Summer has rolled around again and it’s the perfect time of year to cool down with a nice swim in the pool. While you might love being in the pool, your hair isn’t a fan. That’s why it’s important to follow all the right steps to protect your hair.
This tip shouldn’t surprise you since you would have seen a lot of swimmers wear them. You can’t opt for any old cap, though. The right swim cap must fit your head snugly and accommodate all of your hair.
If you have thick curls or are wearing a protective style, that’s not an easy feat so experts recommend looking for swim caps that are designed specifically for Black people.
Regardless of how much moisture you might have in your hair before swimming, there will always be room for it to absorb the pool water and its chemicals.
As such, getting your hair saturated with clean, fresh water can help to stop that from happening. If you’re wearing a swim cap, wet hair can also be easier to manage.
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After getting your hair wet, it’s recommended that you put it in plaits, cornrows, or twists. Doing this serves two functions.
Firstly, your hair will be more likely to fit under a swim cap if you’ve chosen to wear one.
Secondly, it won’t be as difficult to detangle your hair after your swim.
If you’ve opted not to rinse your hair, then consider using a protectant. There are several available on the market but you can use natural protectants like coconut oil as well. A good handful of your moisturizing conditioner will also do in a pinch.
RELATED: 4 Tips For Detangling Natural Hair
Once you’re done swimming, you’ll need to rinse the chlorine from your hair. Even if you took the right measures to protect your hair before getting in the pool, some amount of chlorine can still linger.
Rinsing your hair with fresh water immediately after swimming will remove this chlorine and prevent damage.
Ideally, you should wash your hair after swimming. Either at the pool or when you get home. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible.
In this case, you should rinse your hair at the pool and dry it thoroughly while taking care to detangle it. Your hair shouldn’t be wet when you go to sleep and sleeping on a satin pillowcase helps to prevent damage.
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Whether it’s the same day or the next, you need to wash your hair. If you don’t swim often, a moisturizing shampoo works well.
For those who swim several times per month, though, it’s a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo once per month. A clarifying shampoo is designed to remove the build-up of products and chemicals. Follow up the shampoo with a moisturizing conditioner to encourage the health of your hair.
The final step for protecting your hair after a swim is using a leave-in conditioner. These conditioners will help to repair any damage your hair might still have suffered from being in contact with chlorine.
RELATED: 5 Summer Hair Hacks for the Natural Girl
Chlorine might be necessary for pool cleanliness but it wreaks havoc on hair. Black hair, in particular, can get very dry when exposed to chlorine for extended periods. This dryness can cause damage and significant breakage. This breakage is even more likely if you already have color-treated hair. While the extent of the damage can vary from one type of hair to another, chlorine exposure is never positive.
If you’re interested in going for a swim in the pool this summer, it will be essential to protect your hair. Before you jump in, make sure that you take these easy steps to keep your hair healthy.
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