Swimming is a great activity to help cool off during the warmer months. However, some may be curious about the effects of chlorine on hair, or how bad is chlorine for hair. It makes sense, because after spending so much time and money to maintain beautiful and soft hair, it would not be good to ruin it by swimming.
Chlorine may be good at killing bacteria in public pools that are not salt water, but it is harsh on your hair. How? It strips our hair of its natural oils and leaves it dry and brittle. It also hurt your hair’s cuticles, which it turn can cause your hair to turn green after swimming. Fear not, there is a way you can prevent chlorine from destroying your beautiful hair. With these easy tips, you don’t even need a swimming cap to protect your hair from chlorine.
How Bad is Chlorine for Hair? – Keeping it Protected
1. Wet Your Hair in the Shower Before Swimming
Dry hair tends to absorb chlorine directly into the hair shaft faster than wet hair. Our hair is like a sponge, if it already wet, it will take less water than when it is dry. So before you jump into the swimming pool, douse your hair in the shower. Doing so will slow down the absorption of chlorine. After wetting your hair, if you like you can still wear a swimming cap.
2. Apply Some Hair Product
Chlorine may be keeping you from harmful bacteria, but it may also cause your hair to be brittle. To avoid this, you should form a habit of coating your hair strands with hair products before you go swimming. Experts advise that you use oil or silicone based products. You can try using silicone based hair serum because it is meant to protect the hair from heat styling. Also, you can use coconut oil which will keep your hair moisturized.
3. Leave-in Conditioner
A leave-in conditioner acts as a barrier between your hair and your scalp and the damaging chemicals in chlorine. Ensure that you coat your hair with the conditioner before you head out to swim.
4. Rinse with Hair Cleansers
Washing your hair with just plain water and soap may not wash out all the chlorine. You should, therefore, invest in hair cleansers which will help to remove all chemicals bond to your hair. You can, for instance, buy a specialty shampoo that is designed to get rid of chlorine and mineral deposits like copper which tend to turn your hair green.
5. Use Natural Remedies
Natural remedies offer a cheaper alternative. Plus, they are a great way to ensure that your hair remains strong naturally. These home remedies include apple cider vinegar and citrus lift. You can pour vinegar to water and pour it over freshly washed hair before doing a final rinse.
In Conclusion
So, how bad is chlorine for hair? If your hair is unprotected, and not rinsed after swimming, the chlorine can dry out and damage your hair. It is important to remember to wash your hair thoroughly after swimming, and to protect it prior to swimming if possible. In addition to the methods above, remember you can also use a swimming cap as this will keep your hair out of contact with the chlorine. Taking these preventive steps will help you enjoy your pool during the Summer without worrying about your hair.