You might recognise the greenish hue left by chlorine in blonde or colour-treated hair, but that isn’t always the case. So, what is actually happening to your hair when it comes into contact with chlorine? “When chlorine is left in your hair, it strips away essential natural oils (sebum) that help keep your scalp and strands healthy and hydrated,” explains Faye Purcell, head of research & development at Q+A. “Pool water also carries dissolved minerals and metals, like copper from algaecides or old pipework, which deposit more easily once the cuticle is roughened by chlorine exposure.”

It’s important to note that while some hair will react with a green colour, not all hair will, and this is not the only sign of chlorine damage. “Left in, chlorine keeps oxidising the hair leading to dryness, brittleness and the longer it sits, the more it compounds: colour fades faster, texture becomes rougher,” adds Antonia Cometa, founder of Tone Soho.

If you’re noticing a rough, dry texture to your hair after swimming (and even if you aren’t), Faye advises immediately washing your hair after coming into contact with chlorine. “The most effective way to deal with chlorine exposure is a clarifying shampoo containing gentle chelating agents, like sodium phytate or sodium gluconate,” she says. “These ingredients bind to mineral and metal deposits, including copper, left behind by pool water and lift them away.”

She suggests Q+A Clarifying Shampoo and Clarifying Conditioner as a duo to gently remove the chlorine and reintroduce moisture back into the hair follicle. L’Oréal Professionel Metal Detox Professional Shampoo and Ouai Detox Shampoo are also great choices that will gently remove unnecessary metals without damaging the hair further.

Antonia adds, “follow with a deep conditioning treatment, since clarifying shampoos can be drying on their own.” More on that below.

Q+A Clarifying Conditioner

L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Professional Shampoo

If you’ve acted quickly to remove chlorine from your hair, you don’t need to worry about any long-term damage, but you may be suffering from green-tinged ends. Don’t be tempted to try and fix this yourself – especially not with home remedies – warns Antonia. “See a professional rather than trying to fix greenish tones at home,” she says. “Pulling oxidised copper out incorrectly can shift colour unpredictably and no one wants to be doused in ketchup.”

To restore your hair to its natural silky texture, it’s a good rule of thumb to replenish any lost moisture post-swim. Faye suggests a hair mask or deep conditioning treatment “rich in lipids, fatty acids or amino acids” – look out for hydration heroes like argan oil, jojoba oil or shea butter.

Finally, Faye recommends taking an extra step to protect your hair while it’s recovering. “It’s vital to take a break or cut back on heat styling, as well as any chemical treatments like bleaching, colouring or perming,” she says. “Also, if you’re noticing an increase in split ends because of the damage, the most effective solution is a small trim to remove the unsalvageable damage and prevent the splits from travelling further up the hair shaft.”

Gallery9 Photos

By Denise Primbet, Emma Hobday and Humeara Mohamed

You may have previously heard that soaking your hair with (non-chlorinated) water before getting in the pool can help to protect it from chlorine and that’s absolutely right, but how does it work? “Your hair acts like a porous sponge and can only absorb a certain amount of liquid, so if it’s already saturated with clean water, it will absorb less chlorinated water,” explains Faye.

For that bit of extra protection, she also suggests applying a small amount of leave-in conditioner or hair oil to your wet hair before swimming. “This creates a temporary hydrophobic (water-repelling) barrier that shields against chlorine clinging to your hair strands.” Philip Kingsley Swimcap Chlorine Hair Protection Water Resistant Mask is specifically designed for this, but don’t feel like you need to fork out if you’re not at the pool that often.

In fact, if you’re forgetful or not up for the faff of the pre-pool routine, Antonia’s advice is more straightforward. “I just tell my clients to tie up their hair when possible with a silk scrunchie and avoid dipping their head in altogether until you reach the beach,” she says. That works too!

According to Faye, chlorine remaining in your hair long-term is a common misconception. “It reacts with the hair’s surface and gradually dissipates, rather than binding permanently to the hair shaft,” she explains. “What does build up over repeated swims is mineral and metal residue from the pool water, particularly calcium, magnesium and copper, which cling to the roughened, more porous cuticle left behind by chlorine exposure.”

While the scalp will naturally replenish oils over the following few days, the mineral buildup will remain – even after washing with water. “It needs to be actively removed with a shampoo designed to lift mineral deposits,” she adds.

Now that you know everything there is to know about how to get chlorine out of hair, you can enjoy your summer and swim freely without having to worry about hair damage!