Summer's calling, and we're getting ready for the poolside selfies. But chlorine? Not so cute for your hair. Knowing how to protect hair from chlorine is essential because it can strip your strands of natural oils, leaving them dry, brittle, and even discolored (blondes, beware!). Everyone's hair is at risk without the proper care, from lifeguards to leisure floaters. In this blog, we’ll address your often-asked question of “is pool water bad for your hair?” and break down exactly how chlorine affects your hair, the signs of damage, and the best tips to keep your hair hydrated, healthy, and summer–ready.
How Does Chlorine Damage Hair?
Chlorine is often used to remove bacteria in the pool. But, is chlorine bad for your hair? According to the target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" Cleveland Clinic, chlorine can cause dryness in your hair and strip its natural oils, causing brittleness. Plus, it can break down the chemical bonds of the protein in our hair, causing even more damage, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Chlorine can be harsh on all hair types, but some textures feel the effects more intensely. If you have dry or curly hair, chlorine can be especially damaging. These hair types naturally crave moisture, and when chlorine strips away your hair’s natural oils, it can lead to major frizz, increased breakage, and a stiff, crunchy texture.
Do you have color-treated hair? Chlorine is a fast track to fading. It dulls vibrancy and, in some cases, can even cause unwanted discoloration—hello, brassy tones or that infamous green tint for blondes. And for fine or already damaged hair, chlorine is even more aggressive. It weakens the hair fiber, leaving strands brittle and limp, making them more prone to breakage and split ends.
Swim Hair Protection Tips
Hair protection from chlorine isn’t just a one-and-done deal. It’s a whole routine. From pre-swim prep to in-pool protection and post-swim recovery, every step plays a part in keeping your hair healthy, hydrated, and damage-free. Here’s your go-to guide on how to protect hair from chlorine and keep your strands strong all summer.
Pre-Swimming
A few simple steps before you swim can make a difference in keeping your hair soft and shiny and preventing chlorine hair damage. Let’s dive into the basics of how to protect hair when swimming.
Soak Your Strands First – Wetting your hair with clean water before swimming helps reduce how much chlorine it soaks up.
Seal with a Shield – Protect hair from chlorine by applying a nourishing layer of leave-in conditioner or a serum to create a barrier between your hair and harsh pool chemicals. The Mizani 25 Miracle Nourishing Hair Oil has you covered as a hydrating hair oil to soften your strands with a nourishing blend of coconut, olive, sunflower, and jojoba oils.
Use a Swim Cap – A swim cap adds an extra layer of protection. Silicone caps are more durable and keep hair drier, while latex ones are thinner, stretchier, and snug for short-term swims.
During Swimming
Once you're in the water, a little strategy goes a long way. Even if you've prepped your hair like a pro, how you swim can make a big difference. These simple tips help keep chlorine exposure minimum while enjoying your pool time.
Tie It Up – Keep your hair in a high bun, braid, or ponytail to limit how much it gets soaked because less exposure means less damage.
Skip the Soak – If you're lounging or casually cooling off, avoid dunking your head underwater to reduce chlorine contact and preserve your protective prep.
Post-Swim Haircare Routine
You had fun in the sun, but now it's time to show your hair some post-swim TLC. Chlorine hair damage can occur when you're out of the pool, so a proper aftercare routine is key to keeping your strands healthy, soft, and strong.
Rinse ASAP with Fresh Water – When leaving the pool, rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water. This helps wash away chlorine before it has time to settle in and dry out your strands.
Use a Clarifying Shampoo – Use a gentle clarifying shampoo to cleanse your hair and remove product build-up. Biolage Scalp Sync Clarifying Shampoo provides a deep and gentle cleanse and removes up to 100% scalp residue without drying.
Condition Your Hair – After clarifying, replenish your hair's moisture with a rich, hydrating conditioner. Focus on your ends and let the conditioner sit for a few minutes to soak in and soften your strands fully. Try the Biolage Scalp Sync Universal Conditioner to nourish your hair from the roots to the tips with a blend of antioxidants from black tea and the anti-inflammatory properties of green and fermented tea.
Apply a Hair Mask Weekly – Treat your hair to a deep conditioning mask once weekly to help repair damage, restore elasticity, and strengthen your strands. Purelogy's Hydrate Superfood Treatment can richly moisturize your hair with avocado and coconut oil to nourish it with amino acids and electrolytes for a smooth, shiny finish.
6 Products To Help Replenish Chlorine-Damaged Hair
Now that you know how to protect your hair from chlorine, don’t let your strands suffer from a swim! We’ve rounded up the ultimate line-up of haircare must-haves to keep your locks strong, shiny, and protected. From bond-repairing treatments to hydration-packed leave-ins, these powerhouse products will help ensure your hair looks and feels its best all summer long.
1. Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner Duo
After a day in chlorine, your hair deserves a serious moisture moment—and this best-selling hydrating shampoo and conditioner set delivers just that. The sulfate-free shampoo transforms into a luxuriously creamy lather that cleanses and replenishes dry, thirsty strands. Follow it up with the ultra-nourishing conditioner, packed with scalp-stimulating menthol and mint for a refreshing, tingly boost that brings hair back to life.
2. L’Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair: Instant Resurfacing Masque.
Meet the L’Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair: Instant Resurfacing Masque, a best-selling treatment infused with gold quinoa and protein that works overtime to repair and revive even the most damaged strands. Its rich, buttery texture glides through hair, instantly restructuring and restoring from the inside out. In just one use, hair feels noticeably softer, smoother, and 7x shinier, with a lightweight finish that doesn’t weigh you down. Perfect for post-swim recovery, this masque brings stressed-out strands back to life.
3. Kérastase Concentré Décalcifiant Ultra-Réparateur Repairing Treatment
Here’s the next-level treatment your post-pool hair has been waiting for. This dual-action formula tackles the real culprits behind dry, stiff strands—repairing broken bonds and removing buildup that sneaks in from shower water (or days in the pool)It reverses 96% of hair damage in just one use, leaving your hair 99% stronger, 93% less prone to breakage, and 75% shinier. Stiffness and dullness? Gone. You’re left with smooth, soft, healthier hair that looks and feels completely revived. Add it to your post-swim routine to restore strength, shine, and softness with salon-level results at home.
4. Redken Acidic Bonding Shampoo & Conditioner
This powerful duo is packed with citric acid and a concentrated bonding care complex that strengthens weakened hair bonds from the inside out—perfect for combating the drying, weakening effects of chlorine and hard water.
The shampoo gently cleanses while reinforcing hair structure, strength, and resilience. The conditioner delivers deep, luxurious moisture while balancing pH levels to protect against color fade, heat damage, and chlorine, too.
5. Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
When it comes to post-swim hair care, this 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner is the ultimate multitasker your strands will thank you for. Made for all texture types, this best-seller delivers 25 benefits in one lightweight spritz—as a protective shield, moisture boost, and styling primer all in one bottle. This nourishing formula is infused with fennel seed oil and coconut oil hydrates, detangles, and repairs, leaving hair soft, shiny, and frizz-free. It also offers heat protection, making it the perfect prep step before blow-drying or air-drying post-pool.
6. Matrix Instacure Anti-Breakage Leave-In Treatment
Breakage where? Meet your post-swim BFF. Say goodbye to brittle, lifeless strands with the Instacure Anti-Breakage Leave-In Treatment for reviving chlorine-stressed hair. Infused with liquid proteins, this powerful treatment repairs, strengthens, and protects all hair types and textures, especially after harsh exposure to the sun, pool water, and heat. It instantly transforms weak, fragile hair into soft, shiny, and more resilient strands while reducing breakage by up to 60%. Spritz this onto damp hair post-swim to detangle, protect, and bring your hair back to life.
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Header image credit: @pureology
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