It’s summer, which makes traveling outside to walk the dog, go for a bike ride, and grab the mail that much more enjoyable, right? Most of the time, yes, but once in a while, I cringe when I open that mailbox and pull out the latest Victoria’s Secret swimsuit catalog. My reaction is always a fight and flight mentality: I fight the urge to not only be haunted by the skinny waistline, but restrain my jealousy of the gorgeous beachy waves of miss hair-perfect model on the cover. Shortly after that, my flight usually consists of a rigorous, envy-induced jog.
While I know that those models are blessed with that kind of body because they barely eat and have fabulous genes, I’ve long tried to master those tousled beach tresses. That is, until I went on vacation and mastered it without even trying. I stepped out of the ocean sopping wet, and without towel-drying, I fell asleep on my beach chair only to wake up to my dream hair.
Then, the light bulb clicked, and I realized that the secret to turning my frizzy long blonde hair into a work of beach-sexy art was the key ingredient: salt water. The sea salt mixed with the ocean wind tousles locks into an effortlessly wavy and perfectly messy ‘do. I quickly collected some into my empty water bottle and transported my beauty obsession back to Indiana after vacation. I’ve been achieving my own beachy look year-round with the easiest – and most natural—of ingredients! Now, it’s time for you to abandon those flatirons and start letting your natural hair go loose and free. Here are some tips to getting that beach-sexy hair every model will be jealous of you for:
Bottle It Up
Whenever and wherever your next vacation takes you, always be sure to bottle up some salt water—even if you have more stored at home. I eventually transfer the salt water into a spritz bottle for easier application. You can never have enough, and it always helps to have the freshest batch. Plus, the ocean is free, which beats out all the saltwater hair products I’d have to buy in the stores!
When All Else Fails, Invest
But seeing as I only take a vacation about once every year, there are amazing products out there that will give you a similar effect. The product that has worked the best for me is a little on the pricier side, but totally worth it! John Masters Organics Sea Mist’s main ingredient is sea salt, which adds texture, defines curl, and pumps up the volume. The spray smells of delicious lavender, which is also supposed to protect your hair shaft and even out scalp conditions. This is a great product to keep your hair healthy and still give you those tousled tresses.
Don’t Fake It
A lot of Internet question-and-answer sites encourage you to make your own salt water product, simply by using table salt (or sugar), and mixing it in with faucet water. Don’t do this! I’ve tried it myself, and every time, it’s failed miserably. Trying to make your own salt water will only result in disappointment, whether you have natural curls or stick-straight hair.
Love What You’ve Got
The only way you’ll feel as fabulous as those Victoria’s Secret models is if you embrace your natural hair texture by allowing it to air dry and the salt water to work its magic. Sport that just-off-the-beach ‘do anywhere from in the office to out at night and voilá! You have successfully achieved beach-sexy waves without setting foot in the ocean.
Guest article by Molly Borter, a writer from Indianapolis, IN, who loves mastering the biggest of beauty blunders, whether it’s lipstick on teeth or super frizzy hair. In her free time, she enjoys long bike rides, playing with her cocker spaniel, and helping others accessorize with fashionable scarves, handbags, and sunglasses.
Molly
