Chlorine + Natural Hair = Oh, No...

This weekend I went swimming played around in a pool for the first time in a long time. This being the first time swimming as a natural, I figured it would be okay to not wear a swimcap or anything because there were no chemicals in my hair for the chlorine to interact with. I really figured it would be okay if I just gave it a quick wash after I swam.

(Don't you dare laugh at my ignorance!) I ended up not washing it after swimming (I was in a hurry to get back to the party) and waited until Sunday morning to wash and condition my hair. Let's just say that me and Big Sexy are not on good terms right now. She's not soft at all, and I know I'm gonna have to do some serious work to get on her good side again.

Since I realized that this would not work and I do have plans to swim more this summer, I decided to look up the effects of chlorine and what steps could be taken to prevent this steel wool mess on top of my head. Here is what I found:

 

What is so terrible about pool water? Why is it so damaging? What is chlorine?

From Wikipedia:

Chlorine is a powerful oxidant and is used in bleaching and disinfectants. As a common disinfectant,

chlorine compounds are used in swimming pools to keep them clean and sanitary.

Chlorine being an oxidant, or an oxidizing agent, is what makes it so damaging to hair. How exactly? (If you don’t want to read all this, the main point is that “Chlorine=Bad for Hair”)

According to Chemical and physical behavior of human hair, someone named Allworden was the first to test the effects of chlorine on hair. He used wool fibers and exposed it to chlorine. The chlorine created bubbles and sacs across the surface of the epicutical, or the thin layer of material covering the hair of mammals  (that’s us ya’ll!! ).

These sacs form as a result of diffusion of chlorine water into cuticle cells and weaken the protein of the hair. The product of this reaction is unable to diffuse out, causing swelling which creates the sac. (source)

These chemicals, chlorine in particular, dehydrate the hair and are particularly harmful to natural hair as it is already pre-disposed to dryness.

Chlorine sucks away sebum, the natural oil our scalp produces to keep the hair healthy, and this causes the cuticle to dry out and crack. The end result is dry, brittle hair.

Here are a few tips to protect your hair as you swim!

1. Rinse Thoroughly

Before you jump in the pool, rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water.

Why? Think about a sponge. If you place a dry sponge in a puddle of water, it will absorb the water until it is saturated.

If you place a wet sponge in a pool of water, it will only absorb a small quantity of water. The sponge is already filled with water so there is no need to absorb the puddle water.

We want the hair shaft to be swollen and full of water before we hop in the pool. This way the hair does not absorb the

chlorinated water.

So, hop in the shower or rinse your hair over the sink so ensure it is saturated with regular tap water before hopping in the pool.

2. Apply Coconut oil to the hair.

Coconut oil protects and seals the hair cuticles. It also helps your hair retain moisture by sealing moisture into the hair shaft. I use Tukka Restorative Hair Treatment since it contains ingredients that not only seals, protects my hairs cuticle it also helps my hair retain moisture by sealing moisture into the hair shaft while nourishing and lubricating my hair at the same time.

3. Apply a conditioner

After the hair is saturated, apply a conditioner. Any cheap conditioner will do. Use conditioners that are for dry, damaged, chemically treated hair.

Apply a generous amount of the conditioner to hair, making sure to coat the length, roots and scalp.

Conditioner will not only moisturize the hair, it will also help protect the hair from the harsh pool water.

Do not rinse out the conditioner. We want the conditioner to protect your delicate hair strands!

4. Go for a Swim

If possible wrap the hair with Saran wrap and cover with a swim cap. Even if a bit water gets into the swim cap, the hair is well-protected.

5. Use a Chelating Shampoo

After swimming, rinse out the conditioner and pool water for at least 3-5 minutes and use a Chelating Shampoo. The chemicals in the shampoo “chelate” with the chlorine and rinse it out of the hair.

Popular Chelating Shampoos:

L’anza Swim & Sun Daily Shampoo, Joico K-Pak Chelating, Joico Resolve Chelating Shampoo, Nexxus Aloe Rid (with chelating gel), Nexxus Phyto Organics Kelate Purifying Shampoo, Ouidad Water Works, Artec Textureline Daily Clarifying Shampoo, Kenra Clarifying Chelating Shampoo, Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three, Aveda Detox.

[TORI'S NOTE: If you're like me, you have no idea what "chelate" means. Well according to the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, "'Chelate' means 'claw,' and chelated minerals have been chemically bonded, so that they figuratively hang on, like a claw, to amino acids (the building blocks of protein) or other organic acids. The theory is that this makes them more absorbable."]

6. Apply a Deep Conditioner

Apply a super moisturizing deep conditioner to the hair in sections, cover with a plastic cap and let penetrate for 20-30 minutes.

7. Seal and protect the hair cuticles

Sealing and protecting the hair cuticles helps the hair retain moisture.  Great oils to use are coconut oils and castor oil. Hair treatments that contain 100% natural ingredients are the best to use such as  Tukka Restorative Hair Treatment.

8. Use a Low/No Heat Method of Styling

To combat dryness, try air drying the hair in braids, twists or a bun or try setting your hair on roller, rods or curlers and allow the hair to dry overnight or air dry during the day. Try, if possible, to avoid using both a blow dryer and flat-iron or curling iron as the direct heat is especially drying to those who swim regularly. (source)