Doctor Recommended Solutions to Beach & Pool Hair Problems

By Dr. Baiju Gohil

As the summer heats up and everyone is looking to enjoy some seasonal outdoor fun, it’s easy to forget how to properly care for your hair. From the intense heat to the severe damage water can cause, these next few months can be a nightmare for your mane!

Here are the perfect solutions to the most common summer hair problems.

       Swimming in the ocean

Seawater has a high concentration of salt, which can cause leaching of water out of your hair, thus making it dry and brittle. This can harden the overall texture of the hair, predisposing split ends.  Apply a conditioning treatment prior to entering the ocean. Leaving the conditioner is vital to keeping hair moist and soft. Finally, use a protective hair cream with SPF rating.

       Days at the pool

Chlorine water strips your hair of oils that are essential for keeping hair soft and natural; without the oils hair would eventually look like hay. The application of oil and silicone-based products is best in combating the effects of chlorine water.  Another option is to apply coconut oil, which helps slow down the absorption of chlorine into the hair.

       Sunbathing

Prolonged exposure to the sun will damage the outside cover of the hair strand, called the cuticle. This can cause the hair to discolor, become dry and brittle, and even create split ends, thinning and frizziness. Wearing a hat is the best solution. You can also apply and leave in conditioner and/or a protective SPF hair cream.

       Humid Days

Human hair is extremely sensitive to humidity. Straight hair becomes wavy and curly hair turns frizzy or even curlier. Humidity causes hair to absorb water differently and unevenly, making it difficult to style.  Extra conditioning will help slow down the absorption of excess water. Trimming dried out spilt ends will help minimize frizzing of your hair on humid days. Use a silicone based sealer and limit exposure to the sun’s rays, which can cause drying and damage to your hair.

Dr. Baji Gohil is a board-certified surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, dedicated to hair restoration and hair loss treatment. He opened Robotic Hair Restoration Long of Island (RHRLI) in July of 2015 and continues to transform the lives of his male and female patients.