Hair Feeling Rough After Swimming? How a Simple Pre-Swim Step Can Make a Difference: Protecting Your Hair from Pool Chlorine

In summer, opportunities to go to the beach or pool increase.

Jumping into cold water and swimming under the strong sun is a unique summer pleasure. On the other hand, have you ever been surprised by the state of your hair after showering post-swimming?

"It's hard to run my fingers through"
"The ends feel rough"
"It spreads out when dried"
"It seems like the color has gotten brighter"

These changes are not just your imagination.

Chlorine, essential for keeping pool water sanitary, is crucial for safe swimming when managed at appropriate concentrations. However, it can cause dryness and damage to hair.

Moreover, outdoor pools add another factor: ultraviolet rays.

In other words, summer hair is exposed to multiple stimuli simultaneously, such as "water," "chlorine," and "ultraviolet rays."

So, how can you protect your hair without giving up on the pool?

The key is not just after swimming.

Starting hair care before entering the pool becomes important.

Why does hair become dry when exposed to chlorine?

First, it's important to know that the surface of hair is not bare.

Hair has a protective function due to lipids, which prevent excessive evaporation of moisture and external stimuli.

However, prolonged exposure to chlorinated water affects this protective function.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) explains that pool chlorine affects the lipids covering hair, making it more prone to damage and split ends.

In fact, after swimming for a long time, hair may feel "squeaky" to the touch or spread more than usual when dried.

Especially,

- Hair that is naturally prone to dryness
- Bleached hair
- Hair that has been repeatedly colored
- Chemically treated hair, such as permed hair
- Long hair with accumulated damage at the ends

may be more susceptible to these changes.

Once hair grows, it is not a tissue that can repair itself like skin. Therefore, it's important to think about minimizing damage rather than just dealing with it after it occurs.

In outdoor pools, beware of "chlorine + ultraviolet rays"

Particularly in midsummer outdoor pools, extra caution is needed.

Not only chlorine but also strong ultraviolet rays simultaneously affect the hair.

Experiments exposing hair to chlorinated water and ultraviolet rays reported changes in hair color with chlorine alone, and greater effects on hair proteins when ultraviolet rays were added.

Of course, experimental conditions are not identical to swimming for a few hours in a typical pool, so results cannot be directly applied to daily life.

Still, it's important to note that "in summer outdoor pools, it's not just about chlorine."

Ultraviolet rays themselves can also dry hair and affect its strength and color.

On days spent by the poolside, it's worth considering not only sun protection for the skin but also measures for the hair.

"Is it all chlorine's fault if hair turns green in the pool?"

A common hair-related story about pools is,

"Swimming with blonde or bleached hair turns it green."

This requires some caution.

It's often explained as "chlorine turns it green," but medical literature points to copper adhering to hair as the direct cause of so-called "green hair."

Particularly in light or damaged hair, color changes are more noticeable. Therefore,

"Pool = Chlorine = Green"

is not an accurate equation.

On the other hand, the potential for chlorinated water to affect hair color and condition is reported in studies.

For those with colored hair, it's more reassuring to take precautions before entering the water rather than responding after the color changes.

The easiest method is "wetting your hair before swimming"

There's a method worth remembering.

Before entering the pool, thoroughly wet your hair with fresh water from the shower.

It may seem too simple, but it's a method introduced by dermatological institutions. By soaking your hair with fresh water beforehand, you can expect to reduce the impact of pool water compared to entering with dry hair.

The concept is similar to a sponge.

A dry sponge absorbs water quickly, while a sponge already soaked with water has limited capacity to absorb more.

Although hair and sponges are not structurally identical, this analogy helps understand the strategy of "wetting with fresh water before entering the pool."

Moreover, there's no need to purchase special products.

Simply wetting your entire hair with the shower at the pool is something you can do immediately.

Swim caps are not necessarily "completely waterproof"

Another classic solution is the swim cap.

It helps reduce the amount of direct contact between hair and pool water, and the American Academy of Dermatology recommends its use as a measure for swimmers.

However, there's a common misconception among many beginners.

Wearing a swim cap does not necessarily keep your hair completely dry.

In fact, in overseas swimming communities, "I bought a well-reviewed cap, but my hair got wet,"

"Are there caps that keep long hair completely dry?"

"Isn't a swim cap not meant to keep hair completely waterproof?"

such questions are repeatedly posted.

While it makes sense to gather hair, make swimming easier, and reduce contact with pool water, it's best not to assume that wearing a cap means no contact with chlorinated water.

A practical approach is

wetting your hair with fresh water → wearing a cap

as a combination.

Be cautious with methods involving applying conditioner or oil before entering

As a chlorine countermeasure,

"Apply conditioner before swimming"

"Coat with hair oil"

are methods often seen on social media.

The idea of protecting the hair surface is understandable, and some swimmers practice it.

However, this is an area where opinions vary depending on the facility.

In overseas swimming communities, there are concerns about conditioner flowing into the pool and affecting water quality when used in large quantities before entering the water.

Additionally, there are anecdotal reports of conditioner or oil making hair slippery, causing the cap to slip off more easily.

Therefore, the priority should be simple measures like "thoroughly wetting with fresh water" and "using a cap."

If you want to use hair care products before entering the water, it's best to check the pool's usage rules.

After swimming, "rinse as soon as possible"

And after swimming.

The important thing is not to leave the pool water on your hair for a long time.

After getting out of the pool, head to the shower as soon as possible and rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water.

The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends rinsing hair immediately after swimming, followed by shampoo and conditioner as a measure for swimmers.

A common mistake is

"I'll take a bath when I get home, so it's fine,"

and letting the hair dry as it is.

If there's a shower at the pool, at least rinse thoroughly with fresh water.

Especially in outdoor pools, it's best to avoid exposing hair with pool water to the summer sun for an extended period.

It's not about using "strong cleansing" every time

"If you want to remove chlorine, why not use a strong cleansing shampoo every time?"

you might think.

However, the condition of hair and scalp varies from person to person.

Among those who swim regularly, many report using swimmer-specific shampoos or cleansing shampoos, while others emphasize using moisturizing conditioners or hair masks.

On Reddit's haircare community, a user who swims several times a week shares their routine:

"After swimming, I use a cleansing shampoo and moisturizing conditioner, and deep conditioning 1-2 times a week."

However, necessary care varies depending on hair type, color, and swimming frequency.

Focusing only on washing can lead to further hair dryness, which is counterproductive.

The key is to think of "removing" and "replenishing" as a set.

On social media, "wetting hair first" is becoming standard

So, what methods are people who actually swim using?

 

Looking at overseas social media and Reddit's swimming and haircare communities, the advice that frequently appears is,

"Wet your hair in the shower before entering the pool."

A swimming veteran introduces the routine to a poster concerned about hair damage:

"First, wet your hair before swimming," "Use a cap," "Moisturize with conditioner after swimming."

People who continue competitive swimming or swim several times a week share routines like,

"Rinse properly after each swim,"

"Use swimmer-specific shampoo,"

"Do deep conditioning regularly."

On Instagram, there are multiple beauty and swimmer-oriented posts recommending wetting hair with fresh water before swimming and cleansing and moisturizing after swimming.

While scientific research and social media experiences are not equivalent, the idea of caring in three stages—"before entering," "immediately after exiting," and "subsequent moisturizing"—is common in many posts.

On the other hand, opinions differ on "Should conditioner be used before entering?"

The debate over pre-entry conditioner use is particularly intriguing on social media.

There are experiences like,

"I wet my hair, apply conditioner, and wear a cap. That method maintained my hair condition."

Meanwhile,

"It's enough to wet with fresh water rather than bringing conditioner into the pool,"

"It might affect the pool's water quality,"

"It makes the cap slip off more easily."

These opposing views exist.

This shows that "trending on social media" does not mean it's recommended at all pools.

It's necessary to adjust according to facility rules, hair type, and swimming frequency.

"I bought a cap but got wet" is not a failure

Another common question from beginners on social media is,

"I wore a swim cap, but my hair got wet."

Especially for long and thick hair, water entering the cap is not uncommon.

Therefore, it's more realistic to think of the cap as

"a tool to gather hair and reduce contact with pool water"

rather than

"a tool to keep hair completely dry."

Layering multiple caps or tightening them excessively to prevent complete wetting can make swimming uncomfortable.

The important thing is to gradually reduce conditions that lead to damage rather than achieving 100% blockage.

In summer pools, thinking in "three stages" makes it easier

Summarizing the measures so far is very simple.

【Before entering】

Thoroughly wet your hair with fresh water. Gather your hair if necessary and use a swim cap.

【While swimming】

If you don't need to submerge your head for leisure purposes, gather your hair to reduce contact time. Check facility rules if using products before entering.

【After swimming】

Rinse with fresh water as soon as possible and care for your hair with