Published on
Updated
Reading 2 min.
In summer, we talk a lot about protecting our skin but much less about protecting our hair. However, between sea water, swimming pool water and the sun, they are put to the test. To protect them, a simple gesture has been revealed by two American dermatologists. Here is what it is.
The hair fiber is put to the test in the summer. Between the salt water of the sea and the chlorine of the swimming pool, not to mention the sun and the sand, it is difficult to keep your hair supple and soft, especially if you do not take care to protect it. And when it comes to the chlorine in the swimming pool, it is easy. Two American dermatologists provide valuable advice that is simple to apply and implement this summer.
Before taking a dip in the pool, wet your hair with fresh water.
To prevent your hair from absorbing too much chlorine, simply wet it with fresh water before swimming. This is the valuable advice given by Dr. Andrea Suarez, aka Dr. Dray, an American dermatologist on YouTube.
“When hair is wet, it is less likely to absorb chlorine than dry hair.” she says. This is because hair has a limited absorption capacity. If it is already full of soft water, it will absorb less chlorine.
The expert is not the only one to put forward this advice. Her colleague Debra Wattenberg, approves of this recommendation and gives other advice in the columns of the site Everydayhealth. For her, applying conditioner or hair oil would have the same effect.
Please note that these tips also apply to limiting the absorption of salt water when swimming in the sea. Finally, for those who don’t mind looking ridiculous, a swimming cap is still the best solution to protect your hair!
Why should you protect your hair from chlorine?
Chlorine dulls hair and damages the highlights of hair colors. It is therefore essential to limit its impact on hair, especially since it will be weakened by other elements in summer, such as the sun.
According to specialist hairstylists James Miju and Laura Polko, interviewed by Well and Good, this tip “helps reduce fading and drying damage that makes hair really brittle and prone to breakage” because of chlorine, but also salt.
After leaving the beach or the pool, it is essential to also rinse your hair with fresh water, again, before “put a leave-in conditioning spray in the hair, which will act as a buffer to help prevent this damage” conclude the hair experts.
Slideshow: Back from the beach: how to stay on top with wet hair?