coverSUBSCRIBE
Close

STYLE

Beauty

Pool-Proof Hair: 5 easy steps to protecting your tresses


Swimming works almost all the muscles in the body, strengthens your heart and increases endurance. It’s also a lovely way to cool off from the sun’s beating rays, don’t you think? But although swimming is good for the body, it’s not great for your hair. The chemicals made to protect us from pool bacteria contribute to hair dryness, brittleness and frizz. It can cause brunette hair to turn ashy and blonde or colored hair to turn green (gasp!). Read on for the best tips for protecting your precious mane from chlorine.
1. Wet hair with tap water before swimming. Imagine running a dry sponge under a faucet. A dry sponge will thirstily soak up water. By soaking your hair in water before you head into a pool, your cuticles will absorb less of the chemicals lurking in that pool water.
2. Coat your hair before swimming. Coating your hair creates a slick surface that temporarily blocks harmful chemicals from entering your hair. You can coat your hair with baby oil or olive oil (only a small amount from roots to ends), but we recommend using a leave-in deep conditioner for maximum protection. Try Aussie’s Catch The Wave Mousse + Leave-In Conditioner; this 2-in-1 product conditions and styles your hair into beachy waves!

Aussie Catch the Wave Hair Mousse + Leave-In Conditioner, $4, drugstore.com
3. Wear a swimming cap. If you swim on a daily basis, it’s super important to protect your hair from the chlorine in the water. Nowadays, there are many more sleek and stylish options that you can find that represent your personal style.

NIKE Youth Silicone Flat Swim Cap, $11, sportsauthority.com

 

4. Eliminate chlorine after swimming. Don’t let your hair air-dry and lock in all that chlorine! Shampoo and condition your hair immediately after swimming. Use a clarifying shampoo weekly in order to remove chemical buildup. If you don’t have a clarifying shampoo, add about a teaspoon of baking soda into your regular shampoo. Follow with a vinegar rinse to restore your hair’s normal pH.

Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo, $6, drugstore.com
5. Deep condition weekly. It’s important to leave this in your tresses for at least two minutes so that your hair can start repairing the damage already done! This gentle product by Burt’s Bees helps improve hair health and keeps it looking soft and shiny whether your hair is straight or wavy!

Burt’s Bees Hair Repair, Shea and Grapefruit Deep Conditioner, $9, drugstore.com

POSTED IN , , , , ,

by Jane Cha | 2/1/2016
share
heart

LOVE THIS

Do *you* have what it takes
to be a model?

Take our quiz to see if you're ready to strut your stuff. Then, enter our contest with Barbizon Model to make those dreams come true!

FREE STUFF

Win! Fun In temporary hair color

Turning heads at one soirée is great—but why stop there? Grab a tube (or four) of Fun In by Sun In and flaunt a new look for every bash. The mess-free color rinses out in one shampoo, so you can show off festive green streaks at your fam gift exchange *and* edgy purple highlights on NYE. Enter to win here!