How to Prevent and Fix Chlorine-damaged Hair
Chlorine, the main component of swimming pool water, is essential for keeping bacteria and algae at bay. This chemical sanitiser also destroys dirt and chloramines. Unfortunately, chlorine also oxidises hair, which causes it to become damaged and brittle when exposed to too much chlorine.
According to the dermatologist Dr Marnie B. Nussbaum, "Chlorine will strip away natural oils from hair and scalp. The stripping of these oils adversely impacts the cuticle and protein of the hair, which is called keratin. It also dissolves hair lipids, which coat the hair shaft and provide moisture, shine, and manageability." Chlorine is a strong chemical that strips the natural oils from your hair and skin. A chemical reaction has already occurred when your hair and scalp feel dry.
What Does Chlorine Do To Your Hair?
Repeated exposure to chlorinated water can damage hair, making it dry, brittle and porous. Chlorine can change the colour of your hair by stripping off natural oils. It can weaken hair strands, leading to split ends. If your skin is sensitive to chlorine, contact with the chemical can result in an itchy and irritated scalp.
What Can I Do to Prevent and Treat Chlorine-damaged Hair?
Before entering the pool, rinse your hair with clean tap water to saturate your hair. Your hair is similar to a sponge and will only absorb so much water. If you saturate your hair with tap water, it will be less likely to absorb as much chlorinated pool water.
Rinse after using the pool
After leaving the pool, a good shower will remove chlorine and other chemicals from your hair. In fact, it's advisable to rinse your hair often while swimming to keep the chlorine out of it.
Always shampoo your hair after swimming
Exposure to chlorine causes your hair to dry out, lose its natural colour and become brittle. Immediately shampooing your hair after swimming in a chlorinated pool will help remove most of the chlorine and protect your hair from further damage.
After rinsing out chlorine, you need to replace the moisture and protein that it has removed from your hair. Conditioning your hair well after washing helps to soothe frazzled hair and prevent split ends. Try using a leave-in conditioner with protein to accomplish this.
Consider changing your chlorinated pools to a magnesium pool
Mineral pools require less chlorine and produce fewer chloramines than saltwater pools, eliminating the irritating odours that can result. They are safe and comfortable for swimmers with a smell or chemical sensitivity.
Chlorine is a strong chemical that can damage your hair and even cause it to fall out. However, chlorine is also a sanitiser that kills pathogens and protects swimmers from infections. Avoid swimming in pools with high chlorine levels to protect yourself from chlorine damage. If you cannot avoid being exposed to chlorine, understanding its effect on your hair can help you take preventive measures.