The sensation of floating through the water can be very relaxing until you consider the potential harm that the chlorinated water is doing to your luscious hairs. Swimming in a pool on a regular basis may wreak havoc on hair because of the harsh chlorine that is present in pools. Nevertheless, it is possible to protect your hair from chlorine exposure and the harmful effects that chlorine has. In this piece, we are going to discuss the mechanisms by which chlorine wreaks havoc on your mane, offer some of our most tried-and-true pointers for avoiding or preventing chlorine damage, and offer a few solutions for repairing hair that has been damaged by chlorine.
Effects of chlorine on your hair
Swimming pool Chlorine is vital for killing bacteria, but it can cause severe damage to your hair if you swim in pools frequently. The natural oils (sebum) that your body creates to protect your hair are stripped away by chlorine. In addition to hurting the skin and scalp, chlorine causes hair to:
- Split and crack
- Remove your hair’s natural hydration
- Alter the hair’s natural color (or dyed hair color)
- Weaken, leading to split ends
Rare swimmers rarely experience the negative effects of chlorinated water; for instance, a once-a-year holiday dip in the pool will not have a significant impact on your hair’s health. However, it makes no difference if you swim once a month or every day; certain hair types are more vulnerable to chlorine damage than others. This includes individuals with:
- Color-manicured hair
- Chemically treated hair
- Dry hair
- Hair that is fine and thin
- Hair that is already harmed
Regardless of your natural hair color or type, you must know how to protect your hair from chlorine damage if you are a frequent or daily pool swimmer.
What Chlorine Does to Your Hair and Skin
The natural oils of your hair and skin are stripped away by chlorine, leaving them dry, harsh, and more susceptible to harm. Chlorine strips your hair of the natural oils it needs to stay healthy and silky, but chlorine can cause damage to your hair as well. In addition, chlorine can create chemical reactions in your hair, which can result in a change to the natural color of your hair, a weakening of each individual hair strand, and split ends. Depending on how sensitive your skin is, having oils extracted from your skin can cause it to become red and itchy after the procedure.
Ways to Prevent Chlorine Damage
You won’t be able to fully protect yourself from the harmful effects of chlorine, especially if you swim frequently; but, you can mitigate some of those effects by taking one of the following precautions before entering the water:
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Wet your hair first
Wetting your hair before entering the pool can help protect your hair and scalp from the harmful effects of chlorine and salt.
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Wear a swim cap
Stopping your hair from becoming wet is the most effective defense against chlorine damage. If you don’t want your hair to be damaged by the chlorine in the pool, a swim cap is a smart investment. You can further reduce your exposure to chlorinated water by wetting your hair before putting on the cap.
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Apply a leave-in moisturizer before getting into the pool.
A small amount of conditioner applied prior to swimming in the pool can assist in reducing chlorine absorption. While swimming, applying a leave-in conditioner and wearing a cap can both keep chlorine from penetrating your hair and nourish it.
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Rub some oil on it
One effective strategy for protecting hair from chlorine is to apply an oil like coconut oil and then wear a swim cap. In addition to protecting your hair from chlorine, the oil also repels water.
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Use Swim Spray.
If you have light-colored hair, especially blonde hair, and are concerned about how chlorine will affect it, you can buy a swim spray product to spritz on your hair to help prevent chlorine from permeating your strands. All hair types can use this product.
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Use gentle shampoos.
Regardless of the texture of your hair, after swimming you should always use a shampoo that is mild and free of sulfates, and then follow it up with a conditioner. This helps remove any traces of chlorine that may still be present in your hair.
Ways to Repair Chlorine Damage
The damage caused by chlorine does not necessarily have to be irreversible. There are techniques to lessen the damage and get back to having healthy hair that is soft in a short amount of time. You can heal some of the harm caused by chlorine in the following ways:
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First, give your hair a quick rinse.
It is highly recommended that you give your hair a fast rinse after swimming to reduce the amount of damage and get it back on the path to health. Washing your hair with a chlorine-resistant shampoo is one way to keep it healthy and safe.
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Comb gently
Brushing wet hair can cause breakage because of the increased friction. Carefully comb through damp hair with a wide-toothed comb to remove tangles and smooth the hair.
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Clarify your hair
Your hair can be cleansed of any damaging chemicals if you use a hair clarifier. You can eliminate any unwanted chlorine by rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar or using a clarifying shampoo, both of which are available for purchase.
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Get Professional Help
Receive a professional hair cut to remove the damaged ends and get the expert’s advice on what products or treatments can assist your hair.
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Check Your Scalp
In addition to causing superficial skin damage, chlorine can also dry out your scalp. Even if you aren’t experiencing hair loss, you may want to restore your scalp and hair to their healthiest state if they have been badly damaged due to dryness.
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Use a Protein Treatment on a Regular Basis
Strength can be restored to damaged hair by replacing the protein that washed off by chlorine.
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Deep Condition Your Hair
If your hair has been damaged by chlorine, you should get a deep conditioning treatment once a week or twice a week in order to lock in the moisture and smooth out the frizzy, split ends. Coconut oil is another miracle worker when it comes to restoring health to chlorine-damaged hair.
Conclusion
The amount of chlorine in a pool impacts whether your skin and hair are at risk of becoming damaged. Although the Journal of Dermatology has long refuted the claim that chlorine causes hair loss, the risk of developing hair loss due to the highly chlorinated water is very significant. The pH of chlorine water should range from 7.2 to 7.8. The water gets more alkaline if the chlorine content is higher. Similar to hypochlorous acid, chlorine is a bleaching agent that can make highlighted hair turn a drab green color, dry up, and lose its luster. Therefore, be careful to avoid behaviors that not only harm your hair but also result in hair loss, forcing you to seek the advice of medical professionals for hair treatments and hair restoration. In the same way that chlorine causes hair loss, skin and hair are both sensitive to certain chemicals that have a negative impact on human health. We also shouldn’t forget that pool water friction damages nail plates and cuticles. An allergic reaction is one of the negative effects of hair loss therapies. One source of these toxins on your skin is color treatments.
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