You’ve managed to squeeze a vacation getaway into the budget this year – yay! Unfortunately, it’s at the expense of your summer protective hairstyle (sucks teeth). But all is not lost – you can still look fly this vacation season and protect your natural hair at the same time!
If you’re on a tight budget this summer – like me – expensive protective styles like knotless braids are out of the question. So how can you protect your hair on vacation this summer without a protective style to lean on?
1. Cover hair during peak sun hours.
Direct sunlight for extended periods not only damages skin, it can dry out natural hair. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat or head scarf is a simple fix to protect our hair from the sun’s UV rays. Sun hats not only protect your hair, it also protect your scalp from potential sunburn.
Be sure the inside of your hat or scarf is lined with soft fabrics like silk instead of cotton. Coarse fabrics cause friction with your hair, leading to reduced moisture and breakage.
RELATED: Do These Popular Summer Styles Really Protect Your Hair?
2. Apply sunscreen to hair (yes, to hair!).
Our skin isn’t the only part of our bodies that needs UV ray protection. The same sunscreen used for sensitive skin areas like your face can be used on your hair.
If putting sunscreen on your hair doesn’t sound appealing, you can also use UV-blocking hair products. Look for leave-in hair products that call out SPF sun protection and protective oils like avocado, tea tree, or vitamin E. These leave-in hair-protecting products keep your hair from drying out due to UV sun damage.
Want to be absolutely sure your hair sunscreen is legit? Make your own! Mix a little sunscreen and hair oils with water to create your own sunscreen hair mist.
RELATED: 5 Hair-Saving Tips For Girls With Natural Curls
3. Rinse your hair and scalp after sun exposure.
Rejuvenate your hair after a hard day of vacationing with a restorative hair mask or deep conditioner. Rinse-free products containing humectants and oils add moisture to hair that was lost during the day.
Hair rinsing also removes salt, sand, chlorine, and other materials absorbed by your hair during your vacation festivities.
4. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!
Keeping your hair hydrated is the name of the game when it comes to natural hair care, and that does not change when you go on vacation. Keeping up with your hair routine is critical, especially when introducing new elements to your routine.
Liberally apply moisture-promoting creams, leave-in conditioners, and oils to your hair daily to protect and repair any damage done for the day. The LOC or LCO (Leave-in, Oil, Cream) moisturizing method not only moisturizes your hair but seals it inside the hair shaft for optimal protection.
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5. Rock a (extension-free) protective style.
Who said protective styles only involved extensions? Extension-free hairstyles help maintain hair moisture and protect just as well as your traditional braids. They also come with the added benefit of being “style-ready” and low risk for Traction Alopecia, so your edges don’t go on a permanent vacation.
Not feeling all that extra work for a hairstyle? You can always go for a trusty wig for the day. Just be sure to protect your hair beneath the wig cap with moisturizing hair products.
If you thought going on vacation meant a vacation from natural hair maintenance, you thought wrong! In fact, your natural hair needs extra care when leaving its natural environment. But taking these steps to protect your hair while having fun in the sun is the best way to keep a head full of healthy luscious locs to rock upon your return.
