If you spend most of your days chasing waves or swimming in saltwater, you’ve probably noticed some hair damage, such as dryness or brittle ends.
At Hunter Gatherer, we’re all about living close to the ocean and keeping your hair just as healthy as your connection to it. That’s why we’re sharing a few of our favorite hair care tips for surfers and ocean lovers.
With a few simple habits (and the right ocean-safe products), you can protect your hair before, during, and after a surf session.
Prep Your Hair Before You Paddle Out
Most people focus on protecting their skin from the sun, but your hair deserves that same attention. Saltwater can be rough on your strands, stripping away natural oils and leaving them dry and brittle over time. That’s why adding a little protection before you dip in the ocean makes all the difference.
We love Calleja’s Before Salt Spray for this step. Created by Australian hairdresser and surfer Kirra Calleja, this product was made for people who spend half their lives in the ocean.
The Before Salt Spray acts like a lightweight barrier that shields your strands from salt water, sun, and chlorine. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, and infused with organic, nutrient-rich ingredients.
Just mist it through damp hair before going into the ocean, and let it do its thing while you chase waves. Think of it as sunscreen for your hair. It’ll keep it healthy, soft, and nourished, so you don’t have to worry about damage or dryness.
Rinse and Restore with Ocean-Safe Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
After a surf session, the first thing your hair needs is a good rinse. Salt, sand, and sunscreen residue can build up fast, leaving your scalp and ends dry.
That’s where Crafts of Wandering’s natural shampoo and conditioner bars come in. Handmade on Kauai, this local brand keeps things simple, sustainable, and ocean-safe. They don’t use any plastic bottles, harsh ingredients, or synthetic fragrances that pollute our reefs.
Each shampoo bar contains a nourishing mix of coconut and argan oils that cleanse your scalp without stripping moisture. And the cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E in the conditioner help minimize frizz while nourishing your hair.
They’re also perfect for travel or tossing in your surf bag. And because the bars are solid and the ingredients are highly condensed, they last longer than three plastic bottles of shampoo.
Lock In Moisture After Surfing
Even with the best shampoo, salt water, and sun exposure can leave your hair feeling dry and brittle. After your hair is all clean, it’s time to seal in the hydration before the frizz and tangle take over.
We swear by Calleja’s After Salt Balm for this step. It’s a lightweight balm packed with organic nourishing ingredients meant to restore, hydrate, and leave your hair feeling soft.
Work a small amount through damp or towel-dried hair, focusing on your ends. It melts easily without leaving a heavy or greasy feel.
For best results, pair it with the Before Salt Spray and let your hair air-dry naturally. Together, they work to keep your hair happy and healthy, while you do what you love most: surfing.
Do a Bi-Weekly Deep-Conditioning Treatment
Depending on how often you expose your hair to ocean water, a deep-conditioning session every couple of weeks can help prevent damage and nourish your hair even more.
You can keep it simple by applying a rich, hydrating mask or using your Calleja After Salt Balm as an overnight treatment. Just coat your mid-lengths and ends, braid your hair, and rinse it out in the morning. You’ll wake up with softer, smoother, and noticeably healthier strands.
If you prefer the DIY route, coconut or argan oil works great too, just make sure to wash it out thoroughly with a gentle shampoo (like the one from Craft of Wandering) afterward.
Treating your hair to some extra moisture every couple of weeks keeps it strong enough to handle whatever the ocean throws your way.
Keep Your Hair (And the Ocean) Happy
At the end of the day, caring for your hair is just another way of caring for the ocean that gives us so much. Every time you reach for reef-safe, cruelty-free products, you’re helping protect the place we all love to explore.
With small, intentional swaps, like using Calleja’s surf-friendly sprays and balms or Craft of Wandering’s solid shampoo and conditioner bars, you’re not only keeping your hair healthy but also reducing the plastic and harsh ingredients that end up in our waters.
Healthy hair, a happy planet, and more time spent doing what you love: that’s what it’s all about.