Boise Hair Salon Tips For Preventing Chlorine Damage This Summer

With the dog days of summer just around the corner, most people are looking forward to spending time at the swimming pool to cool off. While splashing around in the pool is both relaxing and good exercise, it can be disastrous to color-treated hair. If you usually spend a lot of time in the pool each summer, you may know the side effects it has on your hair. However, you don’t have to keep your head above water all season long to preserve your hair color. That’s why the Boise hair salon stylists at unDONE would like to provide you with the following hair care tips for protecting your hair color from chlorine damage this summer.

How Chlorine Damages Your Hair

Chlorine is a commonly used chemical that helps kill bacteria and disinfect swimming pools. However, chlorine tends to bond with other elements such as sodium, potassium, or copper, turning them into salts, which can dry your hair and skin. It also attaches itself to your hair and skin, drawing out natural oils while breaking down your hair structure, causing it to become dry and brittle throughout the season. It also pulls out the melanin in your hair – the element that gives it its natural color – causing it to fade if you swim often. If you have color-treated hair, the chlorine will naturally bond to it, drawing it out quickly. Even more, when this happens, it can actually cause your hair to turn pale green. In other words, swimming often can be extremely hard on your hair.

How To Protect Your Hair Color

To maintain healthy hair and color treatments, consider a two-pronged approach. Before you dive in, saturate your tresses completely with fresh water in the shower. Because your hair acts like a natural sponge, you’ll fill your hair with “good” water so that it won’t absorb so much chlorine while you’re in the pool.

Second, apply a protective conditioner that will nourish and strengthen your hair. Not only will this help protect it from chlorine, but it will also penetrate deep into your strands to moisturize and nourish your hair. To apply, divide your hair into sections and work the conditioner into each section with your fingers. Then comb through with a wide-tooth comb to evenly distribute. Next, we suggest putting your hair into a loose braid or wearing a swim cap before you dive in. This will help minimize the amount of chlorine your hair will absorb.

After Swimming Hair Care

Once you’re done swimming, rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water from the shower to remove as much chlorine and other pool chemicals as possible. This will prevent them from interacting with your hair as it dries. Next, use a moisturizing shampoo like Davines MINU shampoo as recommended by your Boise hair salon stylist to cleanse your hair and remove any chemicals that may have attached themselves to your strands.

Next, hydrate your hair with a moisturizing conditioner and follow up with a nourishing hair mask like Davines MINU hair mask at least once a week to restore any moisture that was sucked out by swimming pool chlorine.

unDONE Salon

Whether you intend to swim every day or at least once a week, chlorine can seriously damage your hair color. That’s why it’s essential to follow the tips above and visit your Boise hair salon stylist at unDONE regularly to maintain your color and keep your hair as healthy and beautiful as possible. Schedule an appointment online or give us a call at (208) 287-2010.