What Chlorine Is Really Doing To Your Skin and Hair

Excessive Dryness

This occurs in both your skin and hair with prolonged chlorine exposure. When your locks become wet with chlorinated water, the root of each hair strand absorbs the chlorine. This strips your hair of natural oils and lubricants, so if you swim frequently your hair needs extra protection. Excessively dry hair due to chlorine can cause your hair cuticles to crack, leading to pesky split ends and hair breakage. You can reduce the effects of chlorine on your hair by wetting it with clean water prior to swimming in chlorine. You can also coat your hair with a conditioner or serum first to help protect those strands. Using a swim cap offers some protection, but it’s best to wash your hair immediately after swimming in a chlorinated pool.  

This Chlorine Green Though

This probably comes as no surprise to those of us who spent lots of time in the pool as kids, before saltwater alternatives were really an option to replace chlorine in backyard pools. A lot of us ended up with hair that took on a greenish hue, especially those of us with blonde or light hair. Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t necessarily caused by the chlorine itself, but by the chlorine’s interaction with copper pipes and other metals. (Weird, we know.) Chlorine causes small amounts of copper to enter water, and therefore your hair – causing it to develop that green tint.  As interesting as this science experiment may be, we don’t really want our hair to turn green this way. Luckily there are lots of shampoos on the market designed for swimmers for this very purpose. Protecting your hair prior to swimming can help prevent any green in your lovely locks.

Aggravating Acne

Though chlorine can dry out the skin, this isn’t necessarily a good “cure” for acne (a common myth). Initially, with minimal exposure, those who suffer from acne may see an improvement after swimming in chlorine. But repeated exposure to chlorinated water can causes excessive dryness, and therefore can certainly aggravate existing acne.  If your skin becomes too dry, oil production is then kicked into overdrive. And as we all know, excess oil can clog pores and therefore cause more acne. If you suffer from acne or break outs, just be sure to be kind to your skin and moisturize after swimming.

Natural Remedies For Chlorine

Believe it or not, you probably already have these remedies in your pantry or kitchen, Apple cider vinegar acts as a natural clarifier, and is perfectly safe and effective to use in freshly washed hair. Just pour it through your hair and rinse it well.  Using coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil in combination with cocoa or shea butter can serve as a natural, thick body butter that soaks into your skin and truly soothes it from the effects of chlorine after swimming.

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