Dryness "Chlorine is extremely bad for your hair," Donovan says. "It really dehydrates hair and can start to affect color, especially if you're on the blonde scale." Before jumping into the pool, wet your hair and apply conditioner or coconut oil, then put your hair in a swim cap, he suggests. These barriers will help prevent chlorine from wreaking too much havoc on your hair. If you don't have a swim cap, tie your hair in a bun at the top of your head so that you can protect the ends from getting wet, Elkhouri says.
"Rinsing off the chlorine immediately after leaving the pool, and before sitting and 'baking' your chlorine-exposed hair in the hot sun, is an effective way to avoid much of the damage caused by chlorine," Elkhouri adds. He also says you should use a sulfate-free detoxifying shampoo to get rid of mineral buildup. He likes Kevin Murphy Maxi Wash, $29.99, which detoxifies and smooths the cuticle with witch hazel extract and provides antioxidant protection with rosemary extract.
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