How to Wear Your Extensions at the Pool & Beach Without Ruining Them

Let me say this first, because I love you:

Summer is where extensions either thrive or can completely fall apart.

Chlorine. Salt water. Sunscreen. Sweat. OH MY! All of it is working against your hair.

But the girls whose hair still looks amazing in August? They’re not Lucky, They’re prepared.

What Chlorine & Salt Water Actually Do to Your Hair (and why we care)

Before we even get into the routine, you need to understand why this matters.

Because once you know this, I promise you’ll never skip your prep again.

Chlorine:

Strips the natural oils out of the hair
Roughs up the cuticle (that smooth outer layer)
Leaves hair feeling dry, stiff, and tangled
Can react with minerals (like copper) → causing discoloration (hello, green/blonde issues)

And here’s the big one for extensions:

Extensions don’t have a natural oil supply.
So once chlorine dries them out… they stay dry. FOREVER. (kinda, keep reading and I’ll give you the hack!)

Salt Water:

Pulls moisture out of the hair through osmosis
Leaves behind salt crystals that rough up the cuticle
Causes tangling, knotting, and that “crispy” texture

It gives you that one day “beachy” feel, but long term? It’s nothing but dehydration and breakage. YUCK.

UV Exposure (the sneaky one):

Breaks down protein in the hair
Fades color (fast)- Hello unwanted yellow and orange warmth!
Weakens the integrity of extensions over time

So when we say “summer damages your hair”…

We’re talking:
chemical + physical + environmental stress happening all at once.

Lets get to the good stuff:

Okay, now thats out of the way, let me show you HOW you can make summer fit your lifestyle this year!

We are rolling out ‘The Summer Bundle’

This is not extra. This is maintenance. Everything you need in travel size so you can protect your investment!

Your bundle gives you:

Travel Shampoo and Conditioner in either Milbon or Unite.
7SECONDS Detangler
Everything you need to protect your hair in real life
In a cutie little travel bag you can take with you.

STEP 1: BEFORE YOU GET IN THE WATER

(this is the part that changes everything)

1. Fully soak your hair with clean water

Think of your hair as like a straw or a sponge.

If it’s dry, there’s nothing in the straw or sponge→ so it will absorb all the chlorine and salt
If the straw or sponge is already saturated with regular water first, the straw/sponge will be already 90% filled with ‘safe water’ → then it will absorbsway less chlorine or salt water.

This is your first line of defense.

2. Coat your hair in conditioner

This creates a barrier on top of that straw that will:

Slow down chemical penetration
Keep internal moisture locked in
Reduce dryness and friction

3. Spray your UNITE 7SECONDS Detangler

Your built-in protection system:

UV + thermal protection
Cuticle sealing
Strength + repair

Think of this as:
hair SPF + strength in one step

4. Apply Milbon Humidity Blocking Oil

This step is what keeps your hair from turning into a fried puffball by 2pm.

Lightweight botanical oils smooth the hair
Locks in moisture
Blocks humidity from re-entering

So instead of:
Frizzy. Dry. Swollen hair.

You get:
smooth, controlled, touchable hair that is easy to wash out at the end of the day!

5. Bubble braid only (no regular braids)

Think Jasmine from Aladin. Basic Braids are great until the wind comes whipping. Your natural hair will fall out of the basic braid and tangle on itself! tangling = matting = damage. This is when I have to CUT the extensions out of your natural hair! (Ive done this to someone a few times now!)

A low tight military bun is okay as well!

Bubble braids (see below for reference):

Keep sections controlled
Reduce friction
Prevent internal knotting

STEP 2: WHILE YOU’RE AT THE POOL OR BEACH

If your like me and refuse to dunk your head in the water, Thats great! This in my opinion is optimal. Especially if your extensions are newer. Not putting your hair in the water will save their lifespan.

Why?

Because UV + sunscreen + sweat sitting on your extensions can mean long-term damage.

Here are some safe options:

Low bun (military)
Top knot
Hat (your esthetician will agree with me on this)
Low bubble braid

STEP 3: THE SECOND YOU GET OUT

This is where most people mess up.

Chlorine and salt don’t stop working when you leave the water. It doesnt leave when your hair dries.

They continue to:

Pull moisture out
Rough up the cuticle
Cause tangling

So you need to stop the damage immediately.

Your reset routine:

You better fight for that first shower after heading in! Throw bows or whatever you got to do to get that salt water or chlorine out of your hair.

Shampoo
Condition
7SECONDS Detangler
Milbon Oil

This restores:

Moisture
Smoothness
Protection

STEP 4: YOUR IN-SALON RESET

Even with perfect care, Summer still takes from your hair.

That’s why your Milbon in-salon treatment matters. We have a promotion in the salon for a ‘vacation reset’. It’s a Malibu Summer treatment with a gloss and ends with the most yummy moisturizing treatment there is. She is $100 and worth ever penny if you have freely lived and enjoyed the water.

The Malibu Summer treatment will pull any chlorine and salt water out of your hair. The gloss will refresh the ends. (say good by to that unwanted warmth) and the in salon treatment rehydrates deeply, restores elasticity and Brings your extensions back to life. This is the best kept secret of the salon and I swear it works wonders.

Before you go, BEWARE!

Let me leave you with a word to the wise.

Sunscreen is the silent extension killer

Avoid:
Avobenzone

It can react with minerals and cause:

Pink tones
Peachy discoloration
Dullness

I CANNOT GET THIS OUT OF YOUR EXTENSIONS. YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE THEM.

Safe Sunscreens

Stick to mineral formulas:

Face:

EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46
Colorscience Flex SPF
La Roche-Posay Mineral SPF

Body:

Blue Lizard
ThinkSport
Beauty of Joseon Sun Stick

If someone around you is spraying the sunscreen and youre in the line of fire, get the h*ll outta dodge!!

If you put regular sunscreen on your back and the end of your pony tail hits it, you will have peach ends.

Final Thought

You can absolutely:

Swim
Travel
Be outside all day

And still have beautiful extensions.

But the difference between: “my hair got so dry this summer”
and “my hair still looks insane” Is this routine.

Dont hesitate to grab your summer bundle, protect your investment and stay that girl all summer.

With love and hair,

Citrine team

The Citrine Summer Hair Guide

How to Wear Your Extensions at the Pool & Beach Without Ruining Them