by Merary Soto, www.maneconcern.com
So you’ve packed your bags and are just about ready to leave the cold, gray weather behind. It’s only a quick spring getaway, so you don’t want to check a bag, and Lord knows the hotel-size conditioner can barely coat your ends on day one. No need to stress. Here are some tips to get your tresses from winter to summer without over-packing or damaging all the great work you have done to care for your hair this winter.
If you have decided to go with braiding your hair pre-vacation, some of these tips still apply.
Packing:
Unless you are leaving for more than 2 weeks, do not worry about packing a deep conditioner. Deep condition before you leave and most certainly when you return. Instead, pack a cleansing cream and leave-in conditioner.I had the bad habit of using conditioner as a leave-in during vacation; this results in making my hair porous, frizzy and dry. Deep conditioners and conditioners are designed to open the hair cuticle to penetrate moisture and proteins, the rinsing process closes the cuticle back up and prevents the hair from frizzing.If you want more conditioning, add jojoba or argan oil to your favorite leave-in conditioner before packing. If you are packing a 4oz bottle, add about 10 drops of oil. Do not add any edible oils to your hair while you are exposed to the sun. Coconut, olive oils are prewash conditioners, heating these oils with the sun will cause sun damage to your ends and cause splitting. Using a cleansing cream instead of a clarifying shampoo will also keep your hair stay moisturized and help prevent stripping. Pack a paddle brush to detangle your hair gently. Pack playful colorful headbands and scarves. Headbands that are made with satin materials can protect your edges from pulling and tugging and will lay them down without adding heat.
Pre-pool/beach:
Under no circumstance should you jump into a pool or beach water with dry hair. Your hair is like a sponge, if you wet a dry sponge with soap water, it will have soap in it for many rinses. Same concept, you can’t let chlorine or salt water wet your hair first because it will penetrate the hair and cause real damage. It will over-dry and break your hair. Wet your hair until it’s damp in the shower before exposing it to salt or chlorine. This will ensure that once you’re enjoying yourself, playing marco polo, the chlorine will not penetrate deeply because your sponge is already full.
Post Pool/ Beach:
Before you wash your hair and right after you leave the beach or pool, rinseyour hair with seltzer water. Carbonated water will remove any chlorine and sodium build-up. Make sure the water isn’t flavored or has any lemon or citrus. Plain seltzer will not only remove build-up, but help fight frizz. Find a local store; buy a liter of basic seltzer (no need to get fancy). Post pool, rinse with one cup of seltzer, wash with your cleansing cream, rinse with regular shower water, right before leaving the shower, use one more cup of seltzer, then proceed with your leave-in conditioner.
Don’ts:
Do not pull your hair into a bun or ponytail if it’s wet, post pool or beach. Rinse with fresh water before combing.
Do not flat iron hair that has air-dried post pool or beach water.
Do not lighten natural hair in the sun with lemon juice.
Do not use olive or coconut oil and expose your hair to the sun.
If you are transitioning, at night do not sleep with your hair out. Twist or braid at night to avoid breakage from having 2 textures.
Do’s:
Deep-condition before your trip and right after. You will be changing climates and you want to protect your hair from climate shock.
Wear a summer headband as oppose to putting your hair into a ponytail or bun while it’s wet.
Use hotel conditioners to detangle in the shower but do not leave-in.
Infuse your favorite styling products with jojoba and other sun safe oils. It is much easier than packing oils.
Leave your deep-conditioner at home. If you are on a spa trip and want to steam with conditioner, pack a single use conditioner pack or ask for a sample amount at your favorite store before leaving.
Look into leave-in conditioners that have UV protection, usually used for pre-heat styling. They help protect from sun damage as well.
Dry your hair before your return flight.
Use seltzer water to rid of build-up when you get back home.
Lastly, do enjoy a well-deserved spring break!
In health and beauty,
Merary
Merary Soto is the creator and writer of Mane Concern: www.maneconcern.com, a blog space dedicated to hair and scalp nutrition for women of all hair textures.
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