When the weather is warm there is no better way to cool off than enjoying a cool dip in the pool. Chlorine is a chemical that is used to keep the water safe, but it can also cause damage to our hair. Keeping your hair protected from the harmful effects of chlorine is vital. We have put together some helpful tips that can keep your hair looking good while being protected when in chlorinated pools.

Shower Before Swimming

Before you jump in that pool, look to see if there is a shower. If so, then soak your hair well before going in the water. While this may sound counter-productive, your hair is porous and by soaking your hair in fresh water it will fill with liquid. This will make it more difficult for chlorinated water to get into the hair follicles, which can damage the hair shaft. If you don’t have access to a shower, then use bottled water that you can bring with you to pour over your hair before jumping in the water. You can also run a little Moroccan argan oil or olive oil through wet hair before swimming to help waterproof your hair and keep it from damage.

Swim Cap

You may not be an Olympic swimmer, but you can still wear a swim cap. It will help a great deal to protect your hair from metal properties in chlorinated water and keep it dry as you swim. If you apply a deep conditioner to your hair before putting the cap on it will provide a more even protection. Another way to protect your hair is to tie it up or wear a scarf. If you go swimming outdoors, think about using UV protection hair spray which helps block the sun’s harmful rays.

Rinse Your Hair

When you get out of the pool it is a good idea to rinse off your hair with fresh water. Doing this will help in reducing the residual buildup of chemicals; therefore helping to protect your hair from damage.

Care for Your Hair

When you’re done swimming, the next step is caring for your hair with two deep shampoos to rinse off any chemicals. There are anti-chlorine shampoos that are great if you have dry or brittle hair. If your hair is colored, then apply a color-saving shampoo. It is important to rinse for longer than usual to get rid of any residual chemicals. Using a deep conditioning hair mask is another great way to treat your hair after swimming. Simply leave it on for 10-15 minutes.

By following these simple and easy tips you can enjoy cooling off in the pool while taking care of your hair, and helping it remain in the top condition.

Many of us go about our morning and bedtime routines in a sort of mental autopilot. Each time we shower or bathe, we wash our face, body, and hair with, respectively, a facial cleanser, soap or body wash, and shampoo. You may be surprised to learn that this seemingly healthy routine may be undermining your quest for glowing skin and shiny, full-bodied beautiful hair.

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

The appearance of your face and your hair are both influenced by an oily substance called sebum that is secreted by sebaceous glands in the face and scalp. Some people produce excess sebum and tend to have oily skin and hair. Others produce little sebum and tend to have dry skin or hair. The amount of sebum an individual generates may change during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.

How often you should wash your hair depends on how much sebum you produce. Dermatologists recommend that shampooing daily is usually unnecessary. In some cases (if you’ve been exercising, live in a very humid environment, or have very fine, oily hair) shampooing daily may be warranted.

Absent the aforementioned scenarios, your scalp and hair will probably not become dirty or oily enough to require daily need cleaned. When you shampoo and your hair and scalp don’t have excess dirt and oil, you’ll simply be stripping away a beneficial layer of natural oil.

Maintaining Healthy Hair & Scalp

The key is balance: You don’t want to allow oil to build up and cause your hair to appear greasy, nor do you want to remove the moisturizing and protective properties of your skin’s natural oils. Over-shampooing can dry out your hair causing breakage and dry out your scalp causing dandruff.

There is no definite one-size-fits-all rule to shampooing frequency (although some dermatologists note that the longest you should ever go without shampooing is about 14 days.) It’s best to evaluate your hair scenario daily. If your scalp feels itchy, if your hair looks oily, if you have a build-up of styling products in your hair, if you’ve just returned from the beach or pool, it’s probably time to shampoo.

If you shampooed a day or a few days ago, and your hair still looks good you can probably skip the shampoo. In fact, some types and styles of hair actually improve in appearance between washes.

Next time you prepare to bathe or shower, try to switch your brain off of autopilot! Instead of reaching for the shampoo, you may decide to reach for a shower cap or enjoy a water-only rinse.

Sources:

https://www.sciencealert.com/how-often-you-should-wash-your-hair-according-science
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/how-often-wash-hair#1

Keeping your hair healthy is an important part of maintaining your health. Many people think that keeping your hair health is a simple as avoiding harsh chemical treatments and making sure to get a trim a few times per year. While these types of maintenance practices are important, it doesn’t just end there, particularly if you have thinning hair or are beginning to experience hair loss.

Here are six ways that you can keep your hair healthy.

Maintain a healthy diet. Maintaining a healthy, protein rich diet is an important part of keeping your hair healthy. Science has shown levels of vitamin B and D to correlate with healthy hair in individuals. Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a Chicago-based dietitian, says “if you eat a healthy diet, you will grow stronger and healthier cells throughout your entire body—inside and out.”

Brush wisely. Always use a wide-tooth comb when you’re combing your hair. Begin at the root of your hair and gently bring the comb all the way to the end. If you feel that your hair is breaking remove the comb and try to disentangle the hair with your fingers. If at all possible, avoid brushing your hair when it’s wet, since that is when hair is at its weakest.

Dry safely. Avoid drying your hair with a blow dryer. Allow your hair to dry naturally. If you must use a blow dryer, only use it after your hair has dried naturally. Use the blow dryer just for a few minutes to help the hair get completely dry.

Consider your hair washing routine. Hair washing is particular to the type and integrity of your hair. If you have particularly oily hair, you may wash every day or every other day. For people with dryer hair, washing may occur as little as once a week. If you wash your hair daily, consider using a milder shampoo that won’t dry your hair out as much.

Trim your split ends. It is essential for women to get regular trims in order to rid their hair of split ends, says Valerie Monroe, Oprah magazine column writer. Many women don’t realize that untreated split ends become split hairs. You can identify a split end by looking at the ends of your hair. A split end will look exactly how it sounds: a single piece of hair that comes apart into two pieces at the very end

Be gentle with wet hair. As stated earlier, wet hair is more fragile than dry hair. Towel dry your hair very carefully when you get out of the shower. Refrain from brushing wet hair in order to prevent damage. Instead of brushing it when it’s wet, brush it well before you wash it. Not only will this help your hair remain unbroken it will also loosen dead flakes and skin from your scalp to help with cleaning during the shampooing process.

We don’t often take the time to care for our hair in a way that will allow it to get healthy and stay healthy. Try to budget a few minutes into your morning and evening schedule to spend some quality time tending to your locks. A few minutes every day may seem like a stretch, but it will be worth it the next time you look in the mirror.