I live on the ocean—literally. Which means my skin, hair, and well—everything!—is always exposed to the elements: salty water, sun that dries everything out, and wind that chafes. And through all that, I still expect full performance from my body. I want to look good and feel good so I can keep doing the things I love—surfing, sailing, diving—for most of the day.
So, how do I make that happen? What habits keep me glowing, healthy, and ready to dive back into the ocean life? Today, I’m spilling it all.
Related:
Tiny Wardrobe, Big Adventures: What I Actually Wear While Living on a Boat
How to Stay Fit & Surf-Ready on a Boat (Without a Gym!)
Daily Habits
Let’s start with the simple daily habits that keep my hair and skin happy—from morning to evening.
Morning Routine
- Wash Face: Every morning starts with a gentle cleanse. I use a natural face wash and a face washer to freshen up—super simple, super effective.
- Tie Hair: I throw my hair up in a high ponytail (personal preference, but it keeps it off my neck and out of my face). Then I apply a homemade hairspray/leave-in conditioner to the ends and smooth down frizz.
- Deodorant: Yep, smelling nice matters—even on a boat! I use a natural deodorant called No Pong, and I love it.
- Moisturiser + SPF: I finish my morning routine with a light moisturiser that has SPF 30–50. It helps with both wind protection and sun care.
After that, I usually do school and work indoors for a few hours. Once it’s time to head outside, the rest of my skin/hair protection routine kicks in.
Pre-Adventure Essentials
- Hat: Always. Whether it’s my surf hat or town hat, it protects my face and most of my hair from the harsh sun.
- Sunnies: We keep six pairs by the door so we never forget them. Eye protection is non-negotiable!
- Sun Cream: I apply SPF 50 sunscreen before going anywhere. This is the base layer of my sun protection routine.
Evening Routine
- Shower: I use a DIY soap and a scrubber to rinse off the day’s sweat, salt, and sunscreen.
- Conditioner: Just a bit on the ends—daily. It helps with tangles and keeps my hair moisturised.
- Brush Hair: I brush my hair while it’s wet, starting from the ends to avoid breakage.
- Brush Teeth: Obvious, but worth noting—I use a homemade natural toothpaste or powder.
- Lip Balm: Before bed, I layer on some lip balm. A lot if I’ve been sunburned!
Surf & Watersports Routine
Now for the ocean-active days (ahem, most days!). These are the extra steps I take before hitting the water:
- Zinc: After sunscreen, I layer on zinc—especially on my lips and face. It sticks better and offers solid protection.
- Wet My Hair First: Sounds strange, but wetting my hair with fresh water before diving into saltwater creates a natural protective barrier. Sometimes I add leave-in conditioner, too.
Hair Based on the Activity
- Kitesurfing: I tie it up in my high ponytail, though by the end it’s usually loose and wild.
- Surfing: I usually leave it out—it looks best and creates less drag. If I wear a hat though, I tie it in a ponytail to keep the hat on.
- Diving: I plait/braid it—this massively helps with tangles.
After Session
- Rinse Off ASAP: We keep a fresh water bottle in the dinghy to rinse our faces right away. Then we shower properly back on the boat. Try to get as much salt out of your hair as possible!
- Brush Hair: Depends on how tangled it is, but I often brush it right after diving—it’s the easiest time.
Treating Sunburn
The nemesis of ocean lovers: sunburn. Sadly, I don’t have a magic cure—but here’s what helps:
- Prevent It First! Layer on sunscreen. Zinc. SPF 50. Honestly, we look like ghosts most of the time—but at least we’re protected.
- Aloe Vera: After rinsing off, I lather on aloe vera wherever I got burnt. It soothes and speeds up healing. We often do multiple layers—morning, night, and repeat.
- After-Sun Balm: I make my own using coconut oil, shea butter, essential oils, and other simple ingredients. I use it before bed—it gives your skin the whole night to recover.
- Hydration: Drink heaps of water. It’s underrated but vital for healing sunburned skin and staying healthy in the heat.
Treating Dry / Breaking Hair
If you’re living in saltwater like me, dry or breaking hair will happen. Here’s how I deal with it:
- Coconut Oil Mask: My go-to fix. After a salty day, I’ll rub it into my hair—especially the ends—and either leave it in overnight (on a towel!) or just for a few hours. Rinse out later with a gentle shampoo.
- Washing Hair (Strategy): I shampoo about once a week—more than that, and my hair gets dry and frizzy. But I do use a little conditioner every day to restore moisture.
- Hair Masks: Coconut oil is my fave, but other options I’ve heard of are: coconut milk, honey, avocado, or yogurt.
- Leave-In Conditioner: I use my homemade one before and after surf sessions. Loads of pro surfers do this—it works!
Products I Use (or Make!)
I lean toward natural products because:
- I can make them on board.
- They’re better for the ocean.
- My body just likes them better.
But I don’t DIY everything—some products are better bought. Here’s what I use and love:
Bought:
- No Pong – Favourite deodorant. I love the original and the lavender.
- Sun Cream – Ethical Zinc, Smidge Sunscreen, and anything natural with SPF 50 that we can find.
- Moisturizer with SPF – Whatever I can find!
Made or Basic:
Summary
And that’s the scoop! Hopefully this gives you a glimpse into what it takes to look after your skin and hair when you live on the ocean—and the sun, salt, and wind are your daily companions.
To some, this might feel like a lot, and to others, maybe not enough. But for me, it works. I’m a minimalist and a naturalist, and this routine fits me well.It’s taken lots of experimenting to get here—don’t think I nailed it on day one! So take what works for you and skip the rest. I’d love to hear your thoughts or suggestions—if you’ve got product tips or ocean-living hacks, drop them in the comments below!
Love it! I wonder if there is a more natural shampoo or conditioner option with silicone that coats the hair to protect it from the ocean!? I will have to keep my eye out for some.
Thank you! I’m sure there are some great natural shampoos and conditioners out there, we made shampoo bars one time actually… but a silicone idea I haven’t heard of, you’ll have to let me know if you find one!
Do you have recipes for your home made products ? Bella ?
Yes, you can find them in the Sailing Archives. But here’s a quick link.
I would love a recipe for your after sun balm. Would you share?
Hey Holly! You can find the after sun balm recipe here.