Summer pool days can wreck your hair. Learn the ultimate chlorine recovery routine to protect, detox, and repair pool-damaged hair using botanical care.
There is nothing quite like a refreshing dip in the pool on a hot day. But while your mind and body love a good swim, your hair absolutely dreads it.
If you’ve ever noticed your hair feeling dry, brittle, straw-like, or even taking on a subtle greenish tint after a few days in the pool, you are dealing with chlorine damage.
At Aveda Institute, our student stylists see the effects of pool water on hair every summer. Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between a swim and healthy locks. With the right chlorine recovery routine, you can dive in and keep your hair looking flawless. Here is how pool water damages your hair and exactly how to save it.
The Science: What Chlorine Does to Your Hair
Chlorine is a powerful chemical sanitizer added to pools to kill bacteria. While it keeps the water safe to swim in, it strips your hair of its natural oils.
Once these protective oils are gone, chlorine penetrates the hair shaft, weakening the protein bonds, cracking the cuticle, and drawing out moisture. To make matters worse, chlorine chemically bonds with hard metals in the pool, which is what causes lighter hair textures to turn that infamous, muddy green shade.
Saving your hair from pool water requires a mix of pre-swim defense and post-swim detoxing.
The Pre-Swim Shield
Never dive into a pool with dry hair. Your hair is like a sponge, it can only absorb so much liquid. If you soak it with clean water first, it will absorb significantly less chlorinated pool water.
The Fix: Rinse your hair thoroughly in the locker room shower before getting in the pool. Then, apply a generous amount of a leave-in conditioner, such as Aveda Nutriplenish™ Leave-In Conditioner. This creates a protective, nutrient-rich barrier between your hair strands and the harsh chemicals.
The Post-Swim Detox
Regular shampoo won't cut it after a long swim. You need a clarifying or chelating formula specifically designed to break the bond between the chlorine, heavy metals, and your hair.
The Fix: Wash your hair immediately after exiting the pool. Look for a deeply purifying, plant-powered shampoo like Aveda Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser or Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo. These formulas gently lift away chlorine, salt, and product buildup without stripping your hair’s natural moisture barrier.
The Deep Deep-Condition
Once the chlorine is washed away, your hair will be desperate for moisture and protein to rebuild what the chemicals broke down.
The Fix: Skip your daily conditioner and reach for an intensive treatment mask. A bond-building mask like Aveda Botanical Repair™ Intensive Strengthening Masque penetrates deep into the inner layers of the hair to multiply bonds and repair the hair from the inside out.
Quick Tips for Avid Swimmers
Wear a Cap: It might not be a fashion statement, but a silicone swim cap is the absolute best way to physically protect your hair from water exposure.
Avoid Heat Styling: If your hair has just been exposed to chlorine, it is highly vulnerable. Give the flat irons and blow dryers a break for a day or two to let your hair recover its natural moisture balance.
Get a Post-Summer Trim: If the ends of your hair are completely fried from a summer in the sun and pool, visit a local salon for a fresh trim to stop split ends from traveling up the hair shaft.
Make an appointment today to get advice on how to save your hair from the pool water this summer, today!
Learn the Art and Science of Hair Care at Aveda Institute
Understanding how environmental factors like chlorine, UV rays, and hard water affect hair health is a foundational part of becoming an expert stylist. At Aveda Institute, our students dive deep into the science of hair chemistry, learning how to analyze damage and prescribe the exact botanical treatments needed to restore hair to its natural beauty.
Are you ready to transform your love for hair health into an exciting beauty career? Visit Aveda Institute to explore our Cosmetology programs and schedule a campus tour today!