Picture this: It’s a sunny Summer afternoon in Chandler, Arizona. It’s 111 degrees outside, and the wind is blowing. When you step outside onto your back patio, you feel as though you’ve walked into a oven made of concrete. The heat seems to radiate from everywhere, and the breeze makes it even worse. Within five minutes of being exposed tot he outside world, you discover you’re sweating profusely. You’re not in the mood to binge Netflix shows for the rest of your day, but hanging out outside is clearly not an option (if you want to live). What do you do?
If you’re like most Arizonans, you decide to get in the pool! You might put on some music, fix a drink, and grab a good book to relax in the water. (Yes, it’s warm, but it’s certainly not as warm as the air around you! Besides, natives don’t go swimming until the water is at least 90 degrees anyway.) If you’re anything like me, you’re probably in the pool literally every second that you can be! There are so many benefits to enjoying the pool, but if you’re swimming as often as I am, there can be drawbacks too.
This week on the TouchUps Beauty Blog, we’ll be giving you some tips on how to keep your hair feeling soft and healthy during pool season!
Have you ever felt your hair after an afternoon in the pool and found it to be dry and feeling brittle? That nasty feeling is caused by chemical reactions that occur between the natural oils in your hair and the chlorine in your pool. Chlorine is primarily put in pools as a disinfectant to protect against E. coli and other bad, nasty little germs that might enjoy a dip in the pool. However, the chlorine also strips your hair of the natural oils it produces it protect itself from daily wear and tear. So, it is SUPER important that we keep as much of those oils in our hair as we can! One product that the TouchUps Team recommends is the Oi Oil.
Oi Oil is an absolute beautifying potion that will leave your hair feeling healthy and moisturized. Simply spray 2 to 3 spritzes into clean, damp hair, gently comb it through your strands to your ends with your fingers or a comb, and you’re good! This oil will form a protective layer around your strands, essentially waterproofing your hair and providing a protective barrier from chlorine damage. I would recommend spraying some of this oil into your hair before every trip to the pool or the beach!
Just like the oil, a leave-in conditioner can help create a protective barrier for your hair before getting in the pool! A favorite of ours, and a product that was also featured in our last post is the Oi All In One Milk! This is a very hydrating leave-in conditioner that can be used as a heat protectant as well as a pool protectant! You can also use the All In One Milk as a post-pool detangler! Just give your damp hair a few sprays of this and comb it through your hair with your fingers or a wet brush.
A good tip would also be to rinse off in the shower before you hit the pool! I know it may seem silly to take a shower before you get in the pool, but it can really help keep your hair healthy. Think of your hair as a sponge; when you take a dip in the pool, your hair is absorbing the water around it that contains harmful chlorine. If you get your hair wet before getting in the pool, your hair will have already absorbed a bit of water, and is thereby less likely to absorb the chlorine-filled water of the pool. (Your skin is also absorbent, so rinsing off before getting in the pool will keep your skin healthier, too!)
Just as you should rinse off before getting in the pool, you should make sure you shower and shampoo your hair right after you get out! Washing your hair after a swim can help remove the maximum amount of chlorine from your hair and prevent damage. If you have colored hair, be sure to use cool water and color safe shampoo! When you brush your hair after a shower or right after swimming in the pool, be sure to use a wide-tooth comb or a wet brush to prevent breakage. When your hair is wet, it’s a little weaker than normal, and much more likely to break if you brush it harshly. Give your beautiful hair the love it deserves!
Okay, folks! That’s all for this post. We hope you enjoyed this post, and if you think we’ve missed some important tips, contact us via email or our social media! Be sure to keep up with us on Instagram and Facebook to get the latest info on TouchUps Salon! Don’t forget to #JoinTheBeautyRevolution! Until next time!!!
