How to Keep Chlorine from Ruining Your Hair: 7 Easy Tips

1. Apply Coconut Oil to Hair before You Enter the Water

Before you step into the pool, coat your strands with pure organic coconut oil. Coconut oil creates a natural waterproof barrier over the hair shaft, making it much harder for chlorinated water to penetrate. Keep a tub of organic cold-pressed coconut oil in your beach bag right next to your towel and sunscreen. It only takes a few seconds to apply, focusing on your ends where hair is most porous, and it can save your hair from severe dry-out and breakage over time.

2. Wash Your Hair before Jumping in the Pool

Rinsing your hair thoroughly with clean tap water in the shower before diving into the pool is one of the easiest preventive steps you can take. Hair acts like a sponge: once it absorbs fresh, clean water, it has very little room left to absorb chlorinated pool water. Take a quick shower or drench your head with a hose right before taking the plunge.

3. Buy Clarifying Shampoo

Regular shampoo washes away surface dirt, but removing embedded chlorine and copper deposits requires a specialized clarifying product. Using a targeted clarifying formula like Scruples hair clarifier shampoo once or twice a week breaks down chemical buildup without stripping essential moisture. If you notice a greenish tint or persistent stiffness after swimming, keep a reliable clarifying shampoo in your shower routine. For comprehensive hair health tips, check out our guide on whether dry shampoo is right for you when balancing your wash schedule.

4. Use a Swim Cap

Don't worry about looking silly in a swim cap. Everyone will still be able to see your gorgeous face, so it won't matter that your locks are hidden from the world. Besides, everyone will be too busy looking at your cute bathing suit to notice that you have your hair up in a swim cap. Modern silicone caps fit comfortably and provide an essential line of defense for color-treated hair.

5. Wash Your Hair Right after Swimming

While it's important to wash your hair before swimming, it's also important to wash your hair after swimming. That way, you can wash all of the chlorine out of your hair immediately before it causes lasting dryness. If you prefer to skip heat styling afterward, follow the best steps to air-drying your hair to keep it smooth and frizz-free.

6. Deep Condition Your Hair to Get Rid of Damage

If the chlorine has already ruined your hair, you should start the restoration process by deep conditioning it. You should be able to find the products you need at almost any store. Once you do, it won't take longer than thirty minutes for you to put in the product, let it set, and wash it out.

Key ingredients to look for in a nourishing post-swim hair mask:

7. Never Rub Your Hair to Dry It

The chlorine isn't the only thing that can ruin your hair. Whether you're stepping out from the pool or the shower, you need to be careful with how you dry your locks. You should make sure to pat your head instead of rubbing it dry so that you don't harm the follicles. You should also use your blow dryer on medium or low heat, instead of on high. For more styling ideas that minimize heat exposure, explore these top hair straighteners to invest in for safe heat application.

Don't avoid the pool out of fear of wrecking your hair. As long as you follow these tips, your locks will stay strong and vibrant. What other tips do you have for keeping chlorine from ruining your hair?