Whether it’s summer or spring break, pools are always the center of our amusement. Though cool and refreshing, pool water is not the good for your hair. Riddled with chemicals to treat and clean the water, these high power compounds dry out the skin and hair with frequent exposure resulting in damage.
Chlorine is a sanitizing agent used in public pools and water treatment. According to Poolcenter.com, public pools generally use 1 – 3 parts per million (ppm) Chlorine in water to sanitize and keep it at a safe level the same pH level of the eye and mucus membrane.
Chlorine can be very drying on the skin and hair, chlorinated pool water penetrates the cuticle by uplifting them with a pH level of 7.2 – 7.6, hair has a pH level of 4 – 5.5. (please see 3 Tips for Swimming with Curly hair for more information) When we swim our hair is absorbing chlorine water, stripping strands of the necessary protective moisture. If chlorine is not removed from the hair will develop split ends, straightening of curls, and color fade.
This post will be focused on shampoos, rinses, and hair cleansers and clarifiers that work best for chlorine removal and moisture retention. Remember, you never want to cowash your hair after swimming, cowashing is washing hair with conditioners and will not remove the chlorine from your hair’s cuticle layer. You need a shampoo with penetrating surfactants which can remove and push out anything that made its way in.
*All shampoos mentioned in this article are sulfate free
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