Hair Care for Year Round Swimmers in Alexandria
You swim laps three times a week. It is the best part of your routine. But your hair feels like straw. Your blonde has a green tint. Your scalp is itchy and tight. You wonder if you have to choose between swimming and healthy hair.
You do not. Swimming is not just a summer activity in Alexandria. Many people swim all year at indoor pools such as the year round indoor pool at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center and Aquatics Facility on King Street. With the right routine, your hair can stay healthy through every season of laps.
What Chlorine Does to Your Hair
It strips natural oils. Chlorine dries out your hair and scalp, leaving hair rough, frizzy and prone to breakage.
It weakens the cuticle. Repeated exposure lifts the outer layer of the hair, making it porous and fragile.
It can turn light hair green. That green tint usually comes from copper and other metals in pool water, not chlorine itself. Blonde, gray and lightened hair shows it most.
It fades color. Chlorine speeds up fading and brassiness in color treated hair.
It dries your scalp. Many swimmers notice itching and flaking.
Before You Swim
Wet your hair first. Hair that is already full of clean water soaks up less pool water.
Coat it. Dermatologists recommend applying a little oil or leave-in conditioner before swimming to create a barrier. A few drops of OWAY smooth'n glow hair serum on your lengths works well.
Wear a cap. A swim cap reduces how much pool water reaches your hair. Put your hair up loosely underneath.
After You Swim
Rinse straight away. Do not let pool water dry in your hair. Rinse thoroughly in the shower before you leave the pool.
Wash gently. Use a sulfate free OWAY hair bath to remove chlorine without stripping more moisture.
Clarify weekly. An OWAY purifying hair bath once a week helps remove chlorine, metals and hard water buildup.
Condition every time. Follow with a conditioner or OWAY mask to replace lost moisture.
Dry gently. Pat with a microfiber towel and keep heat tools on a moderate setting.
Color and Swimming
If you color your hair, book color well before a period of heavy swimming and ask about toning to correct any brassiness or green tint. We use O&M, a low-tox, ammonia free color line, and our Toner Service refreshes tone between appointments. Read more about why your hair color fades faster in winter.
Swimmer Hair Care at Holistic Hair Studio
Our Deep Conditioning treatment uses OWAY masks to restore moisture and strength, and our Scalp Purifying Treatment clears buildup from the scalp. Regular trims remove chlorine damaged ends before they split further. Swimmers from Old Town, Del Ray and across Alexandria trust our Powhatan Street studio to keep their hair healthy between laps. For more ways to rebuild damaged hair, read our complete guide to hair damage repair.
Your Swimmer Hair Checklist
Wet your hair before you swim
Coat lengths with a little serum or leave-in conditioner
Wear a swim cap
Rinse straight after swimming
Wash gently and condition every time
Clarify once a week
Book a Deep Conditioning treatment at Holistic Hair Studio in Alexandria
Book your appointment today and experience the transformative power of natural organic hair wellness at Holistic Hair Studio!
1433 Powhatan Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Book your appointment: 703-473-6864
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