While I keep my curl routine generally pretty minimal, the products that I do use, I cannot live without. This goes for beach days, too.
Here’s how I beach prep my curly hair
Before spending a day on the sand I like to add a little coconut oil to my hair because of its natural SPF. I do so by gently scrunching a quarter size amount of oil all around my curls. it Even though the SPF level in coconut oil is very low — close to 1 — it is better than nothing. Sometimes I like to alternate between that or using my Ouidad Mongongo Oil, which can also be used as a heat protectant. Additionally, the product is super light on my curls.
On the beach
Once I am on the beach I will often wear hairbands, bobby pins, or wear my hair up in a protective style like a bun or pineapple to get the hair out of my face. This is especially helpful when I am swimming in the ocean or just feeling like being a total beach bum.
Usually, I am on and off the beach periodically throughout the day. This is an important step because the middle of the day is when the sun is at its hottest.
Post swim
After going swimming and while taking a break from the sun, I will rinse the saltwater out of my hair by using my DIY refreshing hair spray. My mix contains filtered water infused with lavender, peppermint, or rosemary essential oil — it depends on what oil I’m in the mood for since I usually don’t wash my hair until the end of the day when I am done swimming.
Finally, as the day goes on, I will reapply coconut or Mongongo Oil as I see fit throughout the rest of the day especially since I am out in the sun for long periods of time.
With regard to my overall curly hair care routine post-swim, I absolutely cannot live without my co-wash, which I will use every day. I am typically only at the beach for a week or so at a time, so my Renpure Solutions Vanilla Mint Co-Wash works fine for this instance.
If I’m itching to style my hair
I typically like to use my Bounce Curl Crème Gel for styling and that’s it! I will add one of my oils as a finisher if my curls feel too dry. To dry my curls I usually alternate between a using a diffuser or letting them air dry (since they dry pretty quickly in that kind of heat and sunny weather”>. However, whenever I do air dry my hair, I do not get that big volume that I love, so I will either use my trusty hair pick, shake my curls with my fingers, or follow up briefly with my diffuser to give it some more life.
A week later
Finally, at the end of the week, I will follow up with my weekly deep conditioner, SheaMoisture Tahitian Noni Monoi Oil Smooth & Repair Hair Scalp Therapy to restore moisture back into my hair.
How do you prep your curly hair for a day at the beach?
Let us know your routine in the comments section!
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