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.
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
BY JANE CHA ON 6/7/2012 12:00:00 PM
POSTED IN beauty, hair, tips, summer, best products, saver