5 Hair Tips for Camping

Memorial Day weekend is a great time to go camping.  The weather is usually pretty nice (not too hot or cold) and most people have a three-day weekend, which makes this a perfect time to get out of town. On the other hand, camping can wreak havoc on your beauty routine and add some extra damage to your hair.  But have no fear!  With these five hair tips for camping, your hair will remain in tip-top condition throughout the summer.

1. Choose Your Hair Product Wisely

Smothering your hair with product before you go camping is not the best idea.  If you use too much hairspray, your hair will be stiff and will not be able to move freely.  This will make it harder for you to clean your hair without washing it.  In general, too much of any product will weigh your hair down and make it greasier.  If you absolutely need to use some products, make sure to focus them towards the ends of your hair and not your scalp.

On the other hand, dry shampoo is the one product you should make sure to bring.  To use it, just spray on dry, dirty hair, and comb it through (the hairspray would make it harder to do this without causing damage).  It works by soaking up the excess oil from your scalp, which leaves your hair feeling fresh and clean.  It makes it super easy to stay clean while you are out in the wilderness.

2. Cover Up

Like your skin, your hair is susceptible to sun damage, or damage from the other elements.  Sun-damaged hair often has a damaged cuticle which can lead to dry, brittle hair, split ends, discoloration, and frizziness.  Additionally, if your hair is exposed to the wind, it can become tangled, which can lead to breakage.  The best way to protect your hair from elemental damage is to keep it covered up.  Wearing hats, scarves or bandanas are a pretty common fashion, found in the wilderness.  Take advantage of it and your hair will thank you.

3. Braids

Braids are a fantastic way to keep your hair neatly styled while camping.  They keep your hair tight against your head, which prevents it from becoming tangled.  They also don’t require much hair product to look good.  There are so many fashionable ways to do braids, so take advantage of them and keep your hair safe.

4. Extra Conditioner

When you know that you are going to be exposing your hair to the elements and will be unable to condition your hair for a while, take extra care to condition it before you go.  Do a good at-home deep conditioning treatment right before braving the outdoors.  This will give your hair a little boost through your trip.

Another thing you can do is use some leave-in conditioner while you are out.  This tip is especially good if you plan on doing some swimming.  If you will be swimming, apply some leave-in conditioner to your towel-dried hair and comb through.  If not, you can still apply it on a daily basis.  The only thing you should remember is to focus the conditioner more towards the ends of your hair.  If you put too much near the scalp, your hair will become more greasy.

5. Keep It Combed

As I have mentioned multiple times in this post, when your hair gets tangled, it is more susceptible to damage.  It can get snagged on anything and will break right off.  The best thing to do is make sure that your hair is not tangled.  If you are wearing braids, make sure to comb it at the end of the day.  If you are wearing it down, make sure to comb it more often to prevent those risky tangles.


This article first appeared on HolleewoodHair