13 Pros Weigh in on the Best Beach Hair Products

From protective mists to rich, leave-in conditioning treatments.

13 Pros Weigh in on the Best Beach Hair Products

A day at the beach may be the epitome of warm, easy summer living, but there's work to be done when it comes to keeping your hair safe from the elements. To protect strands from the sun's harmful UV rays and counteract the salty ocean water that leaves strands parched, while also optimizing your texture for your desired air-dried results, you've got to have the right beach hair products in tow. Here, 13 pros weigh in the best beach hair products, from protective mists to rich, leave-in conditioning treatments.

Naeemah LaFond

Amika Supernova Moisture and Shine Cream

“We often don’t address coily natural hair when we talk about ‘beach hair,’ but we certainly should since all hair is beach hair. Where straighter and wavy textures tend to embrace the dryness that comes with being exposed to sun and salt water in creating loose wavy tresses, coils need to retain moisture in order to prevent damage. Before hitting the beach, it’s best to pre-treat the hair by saturating it with water and using a conditioning and moisture-rich product like the Amika Supernova Moisture and Shine Cream to lock in the moisture. Just as you would reapply sunscreen, you can reapply the Super Nova throughout the day to combat the drying effects of sun exposure.”

Adam Campbell and Matt Rez

K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask

“The K18 leave-in Molecular Repair mask is a great product for beach aftercare and something we regularly use on clients to protect them from the summer elements. It repairs hair from the sun, heat, and saltwater, as well as color and styling damage, and restores its shine and elasticity. It’s applied after shampooing in place of a leave-in conditioner, then combed through damp hair and allowed to penetrate for four minutes before resuming regular hair activities.”

Dhiran Mistry

Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Hair Oil

“The Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Hair Oil is a beach must-have that has many benefits for all hair types. I always tell my clients that it doesn’t really matter if your hair looks ‘greasy or wet’ as you are on the beach anyways. I like to add this oil and braid the hair—this way the hair doesn’t have a chance to get all knotted with salt and sand, while the leave-in treatment gets to work on your hair. It’s a no brainer! The hair will be softer and silkier. It contains camelia oil, which helps keep the hair moist and supple, and is rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants that can maintain your scalp health, nourish the hair follicles, and keep your hair healthy. Not only that, but it also contains UV protection, which is important because the sun's rays can make the hair weaker, dryer, rougher, and can cause color fading.”

Jillian Halouska

R+Co Sun Catcher Power C Boosting Leave-In Conditioner

“Leave-in conditioners and a blow dryer are my weapons to make beach waves. I love slightly spritzing the hair with R+Co Sun Catcher, adding a diffuser with high heat to add humidity, then removing and adding a shot of cool to replicate the wind to naturally tousle the hair. The Sun Catcher is such a gem for so many reasons. It helps maintain moisture, wards off frizziness, keeps the structure of your texture intact, can be used for ponytails braids, or buns, aids in detangling the hair, and helps to style and manage hair despite the wind, sand, and sea.”

Vernon François

Vernon François Mist Nourishing Water

“My beach hair essential is a silk scarf to cover the hair, hairline, and nape, with a spritz all over first of my Vernon François Mist Nourishing Water for all hair textures—kinky, coily, curly, wavy and straight—for added moisture, hydration, and protection from the elements. I like that scarves can be worn in multiple ways, as a turban, head wrap, or bandana, tied at the front, side of back of the head, with the ends loose or tucked in, and come in a print or color that complements or contrasts your swimwear. It’s versatile, practical, protective, and stylish. It also takes up less space in your bag than a full hat! @SwirlyCurlyHair is Black woman-owned and offers really nice protective hair scarves.”

Mara Roszak

RŌZ Santa Lucia Styling Oil

“The RŌZ Santa Lucia styling oil is the only hair product I bring with me to the beach. While I do like the way my hair looks with a bit of ocean humidity, I don’t love the way it feels—dry and crunchy. The salt water enhances my waves and gives them a defined separation, but it can leave me with a dull, matte look and feel. The styling oil adds the smoothing soft shine to the defined salty beach texture. I often re-apply a pump or two on my ends and mid-lengths as my hair starts to frizz from the humidity or feels dry from the ocean water and sandy beach. RŌZ’s fresh, herbacious scent is also magic in the breezy beach air.”

Nai’vasha

TRESemmé Flawless Curls Refresher Spray

“I'm such a fan of TRESemme's Flawless Curls Refresh leave-in conditioner because it hydrates, defines, and is lightweight. It revitalizes your texture with nourishing [ingredients like] coconut and avocado. I recommend lightly misting the hair in an upside down position, then right side up. Shake, and then go!”

Jenny Cho

R+Co On a Cloud Baobab Oil Repair Splash on Styler

“There’s nothing I love more than beachy, wind-blown body and texture, but sometimes the salt water or even the wind can lead to brittle or tangles in the hair that cause breakage. To protect the hair, I layer on a hydrating product—anything that has moisture to provide extra softness and hydration to prevent hair snapping or breaking. I love the R+Co On a Cloud Baobab Oil Repair Splash on Styler, which is a lightweight cream that can be applied on dry, damp, or towel-dried hair all over. It's also small enough to carry in your beach bag. The baobab oil protein helps rebuild hair bonds all day, sealing in the cuticle to prevent frizz and add softness all day at the beach.”

This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Lauren Valenti