Aside from our hair texture, our location is also a factor in the way that our curls behave and last.

I live on the south coast of England in a ‘marine climate.’ That means changeable weather, warm summers, mild winters, salty sea air – and a lot of wind and rain!

Despite being mild, this climate comes with unique challenges compared to very cold, dry or hot regions.

The examples below should give you an idea of how experimenting with certain ingredients and products (yep, even the non-CG-friendly ones) can help weather-proof our curls, wherever we are in the world!

Changeable weather

The south-west coast of England gets a lot of weather blowing in from the Atlantic, meaning that we get more rain and sometimes faster-changing weather than the rest of the country. And rain = frizz!

Lots of people with curly hair find that their curls can absorb and lose moisture quickly – especially if your hair is more porous due to damage. I find that using stylers that contain film-forming humectants (such as aloe) in humid weather means that my hair doesn’t frizz up quite so much, and sometimes incorporating silicones gives it extra protection. This is because both of these ingredients form a film around the hair, which helps to keep moisture in and seal your strands from taking on too much extra moisture. The Curly Girl Method demonises silicones, but they’re nothing to be scared of – if you’re occasionally clarifying your hair, then there is no risk of buildup.

Some of my favourite weather-proofing stylers include:
Bouclème Seal & Shield gel (get 15% off with code COAST15)
Color Wow Dream Coat (get 20% off with code CURLSBYTHECOAST)
Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Gel (the red one is a stronger hold)

Mild winters

For some, winter means dry skin and hair, either due to the climate, or because of all that central heating making the air too dry. You might have seen some curly advice saying that you should use more moisturising products in winter to counteract this dryness. But since temperatures by the coast are generally more mild compared to inland, this isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach.

This will vary from person to person, but I personally find I don’t need to deep condition more or add more creams in the winter, although I do have to be strategic on which gels I use, as mentioned above. Layering two gels together is my favourite approach!

Deceptive summer weather

In Devon, we are also lucky to get some of the best weather in the UK. This is great for the holidays, but of course, even if there’s a fresh sea breeze, a high UV index means a higher risk of sunburn.

It is easy for your scalp to get sunburnt if it is not protected, and even your hair can get sun damage – UV exposure can break down the proteins in the hair, which can make your curls appear dull and weak.

As I have low-density hair, my scalp is more visible and therefore more prone to sunburn. If I don’t have an SPF suitable for my scalp, I will wear hairstyles that hide my parting to protect it – and wear a sunhat, of course!

Many curly hair companies sell satin-lined or curl-friendly hats:
Soulta satin-lined baseball cap (get 10% off with COAST10)
Black Sunrise satin-lined visor and bucket hats

My curls love protein in any case, but I also wouldn’t skip my fornightly protein treatment in the summer. My favourite protein treatment is Botanika the Mender, and you can check out my post on the protein-moisture balance for more of my proteiny-product recommendations.

There are also stylers or leave-ins available with UV protectants built in, such as:
Curlsmith Miracle Shield
Umberto Giannini Boho Beach Jelly (get 20% off with code COAST20)

Soft water

This doesn’t apply to all coastal areas, but the south-west of the UK also has really soft water, meaning that it is low in calcium, magnesium, and other minerals that make water hard.

Harder water can cause buildup on your hair, which over time can make your curls limp and dull. This can be solved with an occasional chelating wash (see my post about clarifying for more about this!).

With soft water, my shampoos are easier to lather and conditioners penetrate my hair easier, meaning that I use less product than if I were in a hard-water area. On the downside, I run the risk of my hair being too soft sometimes, which means I struggle to get longer-lasting hold and definition. I can solve this by not overdoing it on the conditioning products, and making sure my stylers are hard hold.

Salt Water

Do you low-key love that textured look that your hair gets when you go to the beach? It’s caused by the salt water – the salt draws moisture out of your hair and causes the cuticle to swell, which either gives it a cute texture for a short while, or makes it very dry and tangly once it dries.

To protect your curly hair when you’re swimming, wetting your hair with fresh water beforehand will stop too much of the salt water entering your hair shaft. You can also apply a little oil or leave in on your hair, to further help seal the strands.

As you can see, the reason why there can’t be a universal approach to curly haircare is because there are so many factors to take into account that will affect how your curls look and last. That’s why it’s a good idea to not only follow people with a similar hair type to you, but also people who live in a similar climate or location to you. By taking into account your hair type and your lifestyle, you’re giving your curls the best chance to flourish!