How To Restore Your Natural Curl Pattern

While your straight-haired friends might head to the beach and into the ocean to achieve natural-looking, beachy waves, your curly-haired self might be skeptical and want to do the opposite. But in actuality, sea water can help your curls! If you're wondering how you can restore your natural curl pattern at the beach this summer, here's what you need to know.

To make sure your curl pattern remains in tact, you first need to remember the most important thing: keeping your hair healthy. Every once in a while, take a break from heat tools, heavy taming products, chemical relaxers, and bleaching, and let you hair air-dry.

While highlights are popular during the summer months, WebMD interviewed hair expert Peter Lamas who pointed out that lightening the hair strips it of its natural oils, therefore exposing it further to the elements and making it more brittle. Basically, if you have curly hair, but also have highlights, the strong sun could be causing it more damage than you think.

Additionally, during the summer months, it's important to remember that saltwater dehydrates hair, so be sure to have some leave-in conditioner handy. That said, CurlyNikki.com pointed out that sea water and salt spray can actually help turn those lifeless curls into tighter, springier patterns. She also reiterated that keeping your hair hydrated will help those curls look more lively.

If you're at the beach, simply take a dip in the ocean and let your hair air dry (under an umbrella, preferably) and your curls should restore their natural pattern, thanks to the hydrogen and salt embedded in your hair. But if you're in a rush (or far from the ocean, reach for one of the following sea salt sprays:

1. Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, $27, Bumble and Bumble

Get instant beach waves with this Bumble and Bumble sea salt spray!

2. Organix Moroccan Sea Salt Spray

Organix Moroccan Sea Salt Spray, $7, Amazon

The combination of Moroccan oil and sea salt with help keep your hair moisturized and bouncy all at once.

3. Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Spray

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Spray, $6, Jet

This texturizing sea salt spray will help you restore your natural curl pattern on a budget.

4. White Sands Liquid Texture Spray

White Sands Liquid Texture Spray, $17, Amazon

According to InStyle , this is the same texturizing spray Emily VanCamp's stylist used to create her flawless beach waves on ABC's hit show Revenge. Enough said!

5. John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Spray

John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Salt Spray, $10, Walmart

If you're looking for inexpensive, yet effective, this is your product!

Just remember to rehydrate your hair before and after the beach with an oil, serum, or leave-in conditioner.

Images: Ivan Gener/Stocksy; Courtesy of Brands