Hidden Ways Water Wrecks Your Hair (and Easy Fixes)
Alas, we are near the end of Summer, or as Trini’s of a certain age like to call it, the ‘July – August vacation’. Like many of us, you likely would have spent some time at a large body of water – maybe taking a salty ocean dip, a refreshing swim in a pool or a fun splash in a river. And after soaking up its fair share of sand, salt and chlorine, you realize that when you run your fingers through your lovely hair or your child’s hair, it doesn’t feel quite right. It’s dry. A little crunchy even. It reminds you of grass that was cut and left in the sun for days. If you ever wondered why it is, that after all the fun and games are done, your hair always seems to pay the price, then you’re in the right place.
Let’s talk about how different kinds of water mess with your strands and how to stop and repair the damage before it gets worse.
The Beach: It Takes Just As Much As It Gives
A beach day is all about having a good time right? The breeze, the smell of the ocean, fun with family or friends, the lovely waves in your hair. But when you get home and you rinse your hair, it still feels like dry grass. Even if you use conditioner, it doesn’t seem to change. Sounds familiar? Here’s why.
Sea water is full of salt, and salt draws moisture out of your hair like a sponge. It also lifts the protective layer (the cuticle), leaving your strands rough, tangled, and more prone to breakage. If your hair is naturally porous (see our previous blog post), saltwater is even more brutal, leaving your curls parched and puffy. It even makes your scalp dry. If this isn’t remedied quickly, it can result in brittle strands and serious breakage.
The Fix
- Rinse with fresh water as soon as possible after swimming. This helps to remove the salt from your hair and slows the rate at which moisture is pulled from your strands. You can use a conditioner to also help close the cuticles and retain what moisture is left.
- Deep condition with products that contain humectants (like aloe vera or glycerin). Not only would a good deep conditioner add nutrients to the hair and strengthen it, but humectants actually draw atmospheric moisture into the hair. This will help to keep your hair hydrated longer, reducing the chances of it breaking.
- Seal in moisture. After rinsing out your deep conditioner, apply your favourite moisturizer to your hair and seal it in with natural oils like argan oil, castor oil or olive oil. Again, this will help keep your hair moisturized and soft much longer, reducing the chance of breakage.
The Pool: Clean Water, Dirty Secret
You dive into the pool expecting cool relief. But chlorine has other plans. This chemical keeps the pool clean, but it strips your hair completely bare. It removes all the natural oils and breaks down the protein structure of the hair.
Chlorine is sneaky. It doesn’t just make your hair dry and brittle, but makes it dull, weak and of course, prone to breakage. You might notice that your hair becomes harder to manage, tangles more easily, or loses its usual bounce and shine.
Ever felt like your hair just won’t behave after a few pool sessions? Now you know why. Persons with chemically treated hair, high porosity hair or who have fine hair strands, are particularly susceptible to chlorine damage.
The Fix
- It’s more of a preventative measure than a fix, but a fairly easy one nonetheless. Use a swim cap. It covers the hair and prevents it from absorbing a large amount of chlorine. You can also pre-wet you hair and apply a moisturizer or leave in conditioner before putting on the cap. This will provide a protective barrier from the chlorine coming into direct contact with your hair immediately, if water gets under the swim cap.
2. Wash your hair with shampoo after a swim in the pool to remove the chlorine from your hair. If you swim regularly, you can use a clarifying shampoo about once a week. If you are in the pool multiple times a week, you also have the option of using a chelating shampoo. The chelating agents bind themselves to metal ions like calcium, magnesium, copper, and chlorine compounds, and removes them from the hair when it is rinsed. If you decide to use a chelating shampoo, use it sparingly (about once a month) because it also strips the hair of natural oils. Use chelating shampoos that contain natural chelating agents like Vitamin C (Ascorbic).
3. Strengthen your hair with protein treatments. Hair is made primarily of keratin, a type of protein, and chlorine severely damages this protein. Using a protein treatment can help restore protein to the strand, reversing the damage done by chlorine and resulting in stronger hair.
River Water: The Invisible Buildup You Didn't Notice
Unless the river that you bathe in is a toxic waste dump, the water itself wouldn’t damage your hair like sea and pool water does. However, depending on the geological makeup of the hills that the river traverses, certain naturally occurring chemicals may be absorbed into the water from the rocks that the water flows over.
Chemicals such as calcium chloride and magnesium chloride are often present in river water and they tend to remain on the hair after swimming in the river. This leaves behind a thin layer on the hair, that can prevent the proper absorption of moisture into the hair. Your hair moisturizing products won’t have the same effect and your hair may begin to feel stiff or dry. You may even begin to notice increased frizz and even breakage.
The Fix
- Similar to swimming in the pool, ensure to wash your hair with shampoo after swimming in a river. If you do it often, use a clarifying shampoo once a week or so. If you bathe in the river water very often, use a chelating shampoo to ensure that the metal ions are removed from your hair.
2. Once your hair is washed, don’t forget to moisturize your hair. Seal it in if necessary to retain moisture for a longer period of time.
Final Thoughts
It’s not just about the water, but it’s about your hair’s relationship with it. Things like your hair porosity and whether your hair is dyed, chemically treated or naturally curly, all play a role.
But no matter your hair type, one thing stays true: with the right prep and aftercare, you can enjoy the sea, the pool, and the river without sacrificing your strands.
So the next time you’re headed out for a swim, treat your hair the same way you treat your skin—protect it, love it, and it’ll love you right back!