How to Fix Chlorine Damaged Hair

Before we look at how to fix chlorine damaged hair, lets talk about what causes it. Chlorine is a necessary evil in swimming pools for disinfecting the water – unfortunately, though, it can have detrimental effects to your hair. It can leave it extremely dry, fragile, and susceptible to breakage. There’s also the dreaded green hair.
The good news though, is that chlorine hair damage is actually preventable to some extent. The truth is, infrequent exposure to chlorine is not going to take much of a toll on your hair either. Don’t worry – even if you do swim a lot and already dealing with damage, we’re here to walk you through how to fix chlorine damaged hair. Discover top tips below, including the best chlorine shampoo at My Haircare & Beauty!

Does Chlorine Damage Hair?

So, does chlorine damage hair? It certainly can. But how does chlorine damage hair? If it’s strong enough to kill bacteria, you can imagine just how harsh it is on your hair! It strips away natural oils and causes dryness.
Freshwater actually hydrates hair – but chlorine binds to the hair shaft and weakens the protective cuticle. This increases porosity over time and leaves your hair more prone to breakage, frizz, and colour fading.

Signs of Chlorine-Damaged Hair

You’ll probably notice the signs of chlorine hair damage pretty quickly. They include:

• Dryness and Brittleness: Chlorine strips natural oils from hair, leaving it dry and prone to breakage. The strands may feel rough or straw-like to the touch.
• Increased Frizz and Tangles: Maybe you’re wondering, why does my hair tangle so easily? Hair cuticles damaged by chlorine don’t lie flat, so hair becomes frizzy, difficult to detangle, and more susceptible to split ends.
• Faded or Discoloured Hair Colour: Blonde hair often shows a greenish tint due to chlorine’s reaction with metals in the water. Dark or colour-treated hair can also become dull and faded.
• Weakened Hair Strands: Hair may start snapping easily, especially when brushing or styling. This goes back to chlorine, weakening the hair shaft’s internal structure.
• Scalp Irritation: An itchy or excessively dry scalp after swimming may be the result of chlorine stripping away its natural protective barrier.

The earlier you recognise these signs of chlorine-damaged hair, the easier it will be to prevent further damage and reverse the toll this disinfectant has taken.

Who is Most at Risk for Chlorine Damage?

Some hair types are more vulnerable to chlorine damage than others. You’ll need to take extra precautions if you have:

• Blonde or Colour-Treated Hair: Chlorine can turn blonde hair green while also fading artificial hair dye.
• Curly or Coarse Hair: Naturally dry hair types absorb more chlorine, so they’re even more prone to dehydration and frizz.
• Thin or Fine Hair: These types lack the density to withstand repeated exposure, so they’re more prone to breakage and split ends.

Of course, those who swim regularly are going to be more at risk than those who just take a dip every now and then. But if you’re really worried about chlorine hair damage, don’t be. We’ll share some preventive measures you can try below.

How to Prevent Chlorine Hair Damage

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. While we’ll show you how to fix chlorine damaged hair in a moment, why not avoid it altogether with these tactics?

Wear a Swim Cap

A swim cap provides the best defence against chlorine damage by creating a physical barrier between your hair and the pool water. No cap is 100% watertight, but a well-fitted silicone or latex cap can go a long way in minimising the amount of chlorine your hair absorbs.

Apply a Protective Hair Oil or Leave-In Conditioner

Even if you do wear a swim cap you might want to consider coating your hair with a nourishing oil or leave-in conditioner before swimming. This basically creates a shield against chlorine, making it harder for the water to penetrate the hair shaft. Your options include:

• Coconut oil: Forms a natural protective barrier while hydrating the hair.
• Argan oil: Helps prevent frizz and seals the cuticle against chlorine absorption.
• Leave-in conditioner: Provides a lightweight, water-resistant layer that keeps hair soft and manageable.

Rinse Hair with Fresh Water First

Make it a habit to go in the shower first and wet your hair using clean tap water before entering the pool. This will prompt your hair to absorb the water and make it more difficult for chlorine to penetrate into your hair strands once you swim in the pool. Your hair acts as a sponge; by saturating it with water, you can prevent chlorine from being absorbed by your hair.

Rinse Hair Immediately After Swimming

It’s easy to want to kick back and relax when you get out of the pool, but letting the chlorine linger in your hair can increase the damage it does. 
That’s why we recommend you rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water as soon as you get out of the pool to wash away chlorine before it has time to dry and bond to the hair shaft.

Choosing the Right Swim Hair Products

The products you use in your haircare routine can make or break your resilience to chlorine. Here are a few essentials for preventing chlorine-related dryness and damage:

• Clarifying shampoo: Removes chlorine buildup and prevents it from lingering on your hair.
• Hydrating hair masks: Restore lost moisture and keep hair soft.
• Sulfate-free shampoos: Gentler on the scalp and hair, reducing further stripping of natural oils.

Here at My Haircare & Beauty, you’ll discover some of the best hair masks and shampoo for damaged hair. Shop top brands like Joico shampoo, Goldwell shampoo, Keune shampoo, Davines shampoo, and many, many more at the lowest prices in Australia.

How to Fix Chlorine Damaged Hair

If chlorine has already caused damage to your hair, causing it to become straw-like in texture, look bleached, or have dry ends, don’t fret. You can revive your hair to its pre-chlorine damage state using these tips on how to fix chlorine damaged hair.

Clarifying and Detoxing the Hair

First things first, you need to eradicate any chemical build-up on hair strands and the scalp. This is where a clarifying shampoo comes in. We have some great options for you here at My Haircare & Beauty, including sulfate-free formulas that won’t strip away moisture. 
Our anti-frizz shampoo and moisturising shampoo selections are some of the best for undoing chlorine hair damage. Any deep cleansing shampoo should do the trick.
Or, you could take a DIY approach using a diluted apple cider vinegar or baking soda rinse to neutralise chlorine and rebalance the hair’s pH. Mix one part ACV or baking soda with three parts water, apply, let sit for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Sometimes, you might need something more intense if you swim frequently and struggle with severe build-up. Salon treatments such as chelating shampoos or swim-specific detox treatments can restore hair faster.
Whatever approach you take, do clarifying treatments once a week until you notice a difference in your hair’s health.

Deep Hydration and Repair Treatments

Replenishing lost moisture is the next step in restoring your hair’s health since this chemical strips natural oils and leaves hair rough, brittle, and prone to split ends.
A nourishing hair mask isn’t just a great preventative measure. You can use it for damage repair, too. Prioritise formulas with argan oil, shea butter, keratin, or hyaluronic acid. You may need a protein repair mask to strengthen damaged strands if your hair feels weak or gummy when wet.
You can also leverage leave-in conditioners with aloe vera, coconut oil, or jojoba oil to help seal in moisture and keep hair soft between washes. Deep conditioning should be done once or twice a week until hair feels soft and manageable again. 

Restoring Hair Colour and Shine

Chlorine doesn’t just dry out hair; it can also affect hair colour, especially in blonde and colour-treated hair. Fortunately, you can fight off those green tints, brassiness, or fading and get back to your original lustre. 
Use a blonde shampoo to neutralise unwanted tones. We have some great shampoo for coloured hair here at My Haircare & Beauty, so learn about the best shampoo and conditioner for blonde hair in our blog.
You’ll need other colour-treated hair care products, too, though. A hair gloss or clear glaze treatment can restore shine, lock in moisture, and refresh faded colour. If nothing else, you might just need to re-dye your hair. We have a great selection of semi-permanent hair colour, demi-permanent hair colour, and permanent hair colour.

Long-Term Hair Health After Chlorine Exposure

There are a few other things we want to recommend for how to fix chlorine damaged hair as well. You should schedule a trim every 6-8 weeks to remove damaged ends and prevent further splitting
We also encourage you to minimise the use of flat irons, hair straighteners, and blow dryers if you can – heat can worsen dryness. You should use the lowest temperature setting and apply a heat protectant if you must use these. 
Healthy hair starts from within, too. Eating foods rich in biotin, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants will support stronger, healthier hair growth. You might want to get a supplement if your diet is lacking these key nutrients.

Final Words on How to Fix Chlorine Damaged Hair

That does it for our guide on how to fix chlorine damaged hair. While chlorine hair damage is a common concern, it’s actually quite easy to avoid in the first place. Follow our tips to protect your luscious locks, locking in hydration and preserving colour.
If it gets to the point where you need to address long-term damage, though, we hope these insights help you restore your hair’s natural texture and lustre. We have the products you need to get back to looking and feeling your best at My Haircare & Beauty. So revive, repair, and restore your hair – or protect it from harm in the first place. Take your hair from dry and damaged to divine today!

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