pores and ceases oil production.
Dangerous Effects of Salt Water
Is salt water bad for your hair? Despite the fact that salt makes your hair look fabulous, daily exposure can lead to undesirable results for your hair and scalp. First, salt strips your hair of the protective layer of sebum, making it excessively dry and brittle. Second, losing moisture, hair becomes fragile and prone to breaking and damaging. In addition, at the end of summer, we observe our clients’ hair being split at the ends and very dry, which makes it difficult to manage. Salt water is good for hair in some styling and cleansing situations, but this doesn’t mean you don’t need to be careful.
Furthermore, if you regularly color your hair, salty water combined with the effect of UV rays leads to hair fading and thus makes your hair look pale and unattractive. This is also why many people ask, can salt water damage your hair? That is why we would recommend thinking twice before you choose to treat your hair in such a way.
Tips for Protecting Your Hair
Fortunately, it is unnecessary to abandon the benefits brought to your hair by salty water since we would like to recommend some ways of protecting your hair. Firstly, being like a sponge, hair easily absorbs anything that comes into contact with it. Therefore, we would recommend rinsing your hair with fresh water before getting into salt water to avoid soaking salt into your hair. This can help reduce the effect of salt water on hair.
Moreover, immediately after swimming, it is vital to wash your hair in order to cleanse it from salt. You should first rinse it with fresh water and then shampoo and condition your hair to cleanse it from salt and protect from further dehydration. We would also recommend using several drops of argan oil before leaving your house since it creates protective cover that saves hair from any damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Salt Lead To Hair Loss?
Certainly not. Although hair can become dry and fragile because of exposure to salt, it will not cause hair loss in any way. Hair simply will break while combing due to lack of elasticity. As a consequence, hair will break right at the middle of its shaft without touching the hair follicle.
Do I Need To Wash My Hair Right After Getting Home From The Beach?
Yes, it is advisable to wash your hair to remove salt from your hair and prevent dehydration.
Can I Use Sea Salt Spray?
Yes, this type of product will be a great replacement for ordinary sea salt. It has similar effect and contains many ingredients that protect your hair and scalp from dehydration.
Summary
As we mentioned earlier, there are both positive and negative effects of salty water. To get tailored advice, be sure to contact our team at First & Mane!
Dru Meskan is the owner and master barber at First & Mane in Scottsdale, Arizona. With 19 years of haircutting experience, including 11 years as a professional barber, Dru is known for precision cuts, modern grooming techniques, and personalized service that keeps clients looking and feeling their best.