How to Protect Your Hair From Chlorine Water Damage
For as long as you can remember, you've undoubtedly wondered whether chlorine would make your hair turn green. Is it really necessary to wash your hair before and after a swim? Why do people wear swim caps?
Chlorine may do major damage to your hair if you're a regular swimmer. It is a great disinfectant for swimming pools, but it can damage your hair because it is corrosive.
There's a common misconception that tap water is completely contaminant-free. So, if you take a lot of showers in water with a high chlorine content, your scalp and hair may be irritated or damaged.
Take a deep breath and ask yourself, "What does chlorine truly do to my hair?"
This isn't a pleasant revelation. Because of its corrosive nature, chlorine can damage your hair, skin, and other skincare. You must be aware of the dangers so that you will always take the necessary steps to preserve your hair and keep it in good condition throughout fall and winter.
Our goal in this article is to help you understand how chlorine damages your hair and what you can do to prevent it from happening again. For more information, continue reading.
Toxic Effects of Chlorine on the Skin and Hair
First, learn what chlorine is and how it affects your hair.
Chlorine can do more than just keep pools clean and bacteria-free; it can also clean drinking water, sanitize household surfaces, and shield crops from pests.
Even though it's pretty awesome for pools, the disinfectant property of this product is not good for one's scalp and hair.
Chlorine can:
- Damage your hair by causing split ends, which occur when your hair is stripped of its natural oils.
- By reacting with dyes and colors, it can change the color or speed up the fading process. Chlorine can indeed turn hair green, but only to a certain extent. This happens when your hair's protein bonds with copper in the water, which is oxidized by chlorine.
- Remove any oil from your skin, especially your scalp, and this can irritate your skin and make you itchy and dry.
- Make your hair strands thinner, making it more difficult for them to absorb moisture and more vulnerable to pollutants.
Who Is at Risk?
1. Your hair is more vulnerable to chlorine damage if you have dyed or chemically treated it.
2. Chlorine may be very damaging to hair, especially if it is very thin or fine.
3. Chlorine can worsen the condition of hair that is already dry and damaged.
4. Hair that has been bleached or permed is more susceptible to damage from chlorine water.
What can I do to safeguard my hair from the effects of chlorine?
Here are some of the best ways to keep chlorine out of your hair. Chlorinated pool water may have a number of negative consequences for your health.
- Shampoo And Condition Your Hair
Swim etiquette refers to the "rules" of the pool, both explicitly and implicitly, that ensure the health and safety of everyone who uses it. There's a good reason why the pool staff instructs you to bathe before entering the pool. Aside from keeping your hair from being damaged by chlorine, this is an important step in ensuring that no filth or lubricants from your body wind up inside the pool.
In order to minimize the quantity of chlorine absorbed into your hair strands, you should soak your hair in clean water or non-chlorinated fresh water before entering the pool.
It's usually a good idea to properly rinse your hair with fresh water after a swim. Clarifying shampoo may be used to get a deeper clean out of it.
- Apply Natural Oils To Your Hair Such As Coconut, Olive, And Others
Swimmers and others with naturally weaker hair may want to consider using a leave-in chlorine protectant. You can protect your hair from chlorine as well as other pool toxins by using natural oils like coconut oil and olive oil. Use a leave-in conditioner, like Hairfinity Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner, or a deep conditioning mask, like Hairfinity Strengthening Amino Masque, for further protection.
- Apply Swim Spray
A swim spray hair mist may help protect your hair from the side effects of chlorine if you have light-colored hair. All hair types may benefit from this product.
- Use Gentle Shampoos
All hair types should be shampooed and then followed by a conditioner, regardless of their condition, after swimming. This aids in the removal of any chlorine residue from your hair.
- Put On Your Swim Cap
Having a swim cap on your head for practice is a common habit among competitive swimmers. In order to keep chlorine from accessing your hair in the very first place, you should wear a swim cap. Wear it properly so that all of your hair is covered for maximum protection. Wearing your swim cap over damp hair will make it simpler to get on and off your head. Also, it's a good idea to have a few extra swim caps in case your primary cap is ruined.
- Make A Ponytail Out Of Your Lengthy Hair
If you do have long hair but don't carry a swim cap, pull your hair back into a ponytail, knot, or tight bun. This will reduce the amount of chlorine in the hair.
- Make Use Of Outdoor Swimming Pools
Swimming in an outdoor pool is preferable whenever feasible. This means that the quantity of chlorine that may be absorbed by your hair and skin is reduced while you are swimming in an outdoor pool since more of the chlorine gas evaporates into the air.
- Follow Some Essential Post-Swim Hair Care Techniques
When you get out of the pool, it's crucial to avoid hair damage from chlorine. Following your post-swim shower with a gentle shampooing and conditioning process can help remove the chlorine from your hair before it gets stuck in there.
For swimmers, cleaning and caring for their goggles is likely to be part of their post-swim routine. We've put together a list of post-swim hair care techniques to supplement your current routine:
- Use a leave-in conditioner after thoroughly rinsing your hair with cool water and washing it with a clarifying shampoo.
- While you're getting dressed, let your hair air dry completely. Avoid using blow dryers since they will cause your hair to dry out even more. While you let your hair air dry, use a microfibre cloth to gently remove any extra water from your hair.
- Use a detangling brush on wet hair to gently detangle your hair.
How To Treat Hair Damaged By Chlorine
It's easy to tell if your hair has been damaged by chlorine. When your hair is constantly tangled and dry, it can lead to breakage and frizz. Chlorine-damaged hair can be salvaged, however.
Here are a few tried-and-true methods you can use in the comfort of your own home.
Note: It's critical to assess the extent of the damage to your hair caused by chlorine before taking any action. Make an appointment with your hairstylist to find out which treatment is best for you.
1. Use a clarifying shampoo while you wash your hair. A hair clarifying product removes any dangerous chemicals from the hair. Baking soda, as well as apple cider vinegar, can be used to make homemade clarifying shampoo.
2. In addition to drying out your hair, chlorine may affect your scalp. Keeping an eye on your scalp's condition is vital. Is it too flaky or brittle? Make an appointment with your doctor to learn more about how to treat your scalp.
3. If your hair has been severely damaged by chlorine, you should deep condition it at least twice a week. Coconut oil may be used as an alternative to replacing the moisture that has been lost. To promote the health of your hair and scalp, gently massage lukewarm coconut oil into your hair and scalp. Wait a few minutes before shampooing.
4. It may take a long time to repair damaged hair. To see progress, you must be patient and adhere to a good hair care regimen.
How To Protect Hair From Chlorine In Tap Water
As far as hair care goes, water is your closest buddy, right? Here's the catch, though: it may also be your downfall. There are many reasons why tap water is bad for your hair. Chlorine and other elements found in tap water may wreak havoc on your hair follicles over time.
Different states have different levels of chlorine and minerals in their water. State-by-state, the hardest-hit states in the United States are Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Kansas.
New York, Oregon, Washington State, Virginia, Arkansas, Colorado, and so on are among the states with the softest water. If you live in a state with hard water, or even if you don't, there are several low-cost solutions to the tap water problem.
- Purchase a Shower Head Filter
This is a no-brainer as the majority of us wash and clean our hair in the shower. Before it can steal moisture, damage, and ruin your hair and skin, shower head filters remove any excess minerals and magnesium. The price of a shower filter might vary from $20 to $200, but it is worth it for the softer water it provides.
Filters for the faucet are also available for individuals who use the sink to wash their hair.
Keep in mind that hard water makes soaps and shampoos suds in limited amounts. We all know how the feeling of foam makes our hair feel cleaner, and that's why it's so important to use soft water. Showerheads or faucet filters are easy to install.
- Only Use Distilled Water
In order to keep your hair moisturized, it's important to use distilled water instead of tap water; this will save you time and effort in the long run. You may use distilled water for your final rinse even if you've washed your hair with regular tap water up to this point.
Why is distilled water better than regular water? Distilled water is often diluted. Dilution here involves the process of removing all impurities from water. It also includes boiling and filtering to remove all pollutants, microorganisms, and natural minerals from the water. Certain hair products may be preserved by adding distilled water to the mix. Stock up on distilled water since it is sold by the gallon.
Can Chlorine Change My Hair Color To Green?
Chlorine alone does not make your hair green. Copper, iron, and magnesium are found in the pool water, and they all cause your hair to become green. However, chlorine plays a role in the oxidation of these metals. After the metals have adhered to your hair, they make it green and drab, making your hair seem ashy and lifeless.
How Can You Get Rid of the Green Color In Your Hair?
Copper, manganese, and other heavy metals like iron and manganese in pool water may taint your hair a dull, ashy green if you have light hair. Swimmers' hair is the less-than-pleasing nickname for it.
Swimming may cause green hair, but several home treatments can help.
• A mixture of baking powder and water applied to the hair
• Wash with lemon juice.
• Shampoo with coke.
• Rinse your hair with an eight-crushed-aspirin-and-water solution.
• Swimming-specific hair care products, such as shampoos and conditioners
It goes without saying that the greatest defense is to avoid having your hair turn green in the very first place by following our haircare tips above.
In certain cases, it may take a long time to restore your hair to its normal luster and volume, so just be patient and seek out expert treatment if necessary. As you wait for your hair to grow back, shampoo and condition your hair daily.
Final Thoughts
Chlorinated water may cause hair damage if you spend too much time in it. You can't undo what's already been done, but you can limit the damage by seeing your stylist regularly to get split ends trimmed.
After that, be gentle with your hair strands! When styling hair, avoid using too many hot tools (and always apply a heat protectant if you do) and avoid using tight elastics that might damage the roots. Healthy new growth may be maintained by following these safety measures.
Ignoring the damaging effects of chlorine on your hair may have disastrous results. Protecting your hair against chlorine will ensure that it remains healthy and strong throughout the summer months, with no trace of green.
