How to protect hair from chlorine : Chlorine can dry out our skin and trigger substantial damage to hair. Improper hair protection while swimming can lead to hair damage. It results in brittle, dry, dull, and even green-tinted hair.
Can Chlorine cause hair damage?
The natural oils of your hair (sebum) safeguard the cuticle and offer the hair its shine and healthy look. Chlorine is a strong chemical used to prevent growth of bacteria and algae, the same chemical composition that helps the pool water remain clean can also strips the hair of its natural oils. Sebum protects the hair and gives a protective coat to your hair, but any removal or degradation of itcauses the hair to bebrittle, porous, dull, , and vulnerable to damage.
How can I protect my hair against chlorine damage?
It is next to impossible to avoid chlorine while swimming in pool water. However, there are several things you can do to protect your hair:
Take a wet shower before jumping in the pool
It may sound silly that wetting your hair before you jump in the pool water could protect your hair against chemicals. The best way to think of this is that your hair is like a sponge, it can only take in limited amount of water. Allowing your hair to soak up water will reduce the amount of pool water or chemicals that your hair will absorb. Some swimmers put a spray in conditioner on their hair before swimming to assist supply a layer of security.
Treat your hair with care!
Keep your hair in the best possible shape when not swimming, this will help your hair be strong to withstand the chemical assault. The careful treatment should happen in any activity you do with hair even a care regimen. First of all your hair need good nourishment, thus it is important to use all natural protein rich shampoo, conditioner, and hair oils. Do not jerk or pull your hair, when drying do not rub with a towel but squeeze. Every little activity counts towards your hair care.
Protect your hair with a swim cap
Swim cap is necessary when swimming in chlorine water. Swim caps also prevent your hair moving around or floating in the pool water when you swim. The hair is contained and also helps you in swimming with ease.
The swim caps may not be able to provide a watertight seal thus it is helpful to use an anti-chlorine agent like Mystique Abundance Hair Care oil which also provides natural ingredients and proteins to your hair and scalp. After application use a swim cap and then you have 100% protection in the pool.
Post swim hair care
Your hair should be washed with clean water as soon as you come out of the pool. If you plan to stay in the pool longer then it may be a good idea to wash your hair with fresh water in between laps. Any additional washing when in pool will help remove the chemicals from your hair. As soon as possible after your swim, wash your hair with a clarifying, this will help remove chlorine that was clinging to your hair and scalp.
Ways to fix Chlorine Damaged Hair – Three Cs
As the saying goes, the best treatment is prevention. Hair damaged by chlorine may be brittle, dry, frizzy, discolored, and almost always have texture of a straw. If your hair has already experienced chlorine damage, there are a few things you can try:
Clarify your hair with a good product
A clarifying shampoo can help reducechlorine damage. You can also clean your hair with a mixture of white vinegar and water. This mix is acidic in nature and will eliminate additional chlorine build-up, helping restore your hair’s shine.
Condition
Deep conditioning treatments help in providing moisture to your hair, thus will help in restoring your hair. Many people swear by coconut oil treatments to assist repair damage.
Cut
Often, the only method to remove severe damage is to cut a couple of inches off your hair’s ends. Ends of your hair typically suffer the most damage. Getting a good trim can make a difference in contributing to much healthier lustrous hair.
Regardless of the chemical exposure, healthy hair will eventually be back. Be sure to employ the steps explained above to prevent damage to new hair development.