How To Stop Chlorine From Ruining Your Hair

If you haven’t been away yet then we’re guessing that you’re pretty excited to hit the pool. Is there any better way to cool down after sunbathing with a cocktail? We don’t think so. It is, however, a bit of a good hair day killer as all that chlorine can seriously damage your strands. It’s not the end of the world though and we definitely wouldn’t skip swimming because of it. That being said, you might want to follow these tips…

How does chlorine affect your hair?

As chlorine is such a harsh chemical it will strip your hair of all its natural oils, leaving it dry and more prone to damage. This is particularly worrying for those of us who colour treat our hair, as it’ll be more at risk of damage. Chlorine also causes the hard metals in water to oxidise and turn green. As the minerals in the metals are attracted to the proteins in your hair, they stick to it. This is why taking a dip in the pool can give your strands a green hue, especially if you’re blonde. Eek!

Before Swimming

Before you take a dip in the pool we’d recommend following these steps so that your hair is fully prepped to take the hit.

Step 1: Wet Your Hair First

If you get your hair wet first it’ll act as a barrier to prevent the chlorine from the pool from getting absorbed into your strands. There’s normally a shower close by and we’d recommend fully saturating your hair with water so that you’re totally covered.

Step 2: Apply A Conditioner

Applying a small amount of conditioner on your hair will create an even stronger barrier between your strands and the chlorine while preventing it from drying out. You don’t need to use a lot but just apply it in the same way you would a hair serum and you’ll be good to go.

After Swimming

After your day poolside we’d recommend following these steps to put the moisture back into your strands and to protect them from future damage.

Step 1: Remove The Chlorine

The first step is to cleanse your hair of chlorine, copper and the classic swimming pool scent. The best thing to use for this would be a chlorine specific shampoo and yes, they totally exist. One of the most highly recommended is the TriSwim Shampoo which gently removes the chlorine and copper deposits from your hair while soothing your stressed strands with Aloe Vera, Vitamins A & E, and ProVitamin B5.

Step 2: Condition

You definitely don’t want to skip the conditioner after a day at the pool and it’s worth going for something really moisturising that will give your hair a boost. We’d recommend the Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturising Conditioner which promises to improve dry hair by 63%. You want to concentrate this on the mid-lengths and ends to avoid weighing down your roots.

Step 3: Use A Deep Conditioning Mask

Once you’ve removed all the chlorine it’s time to inject some much-needed moisture back into your strands. We’d recommend using a hair mask like the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask which restores damaged locks and is packed full of hair-healthy ingredients like argan oil and biotin. We’d recommend leaving this on for as long as possible to really nourish your strands.

Step 4: Let It Air Dry

When your hair is dry it’s more prone to damage so by avoiding heat you’ll reduce the risk of breakage. If you’re in the hot weather and dipping in and out of the pool it’s a way better idea to go for heatless hairstyles instead to keep your hair as healthy as possible. This is why we’d recommend air drying your hair over blowdrying it. If you find your hair looks greasy after air drying then you might want to read this blog post first which is full of useful tips.

Step 5: Use A Leave-In Conditioner

If you’re not using a leave-in conditioner already then the summer months are the best place to start. These are a godsend for dry or frizz-prone hair and will make a massive difference in keeping it healthy in between dips in the pool. We’d recommend the OUAI Leave-In Conditioner which detangles, protects your hair from the heat and helps to fight frizz. With these quick tips you’ll be able to take a totally guilt-free dip in the pool without compromising your beachy waves. All that extra moisture will do wonders for your hair too and it’s a great way to keep it healthy during the summer months. Still need to pack? We’d recommend reading our post on beach bag hair essentials so that you don’t forget the important things!