best beach products

There seem to be a thousand articles about beach hacks that are full of useless information. But even in that sea of useless information, I haven’t seen many good articles with simple tips and tricks for long hair at the beach. I see articles that either has some regiment of 12 products you need to put on your hair in the morning, then in the afternoon, after you shower, before bed, and then repeat. I’m never going to do all of that. And I don’t want to put avocado and mayonnaise in my hair either. I just want some quick things I can do to protect my beautiful locks and help me keep it from being so tangley. I put together my list of what I think will help your long locks at the beach. I think these are good for both the beach bunnies and surfer dudes.

This is the second time I’ve had long hair. The first time I was 20 and my I was in college and my hair was think and the envy of many girls. I didn’t give it much thought and I didn’t really take care of it. After college, our society said I had to cut it off. Now I’m 45 years old and I don’t really give a shit what people think anymore. I haven’t had my long hair for very long and I’m a little concerned that my long hair is making me go bald even faster (mainly because every time I see my Mom she tells me a story about how her sister had long hair and it started falling out so my long hair is going to make me go bald). So I’m always thinking about what I can do to keep my awesome Fabio looks and prevent my hair from falling out.

This list is not based on any scientific research and Paul Sassoon didn’t give me any money. But if he offers I will take it an I will write a whole other article based on whatever he wants me to say. This is just based on what I’ve found that I think makes my hair happy and some ideas my wife came up that makes her hair happy.

It’s funny because everyone who envisions a Beach Bum sees a guy with long hair. Look into your mind’s eye and picture the epitome of a surfer… long hair right? But the truth is that the beach and long are a horrible combination. Ski Bum and long hair is a much easier life to live. I did the ski bum thing for 10 years, I’m over the cold weather. So, here I am living in the islands and I’m loving the look of my long hair. But it is a huge pain in the ass. So, here are the ideas that we have come up.

I think the best idea I came up with is wearing a seamless bandana. It’s basically a tube top for your head. I pull it all the way down on my neck, pull my hair through it, and then push it up like a headband. But, if I want my hair more out of my face I can extend the top of it to hold my hair farther back. It also keeps my hair off the back of my neck and keeps me cooler AND, it also acts as a sweatband if it’s hot (which it always is) it keeps me from looking sweaty. It also keeps the sun off my hair and protects my scalp. I felt like the ponytail holders where killing my hair and wanted something more gentle. And, I don’t think a scrunchy was the look I was going for. So this is the solution I came up with. You can wear it like a bandana like Axle Rose or make it longer and it holds your hair back more out of your face, and there is nothing pulling and tugging on your hair. After I got to the island I noticed lots of long haired dudes were wearing the same thing. I was shocked because once again I thought I invented a new fashion and everyone was already doing it.

If you have very thick hair or super long hair, like my wife, then putting it up or in a loose braid might be a better option. It will keep it from getting tangled but won’t put too much pressure on it like a tight ponytail or french braid. Remember it’s all about reducing the stress on your hair. The sun, sand, heat, salt, and wind are all working against you. So we want to find ways to make our hair happy.

Ditch the hairdryer and the flat iron. Your hair saw enough wind and heat on the beach. Let it air dry. Those natural curls will make you look beachy and carefree. Plus you will have more room in your suitcase for shoes, or more souvenirs (like rum).

Try not to wash it too often. Be sure to rinse and condition. A leave in conditioner would be even better. The sun and heat want to dry out your hair and washing it will strip away more of the natural oils. So keeping it moisturized will keep it healthier. There some ‘au natural’ things you can use as well. If you mix apple cider vinegar with water it makes a natural conditioner. Also, Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter are great for your hair. They will help to reduce frizz.

ProTip – If you’re are a blondy who gets green hair from the swimming in the pool, if use the apple cider vinegar and water it will take the green out. And if you wet your hair before you get into the water it helps reduce the amount of chlorine your hair will absorb.

And finally, I’m sure everyone with long hair knows this one, but be sure to use a wide-tooth comb or pick. I like to comb my hair in the shower when I have the conditioner in my hair if it is particularly tangled.

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If you are going to the beach or on a cruise you probably need a pair of water shoes. Most people go to the dollar store or Wallyworld and look for the cheapest pair they can find because they think water shoes are ugly and they don’t last. But the truth is water shoes have come a long way since your mom put those ugly hot pink ones on your feet at the beach. Not only can you look cool in water shoes but you will find ways to use them after you have left that Caribbean Island. I just moved to the Islands and I bought some to use. Now I’m obsessed with them. I wear them all the time. I’m starting to wear them more than my flip flops.

So let me take you on a tour of the various option for water shoes. There are basically 5 types of water shoes.

Type One

The cheap mesh ones from the dollar store. These will last you 4-5 times that you wear them. They only come in split sizes like 9/10 sizes and they suck. You get what you pay for, so if you want to spend $5 on something that will break before you are done using it this is the way you want to go.

Type two

These are the neoprene ones you get at Walmart or Kmart for about $8-12. They usually come in whole sizes like 9 or 10. They will probably last for your whole vacation. But you won’t look cool and you’ll probably throw them away when you get home. These will work if you want to wear them in the pool or just on a rocky beach but they can’t handle much more than that.

Type three

Water socks. These are kind of new on the scene. I read a ton of the reviews about them and I wanted to love them. I was going to buy them before I moved to the islands. I read too many reviews that said they ripped after one or two times being worn. So the risk is, if you are buying something for a vacation and they break you may have to do without. anything for the rest of your trip. The could be a good backup option or something just for the pool.

Type four

Slip-on quick-dry shoes. These are the sweet spot. They start around $25, and they are going to last for your whole vacation and beyond. You can wear them to the pool all summer or even when you have a lot of errands to run and you think your feet will get tired from wearing flip flops all day. I’ve actually started to wear these more than my flip flops. Some days I think they are a little hotter than if I had on my flops but I think they are better for my feet and my posture.

Type five

Nice shoes you can wear in the water. This is your name brand category where you know you won’t be disappointed. Prices start around $60 an go up from there. You are going to get good materials and construction. If you live at the beach or if you do a lot of water sports they are worth the money. You can go through two or three less expensive pairs and then wonder why you didn’t just get the good ones to start with.

Alternatives

Sandals are an obvious alternative and I will just talk quickly about them. A lot of sandals are slippery when they are wet. They tend to have bad traction on rocky surfaces, and when they are wet your foot can slide around in the sandal. If you are hiking up to a waterfall or even walking on a rocky beach and you have either one of these traction problems, it can not only drive you crazy but could cause an injury if you slip or twist an ankle.

Wearing your old sneakers in the water is also an alternative. It’s a pretty sucky one, but it’s an alternative. Do you remember when you were little and you’d wear your old shoes to play in the river? In case you don’t remember, they get really heavy, they hold water, and they are always coming untied.

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Tag: best beach products

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