So, you’ve finally perfected your clean hair care routine, and your hair’s feeling healthier, fresher, and happier than ever — just in time for spring break. But looking at your travel plans, it’s clear your strands will be exposed to sun, salt, and a whole lot of chlorine. Worried about maintaining your hair health momentum while enjoying your trip to its fullest?
We’ve been there, and we know how to help! Here’s how to protect your hair from chlorine and saltwater to preserve the results of your clean beauty routine.
Haircare Travel Tips: How to Protect Hair Against Chlorine and Saltwater
Target damage before your trip
Damage leaves your hair cuticles extra susceptible to breaking, fading, and absorbing rogue contaminants in water. So, in the days leading up to your departure, it’s extra important to nurture damaged strands with target hair products.
Enter our Neu Repair, a fan-favorite collection featuring ultra-reparative formulas for strengthening strands and reducing breakage. In addition to using Re Neu Shampoo and Re Neu Conditioner, prioritize using the Neu Repair Treatment Masque once or twice a week between now and your vacation.
Your future self will thank you for planning ahead!
Pre-soak your hair before any swim
Once you’ve reached your destination, don’t jump straight into the pool without any hair prep. Instead, take a minute to wet your hair before swimming.
The science here is simple: wet hair is extremely absorbent, so it’s better to let your hair absorb tap water instead of chlorine or salt water.
Turn your leave-in conditioner into a chlorine shield (and reapply mid-swim)
For even more pre-swim hair protection, apply a thin layer of your favorite leave-in conditioner to dampened hair. This step adds a critical barrier between damage-inducing water and susceptible strands!
Neu Moisture Argan Oil is perfect for this step, as its ultralight oil texture wards off outside moisture. Neu Moisture Instant Fix or Neu Repair Leave-In Treatment will also do the trick—the latter even comes in travel size!
If you can’t avoid submersion, consider a swimming cap
Of course, avoiding contact between your hair and chlorine/saltwater is even better for hair health. If you’re happy going neck-deep only, be sure to add claw clips, pins, and strong hair ties to your packing list.
When you can’t resist dunking your head underwater, a swimming cap is another option. They may not be fashionable, but your strands won’t know the difference!
After swimming, rinse ASAP
As soon as you get out of the water, head to the pool or beach shower to thoroughly rinse the chlorine and saltwater out of your hair. Letting your hair dry when chock-full of contaminants locks them into your strands, so it’s best to be rid of them ASAP.
If there isn’t a shower nearby, dousing your strands with bottled water also works.
Pack a clarifying shampoo and hydrating mask
You don’t have to wait until you’re back home to nurture your vacation hair back to health. Our collection of travel sizes takes your routine with you!
Noticing lots of sunscreen, salt, and chlorine buildup at your roots? Pack the travel-size edition of our Re Neu Clarifying Shampoo, follow it up with travel-sized Re Neu Conditioner, and voila—you’ve just reset your hair and scalp health on the go.
Can’t seem to reclaim your hair’s hydration? Pack a travel-size treatment, like our mini Neu Moisture Masque or our mini Neu Repair Treatment Masque. After your shower, your hair will feel like you never left.
Brush with a wide-tooth comb to avoid brittleness
After a few days of back-to-back sunbathing and swimming, even the healthiest of hair can start to feel brittle and tangled. Brushing through tousled hair can accelerate damage, so it’s always a good idea to opt for a wide-tooth comb on spring break-style vacations!
You can also reduce friction and brittleness by air drying instead of blow drying. But don’t worry—you can still get plenty of style support from the travel-sized edition of our fan-favorite Neu Styling Air Dry Shaper.
Enjoy your spring break, everyone! We’re always sharing our latest clean beauty tips and tricks on our socials, so be sure to follow us on Instagram (@neumabeauty) and TikTok (@neumabeauty).
See you there!
