USVI-On-Line

I'm thinking about getting some highlights in my hair but I'm leaving for STJ in a couple weeks and I'm wondering if the sea water would ruin them.

I don't know if it matters, but my hair is medium blonde and I'd be getting some lighter blonde highlights.

Your answers are greatly appreciated

Hey, Teresa-
I've always had highlights before snorkeling and spending a lot of time in salt water and sun and never had a problem. Now, if it were chlorine then yes but if anything, my hair just gets a little lighter from all the sun.

I do use a color shampoo and conditioner- I don't know if that helps or not but I like to think at $20 a bottle it is!

I just notice that my head gets tanner I guess I'd need hair to have it make a difference.

I had my hair foiled before coming down last year. It is naturally light brown, and the highlights were kind of honey toned. I came back with practically blonde hair! I didn't care though, it looked OK. I am having my hair done this afternoon actually. If it strips out again like last year I'll just get it fixed when I am back home.

Ah, that's a good point actually, Tom. Sunscreen, because there are chemicals, can react with hair color. I'd give the highlights at least a week before putting anything on your hair (other than hair stuff, of course).

Don't worry, Tom, most ladies don't care much about hair unless it's their own or growing out of noses/ears. lol!

My wife always puts in a little conditioner before swimming in the ocean. Her hairstylist recommended it as a way to keep the color intact longer.

I've never noticed a problem. I'm naturally auburn but my hair has ALWAYS gotten blonder in the summer. A couple of years ago I decided to go blonde (full foil highlights) and if anything I notice that my hair gets lighter (just like it would naturally). The sun and saltwater I guess.

Anyway that being said I ALWAYS use some sort of hair sunscreen product when I'm in the VI. The sun is so strong and I find this really helps. In the past I've used a Frederic Fekkai spray. Looks like they've expanded the line and called it "Summer Hair" Here's the link on Sephora.com:
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.j ... oryId=4221

I know some people balk at spending $$$ on shampoo and styling products. But I spend a lot of money at the salon coloring and styling and I've found that higher end products like Fekkai and Kerastase keep it healthier and keep the color longer than less expensive brands. JUst MHO.

Sephora also has some great products for the summer including some new waterproof make-up lines their "Summer Survival Guide" just showed up in my mailbox and is on their web site.

On the same note of sun screen one of my absolute faves is Bobbi Brown Beach sunscreen spray. I don't know how they captured that smell but it is YUMMY and smells like the beach!

http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/temp ... D=PROD5709

Good luck!

I'll jump in with my 2 cents because the way I support my St John habit is by working as a hairstylist in the real world.
Salt water alone should not affect your hair color. Chlorine and well water will.
Also sun fades it.
Some precautions I recommend to take anytime you're in the sun or water are as follows:
1) Protect your hair like you do your skin. They're made of the same stuff. Your hair (especially colored hair) needs sunscreen too. There are specific hair products for that.
Guys (those who have hair) usually don't have a problem with this because they cut the hair off before it gets too damaged, but long hair really suffers.
If you're doing the basebball cap thing with your hair out the back, your ponytail will get sundamaged and bleached out. Tuck it in if you want to avoid that.
2) Use a silicone-based hair product like Sebastian Laminates Gel mixed with either a leave-in conditioner or just a little of your regular conditioner worked through the ends of your hair when going out in the sun or water. This sort of buffers your hair from the elements. Using the conditioner alone helps if you don't want to deal with the silicone product.
3) Before getting in a pool or chlorinated water, wet your hair with tap or bottled water first. Dry hair acts like a dry sponge and will soak up the chlorinated water unless it's already dampened.
4) For the ladies using a tanning bed, don't let your hair drape over the end of the bed above your head. Many beds vent the hot air that way and it will heat damage your hair.
5) Consider taking your own shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair, and avoid the hotel/villa supplied stuff. A good thing to know is that shampoos and conditioners labeled "volumizing" and "extra body", etc. achieve those results by pulling oils and everything else out of your hair. They can be very damaging to hair color by fading it and/or causing tonal changes which can leave your hair an odd or unwanted color.
Hope this helps keep our beautiful forum ladies looking good.

Thanks for all the advice ladies. I knew I could count on y’all

I’ll check out those products Gromit.

2catlimit, I use a silicone based product every day (Biosilk Silk Therapy)…do you think using that combined with conditioner is enough for STJ, or do I need to use something with SPF as well?

Oh, California Girl, I meant to say that that is interesting about your hair and the cistern water...the cistern water does awful things to my hair...it feels like straw the whole time I'm in STJ. It's interesting how different hair reacts differently.

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Teresa,

It looks like your hair is pretty long, so personally, I'd go with a sunscreen as well, particularly midway down through the ends.
I love Silk Therapy. It works well and the smell is fantastic. A similar product that I like just as much is made by Chi called Silk Infusion. Both of them are great for your hair and try it on your skin.
Makes for really silky legs.

My hairdresser told me we'd worry about any color adjustments when I returned from St. John, if it were needed. I get color and low lights (foiled). I think my hair is OK.

One day in STJ, we did have a do-it-ourselves hair deep conditioning session by our pool with saran wrap and everything. We coated hair with Biolage Conditioning Balm. Usually, I'd just sit there and let it stay on a while, but we got creative. I have pictures but they will not be available for viewing because it would guarantee the end of a friendship. But it was fun!