Sharleen St. Surin-Lord, Dermatologist06.01.22
A dip in the pool is an absolute pleasure, especially on hot days. But going to the pool regularly can have undesirable consequences for your hair, as the chlorine affects the structure of the hair and can lead to dryness and breakage. Chlorine reacts with all organic substances present in the water, including hair and bodies.1
Normally, sebum protects the skin and hair and keeps them well hydrated. However, once the hair comes into contact with chlorinated water, the hair’s natural protective barrier formed by sebum is dissolved, leaving the hair shaft unprotected. This leads to weaker hair that is dull and dry. Pool chlorine has also been attributed to lightening hair color. Swimming without a swim cap or failing to rinse out chlorine after being in the pool regularly will cause hair to split at the end. We know that split ends travel up, splitting hairs as they get closer to the roots. This gives a lackluster, untamed and unhealthy appearance to one’s hair.
Chlorine can completely change the appearance of hair. This results in weakening the proteins in the hair, making it thinner and weaker.2
Chlorine-removal shampoos contain natural actives to remove chlorine and chlorine smell from hair, which regular shampoos do not contain. Sodium thiosulphate and other anti-chlorine agents react with chlorine molecules and remove them from the hair, along with the smell of chlorine. Sodium thiosulphate, an active ingredient in most dechlorinating swimmers’ hair products, is found naturally in hot springs and has many medical uses, from anti-tick treatments to anti-cancer therapies.3 Unfortunately, these types of products, while “clarifying” the hair from chlorine, also strip the hair of moisture. Thus, it is important to find a product that also has a conditioner to replace the moisture that has been stripped away.
Conditioners and mask treatments, often contain coconut oil as the main ingredient. Besides offering protection for the hair, coconut oil has been shown to reduce protein and water loss.
Here are some tips and tricks to employ before swimming:
Textured hair must be handled gently as it naturally forms knots and kinks that cause breakage.6 Textured hair requires hair care products that have gentle formulas that rely on natural ingredients.
Pool chlorine is your friend, but it can also be your enemy if you don’t care for your hair. Swimming provides a full body workout, relaxation, and stress management. Keep swimming safely, just protect your hair while you do it. The best tip is to prevent the effects of chlorine on your hair so that later you don’t have to wait months for it to regenerate.
There are many tricks available, but you need to take extra measures whether you go to the pool all the time or only a few times a year.
References:
Sharleen St. Surin-Lord
Dermatologist
derm@visagederm
www.visagederm.com
@DermHairDoc
Dr. Sharleen St. Surin-Lord is a board-certified dermatologist who has been practicing for more than 16 years. She is in private practice at Visage Dermatology, Largo, MD. She is an assistant professor of dermatology at Howard University College of Medicine. She also practices at the University of Maryland Capital Regional Health System in Maryland. Dr. Sharleen is a member of the American Hair Research Society and you can follow her on Instagram as DermHairDoc.
Pool Chlorine Harms Hair
Human hair contains keratin, a protein that is insoluble in water. Hair is then coated and filled with sebum (oil). Sebum is also in the skin, and when too much is produced, it can clog pores and cause acne. Nonetheless, we owe our skin and hair’s moisture and radiance to sebum.Normally, sebum protects the skin and hair and keeps them well hydrated. However, once the hair comes into contact with chlorinated water, the hair’s natural protective barrier formed by sebum is dissolved, leaving the hair shaft unprotected. This leads to weaker hair that is dull and dry. Pool chlorine has also been attributed to lightening hair color. Swimming without a swim cap or failing to rinse out chlorine after being in the pool regularly will cause hair to split at the end. We know that split ends travel up, splitting hairs as they get closer to the roots. This gives a lackluster, untamed and unhealthy appearance to one’s hair.
Chlorine can completely change the appearance of hair. This results in weakening the proteins in the hair, making it thinner and weaker.2
Remove Chlorine
There are shampoos and conditioners specially designed for exposure to the sun, salt, or chlorine on the market. And yes, using such hair products often with a clarifying effect will make a real difference for hair.Chlorine-removal shampoos contain natural actives to remove chlorine and chlorine smell from hair, which regular shampoos do not contain. Sodium thiosulphate and other anti-chlorine agents react with chlorine molecules and remove them from the hair, along with the smell of chlorine. Sodium thiosulphate, an active ingredient in most dechlorinating swimmers’ hair products, is found naturally in hot springs and has many medical uses, from anti-tick treatments to anti-cancer therapies.3 Unfortunately, these types of products, while “clarifying” the hair from chlorine, also strip the hair of moisture. Thus, it is important to find a product that also has a conditioner to replace the moisture that has been stripped away.
Conditioners and mask treatments, often contain coconut oil as the main ingredient. Besides offering protection for the hair, coconut oil has been shown to reduce protein and water loss.
Prevent Hair Damage
To protect air from chlorine, consumers can apply coconut oil, avocado oil, or argan oil to “prep” the hair before entering the pool. This creates an additional protective barrier (in addition to innate sebum) between the hair shaft and chlorine help prevent chlorine from penetrating the hair shaft. Any of these oils may be applied from root-to-tip to the hair strands before entering the pool. One drawback to this is that a silicone swim cap may just slide off. Thus, one may want to consider a latex swim cap (if not allergic). These tend to slip off less. After swimming, rinse the oil out thoroughly. This may leave a film. Thus, a mild, sulfate-free shampoo or a “swimmer’s shampoo” may be used to wash oil the oils if they leave the hair heavy and limp.Here are some tips and tricks to employ before swimming:
- Rinse hair with clear water before entering the pool. When it’s sufficiently soaked with clean tap water, it won›t soak up too much-chlorinated water in the pool.
- Apply oils such as coconut, argan, almond, or olive oil, rich in vitamins A, B1, B3, D, E, lecithin and fatty acids.4
- Use a hair grip. The less contact with water, the more your hair is protected.
- Wear a swimming cap.
- Rinse hair with non-chlorinated water immediately after swimming.
- Avoid using a hair brush. Use a comb with wide teeth.
- Post swim, wash hair with an anti-frizz shampoo.
- Use a moisture mask. Apply for 5-10 minutes (or as directed on the one of choice), then rinse thoroughly.
- Defense is the best offense. Take care of your hair every day, eat lots of protein, trim split ends, and if you don’t have dyed hair, very well; that way, you will avoid the negative effect of chlorine on your hair.
If You Have Textured Hair…
People with curly or coily hair, especially those with textured African hair, must pay extra attention to chlorine and saltwater. This type of hair can be easily damaged when in contact with swimming pool water or sea water.Textured hair must be handled gently as it naturally forms knots and kinks that cause breakage.6 Textured hair requires hair care products that have gentle formulas that rely on natural ingredients.
Final Words
Keep in mind that dyed, relaxed or bleached hair requires even more care. If hair now contains a combination of the aforementioned treatments, then the triple threat (color, relaxer, chlorine) to hair health must be managed vigilantly. To avoid altering hair color, wait at least a week before going to the pool after having dyed or bleached your hair. If you cannot wait, follow the advice above.Pool chlorine is your friend, but it can also be your enemy if you don’t care for your hair. Swimming provides a full body workout, relaxation, and stress management. Keep swimming safely, just protect your hair while you do it. The best tip is to prevent the effects of chlorine on your hair so that later you don’t have to wait months for it to regenerate.
There are many tricks available, but you need to take extra measures whether you go to the pool all the time or only a few times a year.
References:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016041201731468X
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236109930_Hair_color_damages_caused_by_exposure_to_chlorinated_water_in_the_presence_of_ultraviolet_radiation
- https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03267277
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12715094/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002407/
- Fundamentals of Ethnic Hair: The Dermatologists’s Perspective . C.Aguh G. Okoye. Pages 9-10. ©Springer International Publishing 2017
Sharleen St. Surin-Lord
Dermatologist
derm@visagederm
www.visagederm.com
@DermHairDoc
Dr. Sharleen St. Surin-Lord is a board-certified dermatologist who has been practicing for more than 16 years. She is in private practice at Visage Dermatology, Largo, MD. She is an assistant professor of dermatology at Howard University College of Medicine. She also practices at the University of Maryland Capital Regional Health System in Maryland. Dr. Sharleen is a member of the American Hair Research Society and you can follow her on Instagram as DermHairDoc.