While it's no secret that swimming is one of the best full-body workouts out there, there is one small drawback to it -- the frustrating bond that forms between chlorine and your hair. Chlorine can damage it, make it brittle, and for some of the worst cases, even turn your hair green. Luckily, if you give your hair a little love before and after your bout with the water, then you won't have to worry about that icky chemical doing anything to your lustrous locks. In this guide we'll go over a few tricks and tips on how you can prevent damage to your hair, learn about chlorine and its effects and most importantly, how you can remove chlorine once you're out of the pool.
Get Wet Even Before You Go in the Pool
One of the first and most simple things that you can do to your hair is making sure that you wet your hair before you go swimming. While this may seem like a small and unnecessary step, it's one of the most vital ways that you can be sure that the chlorine doesn't seep into your hair strands. Chlorine tends to soak easily into your hair when it's dry and it's the first thing that your hair has contact with. Imagine your hair being like a sponge. You want only good things to go into that sponge, so when the bad things go in, you'll be less likely to have any adverse effects. And while getting your hair wet doesn't completely prevent chlorine from getting in, it does slow down the process.
Seal Your Lid Tightly
Another important step to helping slow down the process of chlorine getting in your hair is wearing a swim cap. If you're serious about swimming, this is the best way to make sure that you aren't constantly exposing your locks to the harsh chemicals. Not only that, but it also helps you move faster in the water. For just the casual swimmer, you can still opt to not wear a swim cap, but make sure to follow the rest of the steps so you can be sure that your hair still isn't being affected by the chemicals.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Chlorine
The whole reason that pools use chlorine is to stop harmful bacteria from getting into the water, like E. Coli and other unsafe organisms from spawning in the water. While it's necessary in that regard, chlorine isn't so nice to your hair. Even after using the preventative measures of rinsing your hair and wearing a swim cap, chlorine can still make its way to your scalp. What we suggest to finally start removing that pesky chemical is to wash your hair. Washing your hair can give your hair its nutrients back and strip away the last of the chlorine attached to your hair. Using a good quality swimming shampoo can do wonders as well; these are specially formulated to get rid of the chemicals that can be left in your hair after getting out of the pool. Not to mention that it's a good idea to rinse off your suit in the shower as well.
The Natural Approach
Even if all of these methods fail or you forget to do the steps above, you can still opt for natural remedies. Using simple, household items like baking soda or apple cider vinegar can take the last of the remnants of chlorine out of your hair too. If you're wondering how to use any of these to treat your hair, simply take one part apple cider vinegar and four parts water and apply that to your hair. If you're using the baking soda method, try one tablespoon of baking soda and one cup of water and apply this directly to your hair. If your hair feels slimy while you're washing it with the solution, then that means that it's working. Rinse out of your hair and then follow with your normal hair care routine.
Hopefully these tips will help out your hair problems should you ever worry about being in the pool too much or if you're worried about damaging your hair. Swimming is worth it in the long run, even if your hair might turn green from time to time.
FAQs
Using a good quality swimming shampoo can do wonders as well; these are specially formulated to get rid of the chemicals that can be left in your hair after getting out of the pool. Not to mention that it's a good idea to rinse off your suit in the shower as well.
How to remove chlorine from hair after swimming? ›
Your hair should be rinsed thoroughly and immediately with fresh water and mild shampoo after a swim to remove chlorine deposits from your hair. Apply some leave-in conditioner or hair serum to replenish the moisture that chlorine has ripped off.
How to remove chlorine from swimwear? ›
To help remove lingering chlorine smell, consider adding ½ cup of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda or ARM & HAMMER Clean Scentsations Scent Booster with Odor Blasters to the wash water. Let soak for about 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly using cold water until there are no remaining suds.
Is it OK to just rinse chlorine out of hair? ›
You don't necessarily have to shampoo and condition your hair after swimming, but you should at least give it a good rinse with fresh water. Shampooing your hair every day can strip it of its natural oils and cause the hair and scalp to dry out.
How to neutralize chlorine after swimming? ›
Rinse with clean water: As soon as you get out of the pool. Use a mild soap: Use a mild soap, such as a moisturizing body wash or a gentle soap that is specifically designed to remove chlorine. Moisturize your skin: After rinsing and washing, apply a moisturizer to your skin to help soothe and hydrate it.
What treatment gets chlorine out of hair? ›
- Immediately rinse hair thoroughly. You want to take out as much of the chemicals or salt as possible.
- Shampoo with a clarifying or swimmers shampoo. We carry Malibu Swimmers Wellness Shampoo and SoCozy Swim 3in1.
- Follow with a good conditioner, even a leave-in conditioner to add moisture back to the hair.
TRISWIM Chlorine Removal Swimmers Shampoo Moisturizing Repairing Hair, 8.5 fl. oz.
Does vinegar remove chlorine from swimsuits? ›
Soaking your swimsuit in vinegar will help wash out any chlorine and take away any smell that might have developed from mold and mildew. It doesn't take a lot of work to preserve your swimsuits.
What dissolves chlorine? ›
Remove Chlorine Through Chemical Neutralization
Likely the best chemical to use for chemical neutralization is potassium metabisulfite, which comes in the form of small tablets. Once the tablet dissolves in the water, it will effectively neutralize the chlorine before evaporating.
Does vinegar remove chlorine? ›
Using simple, household items like baking soda or apple cider vinegar can take the last of the remnants of chlorine out of your hair too. If you're wondering how to use any of these to treat your hair, simply take one part apple cider vinegar and four parts water and apply that to your hair.
Hair can become unmanageable and color-treated hair can be ruined. Thankfully there are several ways to protect ourselves from chlorine. Apply a thin layer of oil to your hair before swimming. You can pour olive oil, baby oil or coconut oil onto your hands and just rub it through your hair to protect it.
Do I need shampoo to remove chlorine? ›
This summer may call for a dip in the pool, but swimming in chlorine can take a toll on your hair. Chlorinated water can turn your hair dry, brittle and discolored. In order to protect your mane, we recommend rinsing it off with the best chlorine shampoos.
How to remove chemicals from hair? ›
4 Steps to Removing Product Build-Up From Your Hair
- Use a pre-shampoo scrub.
- Reach for a clarifying cleanser.
- Use a complementary conditioner.
- Style light.
Soaking green sections of your hair in baking soda (mix ½ cup of baking soda with water until it forms a paste) Using lemon juice (soak your hair in real lemon juice for five minutes, and then wash and condition as you normally would)
Does apple cider vinegar get chlorine out of hair? ›
Getting chlorine out of your hair is easy, though. You can rinse it out in your shower using a chlorine-removal product or a home treatment like apple cider vinegar or baking soda.
Does vitamin C remove chlorine from hair? ›
How to Use: Before and after swimming in a chlorinated pool, simply spray the Vitamin C solution generously onto your skin and hair. This will help neutralize the chlorine and reduce its harmful effects on your body.
How long can chlorine stay in your hair? ›
3. Never leave pool water in your hair. Chlorinated water doesn't just do damage while you're swimming. If you don't wash it out thoroughly, the chemicals in the pool can sit in your hair all day long, continuing to dry out and crack your strands.
Do you need shampoo to get rid of chlorine? ›
The doctors we spoke with recommend thoroughly washing your hair after swimming in a chlorinated pool. According to Dr. Divya Shokeen, MD, a California-based board-certified dermatologist, the best chlorine shampoos contain EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) and sodium to help remove chemical buildup.
Should I shampoo my hair after chlorine? ›
It's not ok to not wash hair after chlorine, as it can cause dry hair and scalp irritation. Over time, leaving chlorine in your hair after swimming can lead to lasting hair damage. Washing your hair with an anti-chlorine shampoo is the best way to prevent damage from pool chemicals.
