If you swim in chlorinated bodies of water, exposing your hair to the pool chemicals can cause damage. Blondes are more prone to chlorine damage and they may develop a green tinge in their hair. Besides color change, scalp damage may result from chlorine exposure, making it inflamed, itchy or irritated. To prevent chlorine exposure, you should always swim with your hair tucked under a cap. If you do get your hair wet with chlorinated water, you can take steps to remove the substance.
Step 1
Wet the hair with clean water each time before you swim. According to the Free Drinking Water website, wetting the hair with non-chlorinated water right before swimming can block the absorption of chlorine.
Step 2
Wash the hair with swimmer's shampoo and conditioner immediately after exiting the pool. There are several brands, like Ion, Aquia and Aubrey Organics, that make chlorine removal formulations for use by swimmers. The shampoo removes the chlorine while the conditioner restores any moisture that may have been stripped by the pool chemicals. You can use the swimmer's shampoo and conditioner each time after you swim.
Step 3
Use club soda as your rinse. Before the end of your shower, pour some club soda over your hair to remove any leftover chlorine that can possibly damage it. Use enough of the soda to completely saturate the hair.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are unable to shower immediately after swimming in chlorinated bodies of water or do not have the specialty swimmer's shampoo, use baking soda to neutralize the chlorine. Sprinkle the baking soda on the hair and rinse out with non-chlorinated water.
- Avoid drying the hair with a blow dryer on the high setting after swimming in a chlorinated pool. This can increase the damage to your hair and allow the hair to better absorb the chlorine.
Things You'll Need
- Club soda
- Swimmer's shampoo and conditioner
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