Whether you are a swimmer or you really enjoy the summers by taking a plunge, knowing how to care for hair, especially after swimming, is crucial. Don’t you love it when you can glide into the refreshing water and feel at peace?
But such a feeling may not last long, especially if you think about the chlorine and its effect to your hair. Let’s not worry excessively because there are several ways that you can do to improve your hair’s health and minimize the damage from the chlorine.
How Chlorine Can Be Damaging
When chlorine is added to water, it makes the hair weak and dry. The hair is then prone to breakage. Regular (tap) water may also contain chlorine, but the amount isn’t damaging enough to cause problems.
In pools, however, the amount is abundant and such a thing can cause damaging effects not only to the skin, but also to the hair.
Although chlorine is crucial to kill bacteria, it is also responsible for stripping the body’s sebum (or natural oils) that is needed to protect the hair. The most common damages resulted from chlorine usage are:
Skin and also scalp irritation
Split and crack hair
Weak hair, often leads to split ends
Stripped natural moisture (of the hair)
Change to the natural color of the hair.
How to Protect the Hair
Do some of these things to protect your hair and fight off the chlorine
Always rinse the hair, before and after swimming. Rinsing before helps your hair to absorb clean water so the chlorine can’t penetrate your hair while swimming. Rinsing after helps removing the remaining chlorine left within your hair so it would be cleaner.
Apply natural oils or any leave in protectant against chlorine. This is especially crucial if you are a frequent swimmer. You can use jojoba oil, olive oil, or coconut oil before getting into the pool. Afterwards, use leave-in conditioners after you are done swimming.
Use swim spray. The product is easy to find and also easy to apply. Simply apply it before swimming, and your hair strands won’t absorb the chlorine. The good thing about the spray is that it can be used by all hair types.
Use swim caps. The caps function as this great barrier for the hair so chlorine won’t easily reach it. Make sure that all of your hair is inside the cap. If you are a frequent swimmer, make sure to have several swim caps.
Consider about using gentle shampoos. You may want to use gentle shampoo that is sulfate free. Don’t forget to apply conditioner afterwards.
Conclusion
Spending a lot of time in the swimming isn’t a reason for lame appearance. You can still look great with healthy hair if you know how to care for hair correctly.
