How To Protect Colored Hair From Chlorine

If you’ve been dyeing your hair for a while then you realize how brittle and damaged it can get after dyeing it a few times. Then combine colored hair and chlorine and you’ll have a recipe for disaster.

So what can we do to protect colored hair from chlorine?

In this article, we are going to share with you 5 ways to protect your hair from chlorine before and after swimming.

Keep reading.

5 ways to protect colored hair from chlorine

Pools all over the world use chlorine, bromine, or sea salts to treat them because they are great ways of sanitizing the water, however, after repeated exposure to chlorine, our hair starts getting dry, rough, and damaged making it prone to breaking.

Fortunately for us, there are some things we can do to protect colored hair pre and post swimming.

1. Apply a pre-swim conditioner

Most people use a swimmers conditioner after swimming, however, if you use it before you get in the pool, it will create a protective layer around your hair to minimize chlorine exposure and prevent chlorine from bonding to your hair causing damage.

2. Rinse your hair before you get in the pool

Rinsing your hair with fresh water before you swim serves two purposes; 1) to remove sweat, perfumes, bacteria, and organic matter from your body to keep the pool clean, and 2) to supersaturate your hair with water so it minimizes the absorption of chlorinated water.

3. Wear a swim cap

The main purpose of a swim cap is to reduce exposure to chlorinated water so in a way, by wearing a swim cap, you’ll be adding another protective layer to your hair’s protection. Additionally, when you combine a swim cap with your soaked hair, it will creator a tighter seal around your head.

There are different types of swim caps to choose from, these include:

1. Silicone (great for competitive swimmers and people with long hair)
2. Latex (great for frequent swimmers who like variety)
3. Rubber (great for swimmers who like to swim in cold water)
4. Lycra or spandex (great for recreational swimmers who want a comfortable swim cap)
5. Neoprene (great for open water swimmers)

4. Shampoo post swimming

Take a shower post swimming with a swimmers shampoo to remove and neutralize all chlorine on your hair.

The swimmer’s shampoo should also help hydrate and moisturize it. If you have an itchy scalp, it will help relieve it, and it will help eliminate the unpleasant chlorine smell.

5. Condition your hair as per usual

Use a clarifying conditioner to help with hair that’s already damaged and may have started to turn green due to pool water exposure. Over time, you’ll see your hair go back to its natural, color.

Summary

If you’ve been dyeing your hair for a while then you realize how brittle and damaged it can get after dyeing it a few times. Then combine colored hair and chlorine and you’ll have a recipe for disaster.

So what can we do to protect colored hair from chlorine?

Here are five ways to protect colored hair from chlorine:

1. Apply a pre-swim conditioner to create a protective layer around your hair, thus minimizing chlorine exposure and preventing chlorine from bonding to your hair causing damage.
2. Rinsing your hair with fresh water before you swim to supersaturate your hair, minimizing the absorption of chlorinated water.
3. Wear a swim cap to reduce exposure to chlorinated water and add another protective layer to your hair’s protection.
4. Take a shower post swimming with a swimmers shampoo to remove and neutralize all chlorine on your hair. A swimmers shampoo like Trihard’s will help hydrate and moisturize your hair, if you have an itchy scalp, it will help relieve it, and if your hair smells like chlorine, it will help remove the unpleasant smell.
5. Lastly, use a clarifying conditioner to help with hair that’s already damaged and may have started to turn green due to pool water exposure.