It’s the ultimate conundrum: you want to take a dip in the pool to cool off, but don’t want to wreck your hair in the process. Chlorine and ocean water can affect hair’s moisture levels and color, but adopting a good hair care routine can help curb these adverse reactions.
According to Yvey Valcin, a Seattle-based hairstylist and the founder of Yvey Salon, it’s important to understand any already-existing hair damage and what’s needed to bring your hair back to a healthy state. “What the hair needs always comes first, what you want to see your hair doing should come second and how you want your hair to be seen should come third,” he says.
We spoke with a hair stylist, an Olympian and a scalp expert about the best hair care products for swimmers and what to look for when shopping. We also put together a list of what to shop based on their recommendations and guidance.
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The right hair care products for swimmers can help restore moisture, detangle and protect your hair color, according to our experts. When shopping they recommend keeping the following factors in mind:
- Product type: There are a few key product types to keep on rotation if you’re a regular swimmer. Clarifying shampoos, for one, are great at removing chemicals and chlorine from your hair and should be used regularly after swimming, says Valcin. “After using a clarifying shampoo, the hair cuticles are wide open, so to seal it back you need a good moisturizer to use right after,” he says. This can be anything from a leave-in conditioner (which helps repair the hair, restore elasticity and hydrate split ends) or a hair oil or serum. You’ll also want to consider whether or not the products you’re using are safe for color-treated hair, and follow the instructions for use, especially for a clarifying shampoo.
- Ingredients: We looked at the ingredients of each product and what reparative benefits they would provide for someone who swims a lot. Oils like coconut, jojoba and macadamia nut help moisturize, protect and soften the hair, while conditioning agents like shea butter can prevent breakage and calm the scalp thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
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Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo
Kerry Yates, trichologist and the founder of Colour Collective, recommends this color-safe clarifying shampoo from Oribe. It comes in an aerosol can and has a foaming, mousse-like consistency that lathers nicely, making it easy to distribute from scalp to ends, says Yates. The volcanic ash in the formula is responsible for exfoliating the scalp and getting rid of buildup (it’s also what gives the formula its dark gray tint), and the green tea extract in it protects against breakage, according to the brand.
Coola Scalp & Hair Mist Organic Sunscreen SPF 30
“Exposure to salt water can cause dryness and brittleness, and when sun exposure is thrown into the mix, the adverse effects are exacerbated,” says Yates, who recommends this hair and scalp SPF for both sun and hair protection. The formula is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and has aspray applicator that’s easy to spritz onto the scalp and your strands if you’re at the pool or oceanside.
SheaMoisture Shampoo and Conditioner Set
Keana Hunter, first-time Olympian and artistic swimmer based in Los Angeles, is a fan of this shampoo and conditioner duo, saying that it “moisturizes [her] heavily dry and damaged hair.” The set, which is safe for color-treated hair, also helps maintain her blonde color. The formula’s all-star ingredient is manuka honey, a humectant that helps draw water, according tothe brand. It also includes a blend of nourishing ingredients like mafura oil, fig extract, vitamin C and baobab oil.
Ouai Hair Oil
“I use this hair oil after practice to help with dry ends and add the shine back to my blonde hair,” says Hunter. “This really helps my hair be less frizzy.” The formula protects color-treated hair from fading and discoloration thanks to African galanga root extract, while the medley of oils addresses signs of dryness, frizz and damage, according to Ouai. It also gives a shiny finish to the hair, which is great if you’re dealing with dullness or brittleness.
Kérastase Specifique Divalent Balancing Shampoo for Oily Scalp & Hair
“I often recommend this balancing shampoo to clients who love to be in the water,” says Valcin. “It’s best used right after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from your hair.” The formula consists of two essential ingredients, amino acid and vitamin B6, which work together to remove excess oil from the scalp and repair hair that’s been dried out from chlorine or salt water.
Ranavat Mighty Majesty Renewing Hair Frizz Control Leave In Conditioner
This leave-in conditioner is lightweight, color-safe and provides frizz management and hydration for up to 72 hours, according to the brand. I particularly love this formula because it has different benefits for wet and dry hair. To use on damp hair, I apply a small amount from the mid-lengths of my hair to my ends and comb through — this protects against heat damage and prevents breakage. On dry hair, I apply it just to my tips four to five days after a blowout to make my ends appear less frayed and frizzy. It also has a subtle jasmine scent that’s not overpowering.
Aussie Miracle Curls Leave-In Detangling Milk Treatment
For Hunter, this leave-in treatment helps alleviate tangled, unruly hair. “When I apply this to my hair it immediately smooths it out and moisturizes my split ends,” she says. Because it’s a great detangler, it works for those with curly hair, those who wear their hair up often or those prone to knots and tangles after wearing a swim cap. To use, apply a small amount onto damp hair and brush through with a wide tooth comb.
Innersense Organic Beauty Sweet Spirit Leave In Conditioner
As an added protective layer, Yates says to apply this leave-in conditioning spray before going swimming. The leave-conditioner works to detangle, smooth and reintroduce hydration into the hair via a mix of honey, aloe vera and tamanu oil. It also comes out as a lightweight mist, making it easy to control and apply to your desired area.
Dove Beauty Bond Strength Peptide Complex Serum Hair Mask
If you’re struggling with severely damaged hair, whether it be from chlorine, coloring, heat or all of the above, this restorative hair mask from Dove Beauty is a great fix. More potent than a typical conditioner, the hair mask uses peptides to reduce frizz, prevent breakage and detangle.
I currently use this mask as part of my normal hair care routine and enjoy that the thick consistency feels substantial on my 2B curls. Since I started using it, I’ve found that my hair is softer and shinier after a blowout, my frizz is greatly diminished and my dry ends appear hydrated and healthy.
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When looking for hair care products, consider what the formula’s main intention is. For instance, some products are meant to boost moisture while others help prevent color fade. Similarly, hair oils and serums can both help damaged hair, but they function in different ways. Hair serums provide nourishment,while hair oils form a protective layer to shield against heat damage or chlorine. “Both oils and serums are crucial to protecting your hair before and after getting in a chlorinated pool,” says Valcin.
How does pool chlorine affect hair?Pool chlorine can have damaging effects on all hair types and textures. “Being a swimmer, my hair experiences a lot of damage, especially since we don’t wear a cap when we compete,” says Hunter. Some frustrations she experiences from chlorine include breakage, dryness and knots.
- Dryness: “The main challenge with chlorine exposure is dryness,” says Yates, who adds that for those suffering from a dry scalp, chlorine exposure can exacerbate the feeling. Certain hair types are more likely to experience dryness, too. “For instance, curly and wavy hair types are more susceptible to the damaging effects of pool chlorine because the curl or wave pattern can store excess chemical residue from the water longer than straight hair,” explains Valcin.
- Color change: As Valcin explains, chlorine negatively depletes color-treated hair, resulting in fragile, brittle and dry hair with an uneven tone. For those with blonde hair, it can also lead to dull shades of gray, or a green effect that’s a result of chlorine and copper in the pool interacting, says Yates.
- Interruption ofcurl pattern and breakage: Curly hair textures are the most fragile type, and because they’re naturally dry, chlorine can exacerbate the dryness, says Valcin. Chlorine can also deviate the curl pattern, meaning when the hair is dry, it loses its elasticity. “Once the hair loses that ability, it can break easily,” says Valcin.
While chlorine comes with negative side effects for your hair, there are ways to prevent and treat damage.
- Rinse your hair immediately following swimming, making sure to massage the scalp to loosen up any tight skin and to help distribute hair’s natural sebum across your entire head, says Yates.
- Use a clarifying shampoo once a week to remove buildup.
- Do a weekly treatment mask to restore moisture. These work to bring back elasticity in the hair and hydrate dry ends.
- For blonde hair, saturate your strands with a hair oil before jumping in the pool.
- Prep color-treated hair with moisture. “Salt and chlorine are perfect elements for drying color-treated hair, so before entering chlorine or salt water, the hair needs to be prepared by giving it as much moisture as possible,” says Valcin. He recommends using a hair oil to help do so.
“Using a clarifying shampoo is a great option to remove any chemicals from the water off your hair,” says Valcin. These formulas provide a deeper cleanse compared to traditional shampoos, effectively getting rid of chlorine, product buildup and hard water minerals in the hair. While all hair types can benefit from a clarifying shampoo, you shouldn’t use it as often as a traditional shampoo (aim for two times a month) because it could strip the hair and scalp of its natural oils. To use, apply a small amount to your scalp and gently massage for a few minutes. Rinse it with warm water and follow up with something moisturizing to seal the cuticles — Valcin recommends a leave-in conditioner, hair serum or moisturizing hair mask.
Meet our expertsAt NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Yvey Valcin is a hair stylist and the founder of Yvey Salon in Seattle.
- Kerry Yates is a trichologist and the founder of Colour Collective.
- Keana Hunter is a first-time Olympian and artistic swimmer based in Los Angeles.
Michelle Rostamian has more than 10 years of experience covering beauty and skin care topics. For this story, she spoke to a hair stylist, trichologist, and Olympic swimmer and included their direct recommendations and products based on their guidance.
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Michelle Rostamian
Michelle Rostamian is a freelance beauty, wellness, and lifestyle writer.
