Salt, sun and chlorine: a summer hair care routine for swimmers
Summer in Maroubra means early swims at the beach, laps at Des Renford and afternoons at Mahon Pool. It also means hair that feels like straw by February. Salt water, chlorine and strong sun each damage hair in a different way, and together they leave it dry, tangled and dull. The good news is that a few simple habits, most of them before you get in the water, make a bigger difference than any expensive treatment afterwards.
What the water does to your hair
Salt water draws moisture out of the hair shaft as it dries, leaving it rough and prone to knots. That is the same effect that makes beach waves look good on day one and frizzy by day three.
Chlorine is there to kill germs, and it does not stop at germs. It strips the natural oils that coat each strand and roughens the outer cuticle, so hair loses shine and tangles easily. Daily lap swimmers often notice it first at the ends.
Sun breaks down the protein in hair and fades colour, natural or dyed. Hair that is already dry from salt or chlorine burns faster.
Why blonde hair turns green
It is not the chlorine itself. Pool water often contains dissolved copper, from pipes or from products used to control algae. Chlorine oxidises the copper, and it binds to the protein in hair. On light, porous or bleached hair it shows up as a green tinge. Wetting and coating your hair before you swim, and a clarifying wash afterwards, prevent most of it.
Before you swim
- Wet your hair with fresh water first. Hair is like a sponge. If it is already full of clean water from the beach shower or the change room, it soaks up less salt and chlorine.
- Add a barrier. Smooth a leave-in conditioner, or a few drops of jojoba or coconut oil, through the lengths and ends. It slows the water down and makes detangling easier later.
- Tie it back. A loose plait or low bun stops knots forming in the waves.
- Wear a cap for laps. It will not keep hair completely dry, but with conditioner underneath it cuts chlorine contact a lot.
After you swim
Rinse your hair with fresh water as soon as you can, even if you cannot wash it until later. Salt and chlorine keep working while they sit in your hair, especially in the sun. At home, wash with a gentle shampoo and follow with conditioner on the lengths. Comb it through while the conditioner is in, using a wide tooth comb or a flexible detangling brush, starting at the ends and working up. Wet hair stretches and snaps easily, so never drag a brush from the roots.
Clarify once a week. Regular swimmers build up a film of chlorine, minerals and product. A clarifying shampoo, or a rinse of one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water after shampooing, lifts it off. Do it weekly, not daily, and always condition afterwards.
Weekly care for dry, sun damaged hair
Once a week, swap your conditioner for a hair mask and leave it on for five to ten minutes. Moisture masks suit hair that feels dry and rough. Protein masks suit hair that feels limp, stretchy or gummy when wet, which often happens after bleaching. Too much protein can make hair stiff, so if you are unsure, start with moisture. Give heat styling a break over summer where you can, let hair dry naturally, and wear a wide brimmed hat in the middle of the day. It protects your scalp from burning as well, which is easy to forget at a part line. Our natural sunscreen guide covers the rest of you.
Shampoo bars at the beach
Shampoo bars are handy for swimmers: no bottle to leak in the beach bag, and they last for dozens of washes. Rub the bar between wet hands or directly over wet hair, lather, then rinse well, since bars can leave a film if rinsed quickly. Keep it on a draining soap dish between uses so it does not go soft. If you are switching from conventional shampoo, our natural shampoo guide explains the adjustment period. If you colour your hair with henna, see our henna guide before a summer of chlorine.
Long beach and surf days
A whole day in and out of the ocean is harder on hair than a quick dip, because the salt dries and rewets over and over in full sun. Reapply a little leave-in or oil at lunchtime, keep hair tied up or under a cap between swims, and rinse it under the beach shower before you head home rather than letting it dry salty in the car. A spray bottle of water with a few drops of conditioner in the beach bag makes that midday refresh easy. At home, skip the hot hair dryer that night and let a mask do the work.
Kids and swim school
Children with long hair get the worst knots. A spray-in detangler before and after the pool, a plait for lessons, and a rinse in the change room shower make bath time far less of a battle.
Summer hair care on our shelves
See the full range in Hair Care. If a rash or sunburn on your scalp needs attention, our after-sun guide can help, or drop in and ask us at 936 Anzac Parade.