Pool season is officially here, and while your summer plans probably include plenty of time in the water, your hair may need a little help along the way. We sat down with Graeber & Company stylist Meagan Sage, who spent 17 years as a competitive swimmer and has been a stylist for over a decade, to talk about what chlorine actually does to your hair and the simple habits that make all the difference.
The Most Important Step Happens Before You Get In
If you take one thing away from this guide, let it be this: wet your hair before you swim.
“I always say pre-wet, pre-soak,” Meagan says. “Have that sponge soak up as much clean water, as much moisture as humanly possible, and then get in the water.”
Hair works a lot like a sponge. When it is already saturated with clean water, there is less room for chlorinated water to absorb into the strand. Pre wetting your hair and applying a leave-in conditioner before you swim adds a layer of protection by coating the hair and sealing the cuticle.
If you have long hair or extensions, wear it up. Claw clips, scrunchies, hats, and bandanas all help, especially on days when you are out in the sun for hours at a time.
The Habits That Cause the Most Damage
According to Meagan, most chlorine damage comes down to a handful of avoidable habits:
- Skipping the pre-wet. Dry hair absorbs chlorinated water quickly, and that is where the trouble starts.
- Letting sunscreen get into your hair. It builds up and is difficult to remove.
- Forgetting sunscreen on your scalp. Your part line burns just like the rest of your skin.
- Not brushing after you swim. “Don’t let it [chlorine] bake in there. Don’t let it dry into your hair,” Meagan says. Rinsing and brushing after the water keeps chlorine and tangles from setting in.
Does Chlorine Really Turn Hair Green?
True and false. Chlorine alone will not turn your hair green. The green tint comes from chlorine reacting with hard water minerals and buildup already present in the water and on your hair. Remove either part of that equation and the green goes away. This is one more reason a weekly clarifying wash matters during swim season.
Can You Swim with Color-Treated Hair?
Yes and no. If your color is fresh, meaning within the last 24 hours, stay out of the pool and any other body of water. Beyond that window, you can swim as long as you are thoughtful about it. Pre-wet with something moisturizing, wear your hair up, and be as kind to it as possible.
And one myth worth retiring: swim caps do not keep your hair dry. “I swam competitively for 17 years, and not once did that swim cap keep my hair dry,” Meagan says. “That’s not its job. It’s to keep your hair in place, out of your face.”
Already Dealing with Chlorine Damage? Here Is the Reset
Treating chlorine-damaged hair is a cycle, not a one-time fix. The routine is a weekly clarifying wash followed by a deep conditioning treatment, repeated consistently through the season.
Start with a clarifying shampoo. Aveda Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo and Oribe The Cleanse are both excellent options. Do not be afraid to get in there with two or three washes to remove buildup, but keep it to once a week. Clarifying after every single swim only adds more dryness. Use your regular hydrating shampoo throughout the week, then do a Sunday night reset: clarify, then follow with a rich treatment.
Will the damage come out completely? Probably not all of it. It fades with time and eventually gets trimmed away. But a consistent clarify-and-hydrate cycle will pull out most of it and keep your hair feeling healthy in the meantime.
Your Three-Step Summer Swim Routine
- Pre-wet and protect. Saturate your hair with clean water, then apply your leave-in or regular conditioner before you get in.
- Rinse and wash after. Get the pool water out as soon as you are done, and brush it through.
- Clarify and treat weekly. One clarifying wash and one deep conditioning treatment, once a week.
One Product That Does the Heavy Lifting
If you want a single product to carry you through the season, Meagan recommends Aveda’s One For All Leave-In Elixir. It works as a leave-in conditioner and detangler, seals the cuticle, evens porosity, adds shine, and includes UV protection.
Her poolside routine with it is simple: wet your hair down, apply five sprays from the mid-lengths to the ends, wrap it up, and get in the water. Rinse when you are done, follow with a couple more sprays, and you are set. As Meagan puts it, “Easy peasy.”
A Note for Swim Families
These steps work for little ones too, and they make a real difference. Pre-wetting and conditioning before the pool means easier brushing, easier detangling, and a lot less squirming afterward.
One more thing worth knowing for anyone swimming daily: if hair stays damp day after day without fully drying, moisture can get trapped at the scalp, particularly underneath at the nape. Over time that can lead to mildew, irritation, and in more serious cases fungal issues and hair loss. It is more common with curly or high-density hair, or for anyone who washes often and only air dries. The fix is simple. Make sure your hair dries fully between swims.
Why Summer Deserves the Extra Attention
Summer is the single biggest environmental stressor on hair. Heat, chlorine, sun, and everything we do to our hair this time of year add up quickly. It is also the season when hair grows the most, so it is worth protecting all that new growth rather than damaging it as fast as it arrives.
Not sure where to start? Ask your stylist at your next visit. We are happy to look at what your hair needs and build a summer routine that fits your life. Stop by the salon to shop our current summer favorites, or book your next appointment and we will get you set up before your next swim.