HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HAIR ON SUMMER VACATION

FRIZZY HAIR, DON'T CARE: WHEN YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE HUMIDITY, THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO DO NO HARM  

Thank goodness for beachy waves – the tousled, textured  look that makes unruly hair sexy and trendy. Because if you are going on a beach vacation, or any place with high humidity, you can forget about fighting your frizz. Hair that starts the day with a blowout is likely to end up puffy before noon.  Even an expensive keratin treatment may wash out, thanks to the evils of salt water after a few dips in the ocean.

So, accept that your hair will be hard to control. Avoid heat styling if possible,  and just help your locks  look their beachy best while you enjoy a sunny  escape. But make sure that you take steps to protect your hair so that you don’t return home with damage from the sun, the ocean and the pool.

Here’s what you need:

• FRESH WATER. Before venturing into the pool or the ocean, wet your hair with fresh water to add a layer of protection from chlorine and sea salt.
• LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER. Wear this on the beach while you sunbathe to moisturize your hair and protect it from sun damage. If you're a swimmer, use this to guard against salt water and chlorine damage.
• SUNSCREEN FOR YOUR HAIR. UV rays can damage the hair and the scalp. This helps avoid breakage and discoloration, and protects the cuticle. 
• A GENTLE, SULFATE-FREE SHAMPOO. After a swim in the ocean or pool, shampoo your hair as soon as possible with a product like this to prevent damage from salt water or chlorine. Sea water dries out your hair and scalp, causes discoloration, wrecks elasticity and makes hair tangly. Chlorine can strip the hair of its natural oils, fade color and cause breakage. 
• A DEEP-CONDITIONING HAIR MASK. Use one like this after shampooing instead of your usual conditioner.
• A DRY SHAMPOO. On non-beach days, try this one that comes in a carry-on friendly 3.2 oz. size. 
• A BEACH WAVE SPRAY. Give your vacation style a boost. This one is made without salt water and comes in a travel size. 
• A SUN HAT. The easiest kind of protection. This one is packable. 
• A BEACH HEADBAND. Wear one like this to rein in your coif. 
• A SCRUNCHIE SET like this for hair emergencies.
• AND IF YOU MUST, A HEAT TOOL like this when nature fails.