Chlorine and the effect it has on your hair is something to consider when residing in a warm climate. Jumping into the swimming pool tends to be a natural way to cool down as well as an excellent way to keep fit. If your swimming pool did not contain chlorine which is a chemical disinfectant. I certainly don’t think you would even contemplate going in for a dip.
Apart from the water in the swimming pool many countries are like Singapore in the aspect that they use a certain amount of desalinated water in their water systems. This also contains a certain amount of chlorine so even when washing your hair you will be getting a chlorinated rinse.
People very often decide to fit a filter on the tap water for health reasons but do not contemplate putting one on their shower.
After reading this you may in fact change your mind as regular exposure to chlorine can be a cause for a certain amount of hair damage.
Your Hair Seems Dull And Dry.
Hair has a natural oil coating which is called sebum. This sebum is produced so as to help protect your hair from damage and harsh weather conditions whilst also lubricating and giving a shine to your hair.
With regular exposure to chlorine you will find that the chemical will tend to strip away these natural oils. This is the reason your hair will have that dull lack lustre look.
Chlorine Is In Fact A Salt Solution.
Your hair is made of keratin and the reaction with chloride tends to weaken the chemical bonds between your hair fibres. Which help form the hair shaft. Once these bonds are broken your hair will become weak.
Chlorine is a salt solution once inside of your hair fibres the salt crystals will enlarge as your hair dries. So will change the structure of your hair.
This structure change can also effect the outside layer of your hair (cuticle) by separating and lifting the cuticle. So that instead of lying flat it will now tend to hinge out.
With a roughed up cuticle instead of being strong and protected your hair tends to become weak.
This means that it will lose moisture easily. Also the hair scales that now tend to stand out will be a poor reflector of light rays therefore giving your hair a visually dull look.
Swimming Pools Turn My Hair Green.
Most people believe this is due to the chlorine in the water but in fact this is only partly true.
In fact the main culprit here is caused by a high concentration of copper dissolved in the water.
This then mixes with the chlorine. Which produces a chemical combination that easily attaches itself to the cuticle layer of your hair.
All colors of hair will tend to take on a greenish tinge. On darker hair this will be difficult to notice. On the other hand the lighter and more porous your hair is the stronger the green color will appear.
How to Neutralize That Green In Your Hair.
Shampooing your hair with your favorite shampoo mixed with a little tomato ketchup will help tone out the green tinge. Apply when you first notice the green in your hair. The red pigment in the tomato sauce will in fact neutralize this green pigment.
My Colored Hair Fades Faster.
Chlorine does affect your natural hair color. But even more so if your hair has been chemically colored or in fact had any chemical services performed.
As chlorine is a mild bleach it will slowly lighten and change the color of your hair pigments. Be they natural or chemically infused.
Mind you what tends to increase the effect of the chloride even more. Is when coming out of the pool we have a tendency to then sit around and enjoy the rays of the sun for a while. The heat from the sun then increases the lightening effect of the chlorine.
5 Ways To Protect Your Hair.
No 1. Apply a small amount of oil as in coconut or argon into your hands and rub it over your hair before swimming.
No 2. If no oil wet your hair thoroughly before jumping in to the pool as this will slow down the absorption of the chlorinated water.
No 3. Use a bathing cap to keep the water from contacting your hair.
No 4. Shampoo your hair straight after swimming.
No 5. At home connect a filter to your shower.
Thank you for reading my post. I hope that you found it interesting.
