5 ways to protect your hair from chlorine damage

Sometimes it seems that our beloved swimming pools get the best of us when it comes to hair maintenance. No matter how many salon appointments you make, chlorine inevitably seeps into your roots and can even make your luscious locks turn a lackluster shade of green. Don’t panic. Just be better prepared next time you go for a swim.

Here are five ways to prevent chlorine damage:

1. Wear a cap
You might feel a little goofy wearing a swim cap in the water, especially during a pool party. However, it’s for the sake of your hair. If you’re willing to shell out hundreds of dollars on cuts, dyes and treatments – what’s one more sacrifice? These days, you don’t have to look nerdy with a swim cap on. Plenty of companies market adorable options to match your new swimwear. Save your mane by keeping water out altogether.

2. Try a homemade remedy
In a perfect world, no water would trickle into the swim cap. Scratch that. In a perfect world, no one would need to wear a swim cap and chlorine wouldn’t damage our precious follicles. Unfortunately, we don’t live in that fantasy realm, and sometimes even if you cover your hair, chlorine can still ruin it. Luckily, there’s always damage control.

You’re willing to dip your hair in pool chemicals, so why would you be afraid to test out a homemade remedy? If you’re looking for an inexpensive and quick fix for brittle stands of hair, try a mask. Mother Earth Living suggested mixing an egg, a tablespoon of yogurt and a tablespoon of honey in a bowl. Then, massage the ingredients into your hair and leave them in for 30 minutes. Rinse the treatment out and style your locks as you normally would.

3. Find products at your local store
If the whole egg and swim cap attempt isn’t cutting it, it’s time for reinforcements. Head to your local supermarket to seek out specific products. Sift through the brands and find items that are made especially for what your hair needs. You can also find a product designed to remove chlorine.

SwimSpray Chlorine Removal Spray has received great reviews. It’s reasonably affordable and gets the job done – which is the goal here. Squirt a drop or two into your mane and voila. Because it’s packed with vitamin C, it’ll get the chemicals out and leave your hair smelling good – and not like you just left the pool.

4. Rinse your hair before a swim
As crazy as this may sound, give your mane a rinse before you take a dip in the pool. This maddening method has some reason to it. You see, your hair absorbs whatever liquids it comes in contact with. Basically, you’re beating chlorine to the punch when you get in the pool with wet hair. Your mane will fill up with shower water instead of chemicals.

5. Call a pool service professional
Have you ever noticed that your hair can tell you things? For example, when your locks are straighter than usual, it’s usually an indication that it’s humid outside. If you look around at your colleagues at work and their heads are all wet, it’s either raining or snowing.

Well, your hair can also speak volumes about the condition of your pool. If your locks are dryer than usual, you could be in dire need of a pool cleaning. Hair that turns a hue of green may be your pool’s way of screaming for some attention.

Call Fort Worth, San Diego, Las Vegas or Phoenix pool service professionals if you need any of the aforementioned services. Hair is far too valuable to let chlorine get the best of it.