Summer has rolled around again and it’s the perfect time of year to cool down with a nice swim in the pool. While you might love being in the pool, your hair isn’t a fan. That’s why it’s important to follow all the right steps to protect your hair.
7 Ways To Protect Your Hair While Swimming
1. Wear A Swim Cap
This tip shouldn’t surprise you since you would have seen a lot of swimmers wear them. You can’t opt for any old cap, though. The right swim cap must fit your head snugly and accommodate all of your hair.
If you have thick curls or are wearing a protective style, that’s not an easy feat so experts recommend looking for swim caps that are designed specifically for Black people.
2. Get Your Hair Wet
Regardless of how much moisture you might have in your hair before swimming, there will always be room for it to absorb the pool water and its chemicals.
As such, getting your hair saturated with clean, fresh water can help to stop that from happening. If you’re wearing a swim cap, wet hair can also be easier to manage.
RELATED: 4 Tips To Get Your Hair Pool Ready
3. Put Your Hair In Twists
After getting your hair wet, it’s recommended that you put it in plaits, cornrows, or twists. Doing this serves two functions.
Firstly, your hair will be more likely to fit under a swim cap if you’ve chosen to wear one.
Secondly, it won’t be as difficult to detangle your hair after your swim.
If you’ve opted not to rinse your hair, then consider using a protectant. There are several available on the market but you can use natural protectants like coconut oil as well. A good handful of your moisturizing conditioner will also do in a pinch.
RELATED: 4 Tips For Detangling Natural Hair
4. Rinse Your Hair Well
Once you’re done swimming, you’ll need to rinse the chlorine from your hair. Even if you took the right measures to