Overexposure to sun, salt and chlorine can do significant damage to your hair. When you subject you hair to such conditions, sebum - oil that lubricates your hair shaft - can start to build up in your follicles. As time passes, your follicles can become blocked creating further damage to your hair. General Tips Your hair is like a sponge absorbing water. Before you get in the pool, wet your hair with non-chlorinated water.
If you allow it to absorb non-chlorinated water first, it won't be able to absorb so much chlorinated water in the pool. Always rinse your hair after swimming. Chlorine in many pools will not only dry out your hair but it will dull your color as well. After Swimming use a good 'clarifying' shampoo.
The main ingredient to look for is EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid). It is like a chemical claw that will remove chlorine from your hair. Don't brush hair when wet. Instead, comb it with a wide-tooth comb, working tangles out as you move from the ends toward the scalp. Don't over dry. When you blow dry, dry the hair until it is almost, but not completely, dry.
Leave some moisture in to prevent static. Use care when styling. Your hair will be better-off if you don't use styling appliances, but if you must - do not let your hair get too hot and avoid aggressive manipulation of your hair. In addition to applying sunscreen to your skin 30 minutes before significant sun exposure (which you always do, right?), if you are not going to wear a hat also apply sunscreen to your hair, and re-apply after swimming. Prevention is always the best policy. In the sun, wear a hat or cap to avoid sun damage.
Unfortunately, many people reading this article will have already suffered the agonies of damaged or unhealthy hair. It's important to stop further damage now, and get a repair program started. Drinking enough water every day is a good way to lubricate damaged or excessively dry hair.
Drink plenty of liquids like herbal teas, fruit juices, or sport drinks. Be moderate in your use of alcoholic beverages, coffee, and colas as they can cause dehydration to your hair and skin. Green Hair Most obvious on blondes, green hair is caused by substances such as nickel and chlorine that are found in swimming pools and in hard and well water. This condition also tends to affect repeatedly bleached hair. It is almost never seen in black hair, as the green becomes lost in the background color.
Green hair is most often caused by swimming pool water, especially where chloride treatment or copper algaecides are used. Green hair may also be the result of high levels of copper in pipes in your home. The chemical causing green hair could come from your water company's treatment plant, or from new copper piping at home. Green hair can even follow a long soak in a bath that has been cleaned with old bathroom cleaners containing high chloride levels. Green Hair Repair Rinsing with lemon juice may improve the color of your hair. In addition, consider this; shampoo as usual, but add 1/4 cup baking soda to your shampoo.
Shampooing with this mixture once a week it will not only remove all hair spray, styling gels, and other products, it will remove impurities from the water and lighten your hair. There are also a number of commercial products that can help remove green colour from your hair: an experienced hair stylist should be able to guide you. Shampoos are available that remove trace minerals. If they don't do the trick, a hair care professional can apply low-level bleach to your hair for about five minutes to remove any unwanted green color.
Roger Hall of COEGA Sunwear develops tips and clothing that provide you with Style, Comfort and Protection. Find out how to protect yourself with more popular FREE Tips for active women of all ages, available at: =>http://www.store.coegawear.com and select, 'Sun & Skin Care Tips' on the left-hand side of the page.
