Living in Myrtle Beach has its perks — sunshine, beach days, pool time, and warm weather almost year-round. But while summer fun is great for the soul, it can be tough on your hair.
Between the intense sun, saltwater, and chlorine, summer can leave your hair feeling dry, brittle, faded, tangled, and harder to manage. If your hair always feels different after beach season, you’re definitely not imagining it.
The good news? A few simple habits — plus the right salon treatments and professional products — can help keep your hair healthy, hydrated, and protected all summer long.
How Summer Damages Your Hair
Sun exposure can dry out hair. Just like your skin, your hair can be affected by UV rays. Too much direct sun exposure can dry out the hair strand, cause brittleness, and even fade color-treated hair faster. Blondes, reds, fashion colors, and highlighted hair are especially vulnerable to sun fading.
Saltwater pulls moisture out of hair. A beach day sounds relaxing — but saltwater can be drying. Salt draws moisture from the hair, which can leave it feeling rough, tangled, and dehydrated. If your hair already tends to be dry, beach days can make the problem worse.
Chlorine can cause dryness and discoloration. Pool lovers know the struggle. Chlorine strips natural oils from the hair and can leave it feeling dry or straw-like. For blondes especially, chlorine buildup may even cause unwanted discoloration or brassiness over time.
How To Protect Your Hair This Summer
The key to healthier summer hair is protection and hydration.
Here are some of our favorite ways to help protect your hair from the sun, saltwater, and chlorine.
- Use Professional Shampoo and Conditioner:
Summer is not the time to skimp on hair care. Professional products help replenish moisture, protect color, and strengthen the hair. We love recommending Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo and Conditioner for strengthening damaged or color-treated hair and helping restore softness after sun and water exposure. For hydration and repair, KEVIN.MURPHY HYDRATE-ME.WASH and HYDRATE-ME.RINSE are amazing for dry, thirsty summer hair. - Wet Your Hair Before Swimming:
This simple trick makes a big difference. Before getting in the pool or ocean, rinse your hair with fresh water. Hair acts like a sponge — if it’s already wet, it absorbs less saltwater or chlorine. Bonus points if you add a leave-in conditioner before swimming for extra protection. - Protect Hair From Direct Sunlight:
If you’re spending the day outside, your hair needs protection just like your skin. Try pulling hair into protective styles (like braids or buns), using UV-protectant hair products, and try to keep your hair out of direct sunlight whenever possible by wearing a hat and staying in the shade. This is especially important for color-treated hair during Myrtle Beach summers. - Add Deep Conditioning Treatments:
Summer is the perfect time for extra moisture. Professional conditioning treatments help restore hydration, softness, and strength after exposure to sun, chlorine, and saltwater. If your hair feels dry, tangled, or damaged, a salon treatment can help bring it back to life much faster than at-home products alone. - Schedule a Gloss or Toner Refresh:
Sun, chlorine, and saltwater can make color fade faster. If your blonde starts looking brassy or your color feels dull, a gloss or toner appointment can refresh shine and tone without needing a full color service. - Use a Leave-In Treatment:
A leave-in product can act like extra insurance for your hair. We often recommend KEVIN.MURPHY UN.TANGLED, a lightweight leave-in conditioner that helps detangle, hydrate, and protect hair from heat and environmental stress. Redken One United is another great option, offering 25 benefits in one lightweight spray to help protect, strengthen, and smooth hair during the summer months.
Keep Your Hair Healthy All Summer Long
Summer in Myrtle Beach doesn’t have to mean dry, damaged hair.
With the right products, professional treatments, and a little extra care, you can protect your hair from sun, saltwater, and chlorine while keeping it healthy and beautiful all season long.
Ready to give your hair some extra summer protection? Book your appointment at NikkiCole’s Hair Design & Head Spa today!
P.S. – Redken and KEVIN.MURPHY products are available in our salon!
Book online here: https://www.vagaro.com/nikkicoleshairdesign/book-now or call us at (843) 945-1025.
NikkiCole's Hair Design 