You know the feeling. A week spent out in the sun (with SPF, of course), throwing on your favorite swimsuit, jumping into pools and walking on the beach, salty air running through your hair. Bliss. But then, upon your return home, you find that your locks are now dull, faded, brittle and dry. Welcome to “vacation hair.” That’s the bad news. The good news? It’s 100 percent reparable. Below, I spoke with two hairstylists who advise on key ingredients and products that can help restore your hair—it’ll be vacation-ready again in no time.
6 Essentials to Repair 'Vacation Hair,’ According to Hairstylists and Editors
Brittle, faded strands—begone!
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Published Jan 27, 2026
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Meet the Experts
- Chaz Dean is a celebrity hairstylist, colorist and the founder of WEN hair and body care line. Dean has over 25 years of experience, and his salon has served the likes of Ming-Na Wen, Nicole Murphy, Gilles Marini, Alyssa Milano, Gwyneth Paltrow and others. WEN is also the winner of multiple QVC Beauty Awards.
- Devin Graciano is a hair stylist and head of product development at Goldie Locks, a luxury hair care brand that focuses on moisture and hydration for extensions and natural hair.
What Causes Vacation Hair?
When your hair gets excessive sun/chlorine/salt exposure, that can lead to faded color and brittle strands. “We’re really talking about a triple threat to the hair’s protective barrier,” Graciano says. “Your hair has a natural lipid layer and cuticle that keeps moisture in and damage out. UV rays, pool chemicals and saltwater all chip away at that defense in different ways.”
Graciano explains that UV rays break down proteins in the hair shaft, while chlorine strips oils and saltwater dehydrates. That’s why your hair can start out feeling soft (thanks to the broken proteins), then turn frayed and rough.
Hair-Saving Ingredients
There are plenty of hair-saving ingredients that can restore your strands. Dean recommends jojoba, argan and Abyssinian oils, which are heavier and can nourish and hydrate your hair. Avoiding lathering shampoos is also a good idea, as it can strip your hair when it needs hydration the most.
In addition to argan oil, Graciano would also reach for coconut oil, aloe vera extract, marshmallow root extract and agave. She cites coconut oil as a great source of moisture without heaviness, while also boosting shine. It’s best for dry, coarse and/or curly hair. If your hair is frizzy, marshmallow root extract can give your hair what she calls a “silky slip,” so it’s easier to detangle. Agave functions as a humectant, helping to attract and retain moisture, while aloe vera can sooth an irritated scalp.
Editors’ and Experts’ Picks
There are tons of products to choose from, and everyone’s hair is different. As long as you use the experts’ ingredients guidelines when shopping, you can experiment with what works best for you. Need a starting point? I asked PureWow editors, Graciano and Dean to give their recommendations below.
1. Fully Fyne Hair Treatment Mask
Fully Fyne
PureWow Vice President of Editorial Candace Davison tells me she swears on this hair mask. “It's the only one I can use on my super fine hair that moisturizes and tames frizz (especially right after I've gotten highlights done) without weighing it down and looking greasy/stringy.”
2. Bella Spirit Revitalizing Treatment Oil
Bella Spirit
If you want a salon-level treatment, Dean crafts a luxe hair oil through his haircare line, Wen. It’s infused with essential oils, botanicals and vitamin E. You can use it as an overnight treatment, and it will pull double duty rebalancing your scalp and moisturizing your hair.
Emily Brozyna, PureWow’s associate director of social strategy, loves the Olaplex Weightless Volumizing Hydration mask. “I’ve been using it about once a week after shampooing, and it truly makes my hair noticeably softer and more hydrated without weighing it down like some of the more heavy-duty masks out there,” she says. The cuticle-sealing mask is formulated for fine to medium hair, featuring the brand’s Biomimetic Cuticle Technology. It promises to boost shine, reduce breakage and support length retention.
4. Goldie Locks Signature Conditioner
Goldie Locks
Graciano recommends Goldie Lock’s Signature Conditioner, which she says will help lock in hydration, detangle and add shine. I’ve been using this for a couple months and noticed a marked richness in the formula’s texture, which felt creamier than all the other conditioners I’ve tested. (And there have been many.) The ingredients include vanilla bean (soothing antioxidant), white truffle (fatty acids to support renewal) and marula oil (moisture and antioxidant).
5. Nexxus KERAPHIX Liquid Crystallizer
Nexxus
“I just tried this latest launch from Nexxus and noticed immediate results after a blowout,” says PureWow Senior Commerce Editor Stephanie Maida. “It's formulated to rebuild hair's protein bonds via liquid crystal amino acids and help strengthen it against future damage, whether that's heat or coloring. One of the things I love most about it is that you can use it on wet or dry hair, so I can run some through my day three 'do to revive dull ends.”
6. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Hair Mask
Briogeo
Over the last few years, I’ve ramped up my heat styling. That’s led to a ton of split ends, and my hair often looks and feels dry. Over the last year, I’ve been applying Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair! mask pre-shower and have found it immensely helpful in restoring my hair to its original texture. I don’t do it often, but when I do, it’s like an instant plumping boost. Its hero ingredients are rose hip oil, vitamin B and algae extract, which serve to strengthen and repair keratin, moisturize, nourish and control frizz.
