Holiday Hair – How to Protect Your Hair from Chlorine

Its holiday time and you’re hitting the pool, but how much damage is this doing to your hair? Treated water which contains chlorine which can damage hair, especially if it is coloured or natural and untreated. Chlorine evokes hair damage by reacting with a number of chemicals in the hair causing colour change or dried-out hair strands which are more prone to hair breakage. To protect your hair from the harmful effects of chlorine, use the following tips. 

Hair Wash 

Wash your hair right after a swim to get the chlorine out. There are lots of organic hair products specifically formulated for chlorine removal. Use tepid water to wash and rinse off with cold water to protect your hair cuticles.  

Clarifying shampoos are also great at removing chlorine from hair but should not be used regularly because they can dry out your roots. Finish off with a nourishing, moisturizing treatment to restore your hair’s pH balance and moisture. 

 

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A post shared by PHILIP KINGSLEY (@philip_kingsley) on Jul 17, 2018 at 3:39am PDT

Protect hair with olive or coconut oil 

Olive oil and/or coconut oil are great at coating and strengthening hair strands so that the chlorine is unable to react with the chemicals in the shafts. Because they seal-in moisture, they also further seal the sebum produced by the sebaceous glands of the scalp, thus protecting the scalp from drying out.  

Olive oil nourishes the hair without weighing it down. Coconut oil plays these same roles and is less expensive than olive oil. 

 

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Wet hair with non-chlorinated water 

This method is pure science. Wet hair is less absorbent than dry hair because it can only allow so much water in. When you wet your hair with non-chlorinated water before taking a dive into that pool you limit the amount of chlorinated water that can get into your strands. This is also great for your skin. Ensure that you take a good shower while wetting hair before you swim. 

Swimming caps 

Swimming caps have been here for a very long time and are great at keeping hair dry. This is especially an excellent option if you are not willing to get your hair wet or to apply products on your hair. They are generally inexpensive and reusable.  

 

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Leave-in conditioners help your hair withstand chlorine damage 

Leave-in conditioners work in the same fashion as the olive and coconut oils. They coat and provide safety for your hair strands. Thus, helping your hair thrive even when immersed in chlorinated water. Amazingly, leave-in conditioners can easily be rinsed off right after a swim to discard any possible chlorine residue. 

 

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Use SwimSpray 

SwimSpray is a product formulated for swimmers to get the chlorine out of the hair and skin. You can use SwimSpray to get the chlorine out of your hair. They are safe, fragrance-free, and can also be used alongside shampoos and conditioners. 

 

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