Swimming in chlorinated pools can be harmful to your hair. Swim shampoo can help protect your hair from chlorine damage and make swimming more enjoyable.
Chlorine is a powerful oxidant that can damage the hair, skin, and eyes. It’s also a known carcinogen, so it’s important to use swim shampoo regularly to prevent damage to your hair. Swim shampoo contains ingredients that neutralize the effects of chlorine on your hair, so you can enjoy swimming without worrying about damaging your locks.
What Is Chlorine?
Chlorine is a chlorine molecule with two atoms of chlorine attached to one atom of hydrogen. Chlorine gas is made when water reacts with chlorine dioxide (ClO2).
Swimming in chlorinated pools can cause hair damage, especially if you are not using swimmer shampoo. Swimmers often get a dry scalp and itchy skin because the pool water evaporates while they’re swimming and leaves their scalps unprotected from the harsh chemicals in the pool. Swim shampoo neutralizes these harmful effects by removing debris, oils, and sweat from the scalp and skin.
How Does Chlorine Damage Hair?
When chlorine attacks the hair, it forms hypochlorous acid (HClO4). This acid breaks down the protein in hair follicles, leading to loss of scalp elasticity and breakage. Swimming can also cause a build-up of chloramines in the water, which can damage your hair even more by dissolving natural oils and damaging fragile hairs.
How Does Swim Shampoo Prevent Hair Damage?
Swim shampoo is a mixture of surfactants and conditioners that work together to remove dirt, oils, and sweat from the scalp. These ingredients also bind to chlorine molecules and neutralize their effects on the hair. This makes it easier for your scalp to retain moisture and prevents damage from chlorine exposure while you’re swimming.
Choose a swim shampoo that contains irritant-free silicone which will not cause any skin sensitization when used in conjunction with other pool chemicals like chlorine or bromine. Another reason why chlorine can damage hair is that it’s a bleaching agent. When chlorine mixes with hydrogen peroxide, the resulting bleach molecule creates free radicals that damage hair. These radicals cause breakage, reduced shine and color stability, and loss of flexibility. If you are concerned about hair damage while swimming, choose a swim shampoo that contains ingredients like silicone and antioxidants to help protect your scalp.
Use natural oils
When you apply natural oils to your hair before swimming, they act as a barrier against the build-up of sweat and chlorine. This will keep your hair looking shiny, healthy, and free from damage.
You can use any oil that you like, but some popular choices include coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oil. Apply the oils to your scalp before swimming, then rinse them out with water when you’re finished.
Benefits of Swim Shampoo
Here are Some benefits of swim shampoo include:
- It protects the scalp from damage caused by chlorine.
- It removes dirt, sweat, and oils from the hair.
- It conditions the hair so it is less likely to frizz or suffer from split ends. -It leaves hair looking shiny and healthy.
- It may help reduce the risk of skin sensitization to chlorine.
- It is a convenient and easy way to keep your hair looking its best while swimming.
How do swimmers keep their hair healthy?
There are a few things that swimmers can do to keep their hair healthy while swimming. One of the most important things is to use swim shampoo. Swimmers can also use moisturizers, oils, and conditioners on their hair before swimming.
Most swim shampoo is made with sulfur and chlorine, which can damage hair. If swimming is unavoidable, it’s important to use a sulfate-free shampoo that won’t strip the natural oils from the hair.
TIPS FOR KEEPING HAIR SAFE DURING SWIMMING
- Apply a swim shampoo that contains silicone and antioxidants to protect the scalp from damage caused by chlorine.
- Use natural oils on the hair before swimming to keep it free from the build-up of sweat and chlorine.
- Rinse out the hair with water when you’re finished swimming, to avoid leaving behind any oil or residue.
- Avoid swimming if you have sensitive hair.
- If you have dry hair, use a moisturizer before swimming to help keep the hair hydrated.
- Avoid swimming if it is windy outside.
Summary
Swimming can be a fun and healthy activity, but it’s important to take precautions to keep your hair safe. Swimmers should use swim shampoo that contains sulfur and chlorine inhibitors, moisturize their hair before swimming, and avoid swimming if conditions are windy or hot.
