Sun and sea, or a day by the pool, are wonderful for the soul, but they are tough on hair in ways that can creep up on you gradually. Salt water, chlorine, and intense heat all strip moisture and shine from the hair shaft, leaving it feeling dry, brittle, and harder to manage than usual. If your hair has felt a little worse for wear this summer, Magic 9 Balm is one of the most effective and gentle ways to restore it.

The balm is made from pure plant butters and cold-pressed oils, including shea butter, cocoa butter, and oat oil, which sink into the hair shaft to nourish and restore without weighing it down or leaving any greasiness. A tiny amount goes a surprisingly long way, which makes it a perfect addition to your holiday wash bag as well as your everyday routine.

 

How much do you need?

This is the question most people ask first, and the answer depends on your hair type. The key with any balm on hair is to start with less than you think you need, as you can always add a little more.

For curly or thicker hair, start with a grape-sized amount. For finer hair, a pea-sized amount is plenty, and for short hair, a little less than that. Always warm the balm in your palms first by rubbing them together until it melts, then apply from the ends upwards, combing through gently with your fingers as you go. Starting at the ends is important, as the ends are usually the driest and most damaged part of the hair, and working upwards means you are using what is left on your hands more sparingly as you reach the roots.

 

As a leave-in conditioner

After washing and lightly towel-drying your hair, warm your chosen amount between your palms and work through from the ends upwards. Magic 9 Balm makes a beautiful leave-in conditioner, leaving hair feeling soft, nourished, and manageable without any heaviness or stiffness. It is a particularly lovely thing to use after a day in the sea or pool, when hair needs a little extra care before it dries.

If you are spending the day at the beach or by the pool, you can also apply a small amount to dry hair before you go in the water, which helps to protect the hair shaft from salt and chlorine and makes it much easier to manage afterwards.

 

As an overnight hair mask

For hair that needs deeper restoration after a long summer of sun and sea, an overnight mask is one of the most effective treatments you can do at home. Apply a more generous amount to dry hair before bed, working from the ends upwards and making sure the lengths are well covered. Wrap your hair loosely in a soft towel or sleep on a silk pillowcase to protect your bedding, then shampoo out in the morning.

The results after even one overnight treatment are noticeable. Hair feels softer, more manageable, and visibly healthier, with a natural shine that sun and salt water tends to dull over time. For hair that has had a particularly tough summer, doing this once a week for a few weeks will make a real difference.

 

For frizz, flyaways, and styling

Magic 9 Balm is such a versatile styling product, and it works on dry hair as well as wet.
A tiny amount, warmed between the fingertips and stroked lightly over the surface of the hair, tames frizz and flyaways without any crunchiness or stiffness.
On humid days, when frizz tends to creep back throughout the day, a light reapplication in the afternoon keeps things looking neat and nourished (which is how I use it most!).

It also works beautifully for styling. Run a small amount through the lengths to help separate and define curls naturally, or smooth over the surface of a ponytail for a sleek, polished finish. For afro or very curly hair, you may find you need a slightly more generous amount to get the smoothing and defining effect you are looking for, but the same principles apply: warm first, apply from the ends, and build up gradually.

 

Please message if you would like any advice or guidance on how much to use. 

Fiona x

 

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