Beach, pool, sun, wind, salt water... Holidays are a much-anticipated break that we look forward to all year. But for hair, it's often a completely different story. Without proper precautions, a week of holidays can be enough to dry out lengths, erase curl definition, and permanently weaken the hair fiber.
Good news: a few simple steps and suitable products are all it takes to enjoy the summer without sacrificing hair health. Here's everything you need to know to protect your hair on holiday.
Why do holidays weaken hair?
Sun and UV rays damage the hair fiber
Like skin, hair is sensitive to UV rays. Prolonged exposure gradually degrades keratin, the protein that makes up the hair fiber. Hair becomes rough, dull, porous, and more prone to breakage. Lengths lose elasticity, and curls become less defined.
Salt and chlorine dry out lengths
Seawater contains salt that penetrates the hair fiber and absorbs the hair's natural moisture. Pool water, loaded with chlorine, has the same dehydrating effect, in addition to the risk of color alteration on colored or bleached hair.
Heat accelerates dehydration
High summer temperatures, combined with wind and dry air, accelerate the evaporation of water contained in the hair fiber. Curly, coily, and kinky hair, which is naturally drier, is particularly susceptible to this phenomenon.
More frequent washing weakens the scalp
On holiday, we often wash our hair more frequently than usual: after each swim, to remove salt or chlorine. These repeated washes strip away the natural sebum that protects the lengths and can lead to progressive dryness.
Prepare your hair before you leave
Strengthen the hair fiber with an oil bath
The best protection begins even before you arrive at your destination. Doing one or two oil baths in the weeks leading up to your holiday deeply nourishes the fiber and builds up a lipid reserve that will help hair better resist summer aggressors.
Shaeri's Hair Oil, rich in prickly pear seed oil and nourishing vegetable oils, is applied to the lengths before shampooing. A minimum leave-in time of 30 minutes under a cap is enough to intensely nourish dry or textured hair. For very dehydrated hair, the oil bath can be extended overnight.
Cut damaged ends before you leave
If ends are split or brittle, a light trim before your holiday helps eliminate already weakened areas. Summer would only worsen existing damage. Starting with healthy ends is the best way to avoid significant breakage during the season.
Perform an intensive nourishing mask
In the days leading up to your departure, a nourishing mask with a long leave-in time allows you to replenish moisture. TheIntensive Mask Treatment Shaeri can be used as a deep mask for 10 to 20 minutes under a hot towel to maximize nourishing effects before the first exposures.
Protect your hair during your holiday
Before swimming
Wet hair with fresh water before entering the water
The hair fiber, like a sponge, absorbs the liquid it's immersed in. By wetting hair with fresh water before swimming, you limit the absorption of salt or chlorinated water during the swim.
Apply a protective treatment to the lengths
Applying the Hair Oil or the Daily Treatment to the lengths before entering the water creates a protective barrier that limits the penetration of salt and chlorine into the hair fiber. This simple step significantly reduces the dehydrating effects of repeated swimming.
Mechanically protect hair
Wearing a hat, scarf, or cap helps limit direct sun exposure. For swimming in pools, a swimming cap offers effective protection against chlorine, even if it's not always practical to wear outside of a sports context.
After swimming
Rinse immediately with fresh water
Rinsing hair with fresh water immediately after getting out of the water is one of the most important steps of the day. This rinse removes salt or chlorine deposited on the fiber before it has time to penetrate further and increase dryness.
Avoid letting wet hair dry in the sun
Allowing wet hair to be directly exposed to the sun amplifies the damage caused by UV rays. Heat combined with humidity weakens the cuticle and increases the porosity of the fiber. It is best to gently dry the lengths in the shade, by pressing without rubbing with a soft towel.
Reshape curls with a daily treatment
After rinsing, the Daily Treatment applied to damp hair helps reshape curls, reduce frizz, and protect lengths without weighing them down. Its compact size makes it the ideal companion for any holiday: it easily slips into a beach bag or travel kit.
Outside of swimming
Hydrate lengths daily
Outside of swimming, heat and dry air continue to affect hair. A daily application of the Daily Treatment to dry lengths helps maintain hydration, smooth frizz, and preserve curl definition throughout the day.
Space out washes despite swimming
Rinsing hair with fresh water after each swim doesn't necessarily require a full shampoo. A rinse followed by a leave-in treatment is often enough to remove salt or chlorine residue while limiting harsh washes. A full shampoo two to three times a week maximum is usually sufficient, even on holiday.
Choose a gentle shampoo for washing
When shampoo is necessary, it's essential to use one that won't exacerbate the dryness already caused by swimming. Shaeri's Nourishing Shampoo, formulated without harsh sulfates and enriched with prickly pear oil and shea butter, gently cleanses while providing nourishment and suppleness to lengths weakened by summer.
The ideal hair kit for holidays
To make sure you don't forget anything, here are the essentials to pack in your suitcase:
The Hair Oil for pre-swim oil baths and SOS care for dry ends.
The Nourishing Shampoo for gentle washes that respect the fiber even after salt and chlorine exposure.
The Intensive Mask Treatment for deep nourishment once or twice a week during your holiday.
The Daily Treatment to protect lengths daily, reshape curls after the beach, and reduce frizz throughout the day.
This Intensive Nutrition Routine covers all hair needs during holidays, from pre-swim protection to daily care between exposures.
After holidays: repair exposed hair
Even with a good routine, hair can emerge from summer a little drier than before your departure. An intensive nourishing treatment cure in the first weeks of September helps restore hydration and regain supple, defined curls.
Resuming weekly oil baths, increasing mask leave-in time, and spacing out washes are the first reflexes to adopt upon your return.
To go further, check out our articles: How to avoid the straw effect? and Curly hair routine before summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim with colored hair without damaging it?
Yes, provided you prepare it. Wetting hair with fresh water before swimming, applying a protective treatment to the lengths, and rinsing immediately afterward helps limit color alteration by salt and chlorine.
Should you shampoo after every swim in the sea?
No. A thorough rinse with fresh water followed by a leave-in treatment is often enough to remove salt residue. Too frequent shampoos further dry out lengths already weakened by swimming.
Can the daily treatment be used on dry hair at the beach?
Yes. Shaeri Daily Treatment can be applied to both damp and dry hair. It can be used for touch-ups during the day to reshape curls and combat frizz caused by salt and humidity.
Does hair need more care in summer than in winter?
Yes, especially because summer aggressors (sun, salt, chlorine, heat) accumulate and weaken the fiber more intensively. A more nourishing routine and more frequent treatments are recommended throughout the summer period.
