Summer Hair Care: How to Protect Your Hair from Chlorine and Sun Damage

Ahh, summer. There’s nothing quite like lounging by the pool with a drink in your hand. But we’ve all been there the next day when our hair feels dry, lanky, and brittle. What’s that all about?

The answer is chlorine. Chlorine and your hair can be a bad combination, especially if you’re a frequent outdoor swimmer. Add in the excessive summer sun and you’ve got a recipe for a summer hair disaster.

But not to worry! This quick guide will explain why it’s important to avoid chlorine and sun damage to your hair, and how to protect your luscious locks while you get the most out of your summer.

Why is chlorine bad for hair?

Chlorine has an important job to do in summer. It kills all the harmful bacteria that loves to call swimming pools home. However, it is a chemical that can do a lot of damage.

When you spend a lot of time in the pool, the chlorine in the water strips your hair of the essential oils it needs to stay shiny and supple. Otherwise known as sebum, this hair-healthy coating prevents itchy, dry scalps and protects your natural hair color.

When chlorine gets involved, this sebum falls away, leaving your hair vulnerable to breakage, brittleness, and worst of all—sun damage.

Okay, what’s so bad about sun damage?

Sun damage wreaks all kinds of havoc on our hair. Think about it: Our hair’s not a fancy helmet, and it certainly isn’t designed to go to war. 

In the same way a sunburn leaves our skin (and our brains) feeling burned out, dehydrated, and ready to fall over, sun damage to hair causes brittleness, total dehydration, and split ends. In severe cases, long-term exposure to chlorine paired with sun damage can make hair fall out! 

Sun damage and chlorine damage is worse for people with dry hair, thin hair, or color-treated hair. But no matter your hair type or summer beauty routine, it’s important to give your hair the best protection it can get. 

How do I protect my hair from chlorine and sun damage?

Like most summer haircare and skincare, the trick to protecting your hair and skin comes down to rehydration. 

Your summer hair routine should involve a few different steps:

• Before you blow-dry, curl, or straighten your hair, use a high-quality heat protection cream, mousse, or spray.
• If you know you’ll be spending the day at the pool, apply a spray-on or rub-in hair oil before you jump in the water. Often, these products work best if you apply them to damp hair and let them air dry. 
• Get your hair wet before you get in the pool. A quick shower (you know, like the pool rules nobody follows suggests…) gives your hair a chance to absorb fresh water, limiting the amount of chlorine it absorbs from the pool. 
• If you have very dry or brittle hair already, consider wearing a swim cap in the water to protect your hair from chlorine. If you plan on lounging more than swimming, invest in a cute sun hat to protect your hair and scalp.
• After your pool day, shower with a gentle shampoo and conditioner packed with hair-healthy oils like avocado, coconut, or argan oil. 
• Apply a leave-in conditioner, hair oil, or hair repair treatment after cleaning up.
• If you’re a frequent swimmer, apply a hair mask at least once per week. A hair mask packs all those healthy oils and vitamins into your hair like a much-needed restorative smoothie. 

What are the best products for chlorine hair protection?

Ultimately, look out for products that are gentle on the scalp and contain lots of hair-healthy vitamins and oils. If you can, skip bleaching and color treatment during the summer to give your hair some extra oomph. 

Brands like Malibu C are specifically designed for people who spend a lot of time in the pool or at the beach. Here are a few of our favorite leave-in or post-swimming products to try out! 

Best Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner for Summer Showers: Malibu C Swimmers Wellness

Malibu C offers a hair-healthy, gentle shampoo and conditioner series called Swimmers Wellness. This top of the line 100% vegan conditioner is jam-packed with a miracle-working mixture of powerful proteins and antioxidants that infuse unmatched hydration into fried or tired hair. Try the shampoo here or the conditioner here! 

Best Heat Protection for Hair During the Summer: Joico Defy Damage Protective Shield Hair Treatment

This powerful leave-in hair protection offers a barrier against thermal styling, chemical pollution (like chlorine!!), and sun damage. Joico’s leave-in spray protects natural and dyed color from fading while leaving hair soft, shiny, and looking healthy. Give it a try here!

Best Hair Oil for Chlorine Protection: Agadir Argan Oil Hair Treatment

Designed for daily use, this leave-in hair oil offers maximum protection from sun and chemical damage without leaving your hair greasy or oily. As a bonus, this hair treatment nourishes the scalp, getting rid of that summer braid itch! Try it for yourself here!

Best Restorative Hair Treatment for Swimmers: Malibu C Mini Rehab kit for swimmers. 

This all-in-one kit contains travel size pouches of Malibu C’s “Swimmers Wellness” and “Miracle Repair” hair treatments. After swimming, use the Swimmers Wellness treatment to reverse chlorine damage and discoloration, then follow up with Miracle Repair to restore lost proteins and moisture. Get it here!

Best Hair Mask for Sun and Chlorine Damage: Malibu C Replenish Hair Masque

For a more intensive hair repair treatment, Malibu C offers a big-bottle version of their famous deep conditioning treatment. Once per week, apply a generous amount to damp hair and let it soak in all that hair-healthy goodness. Try it out here!

Now, let your hair care worries float away…

We hope you spend this summer dressed in your poolside best, enjoying those summer BBQs, pool parties, and days spent talking to no one and just chilling out in a lounge chair with a really good book.

Wherever the summer takes you this year, we hope you take Beauty Supply 123 along for the ride—or swim! 

Check out our full catalog to find other hair-healthy and skin-boosting products. And as always, reach out to our team with any questions you might have! We’re here to help!