It’s summer time, which means plenty of beach days! If you love swimming in the ocean, you may be wondering: is salt water good for my skin and hair, or am I damaging them? 

While it may seem like your hair is pulling a Jada Smith based on its entanglement post-swim, good news: you don’t have to give up that sea salt just because you have impossible knots and pruny skin. In fact, here’s why you should go diving even more before summer is over.

Salt Water for Your Hair

Okay, so those tangles you get? And that uncomfortable, straw-like feeling you get when your hair dries in the sun? That would be your hair shaft swelling with salt. And while, yes, too much swelling can be bad for your hair, salt water is still a fantastic addition to your routine.

First, that crusty feeling? It’s just the salt crystallizing in your hair – not your hair being stripped of precious oils. In fact, salt water is good for your hair in many ways, so long as you treat it afterward – just like any time you swim in a lake, or a pool, or shower with hard water, or… anything other than a standard shower with shampoo and conditioner.

Now, let’s go back to those nutrients in the deep sea. They’re just as good for your hair. For example, magnesium, potassium, and zinc create a healthy environment for your hair, encouraging growth and possibly stopping hair loss. After all, a healthy scalp = a happy scalp, does it not? The exfoliation it provides to your scalp can help with gross buildup, too – it makes for a great natural shampoo.

And have you ever noticed that your hair looks full and wavy, perhaps even with perfect curls, after stepping out of the water? That’s because of that swelling. While too much can be bad, the right amount of salt water will give you that bombshell beach hair you’ve dreamt about.

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Salt Water and Your Skin

I prune up like no other, but after reading about the benefits of salt water on skin, I’ll go wade in the water.

The biggest benefit of salt water: if you go into the deep end (like, 650-feet-deep-end), the water is filled with delicious nutrients – think magnesium, calcium, zinc, potassium,… Basically, the amount of minerals that you get, thanks to a lack of light, plankton, and bacteria, are super beneficial. This is especially true for people who have skin conditions like eczema; a 2016 review investigated the benefits, finding that it may help soothe the skin condition.

It also potentially helps with psoriasis. So much so, that there’s a type of therapy that recommends incorporating sea salts in your baths – or, even better, bathing in saltwater sites directly. Though there are many theories as to why the salt water helps, most believe it has to do with either the warm temperature opening blood vessels or the suppression of the immune system in the skin.

Then, of course, there’s exfoliation. Salt scrubs are super popular for their exfoliation benefits, so it should come as no surprise that the salt water is just as good for your skin as Lush’s shower products. Salt water may also kill bacteria on your epidermis; combine that with acne-fighting exfoliation, and you have clear, happy, healthy skin.

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Don’t Live Near Salt Water?

Okay, obviously there are plenty of people (read: millions) who don’t live near the beach, and summers are simply hot and sticky, with the occasional dip in the chlorine-filled pool. Luckily, there are so many products out there that will give your hair and skin the salt water dousing they desire. From salt sprays to salt scrubs, we recommend these!

Salt Products For Your Hair

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Salt Products For Your Skin

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We hope you make it to the beach this summer! Did you know salt water was good for your hair and skin? Are you planning on swimming now? Tell us in the comments!

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