There is a difference between sea, lake and pool water. The most important thing after swimming is a thorough hair wash.
The experts tell you in which water your hair feels good and when you need to protect your hair before and after swimming. Unsplash
August is getting warm. Many people go abroad to enjoy their holidays. It’s wonderful to lounge in the pool and enjoy a dip in the lake after the sauna in the dark evening. Swimming in the sea is always its own experience, both at home in Finland and at holiday destinations.
No matter what kind of water it is, it refreshes and brings a good feeling to the whole body. However, water of different quality can be harmful to hair. Namely, lake, sea and pool water can be distinguished from each other on the basis of hardness.
The experts tell you in which water your hair feels good and when you need to protect your hair before and after swimming.
Hair scientist Annikki Hagros-Koski list the waters in order of priority: lake water first, then sea water and lastly pool water. Hagros-Koski, the founder of the Hair Academy, has been studying the hair of Finns for decades.
Lake water shines in that it is the softest of the three, which means the water is the gentlest for the hair. The lake water is also reasonably cleanpta.
– Clean water is the best for the hair, but it’s hard to find such clean water anywhere anymore.
Hair feels and looks different depending on whether you’ve been swimming in the sea or a lake. iStock
According to a hair scientist, acidified lake water is even better for hair than tap water.
Barber-hairdresser Anu Purojärvi according to the sea water is hard, which is due to the salts. Sea water combined with a hot day dries and damages the hair even more. Salt also roughens the hair.
– Especially the warm air and the oxygen in it and the sun damage the hair, says Purojärvi.
Purojärvi and Hagros-Koski recommend washing your hair immediately after swimming in the sea.
Surprising chemicals
Hair scientist Annikki Hagros-Kosken according to the pool water may be even worse than sea water because of its alkalinity.
There is a layer of scales on the surface of the hair, which opens when the hair gets wet. Then the hair is more susceptible to external chemicals and pollutants. Alkalinity opens the hair scales on the surface of the hair, while acidic water closes them.
The waters can be ranked according to their pH value. The pH of hair and skin should be exactly 4.7. Sea and pool water have a higher pH value and are therefore not good for hair.
The acidity of lake water is the closest to the desired value.
Anu Purojärvi emphasizes how important it is to wash your hair with shampoo immediately after swimming. Preferably twice. Studio Varjo / Pasi Hakala
In addition, pool waters contain chemicals that can surprise you violently. Purojärvi has personal experience:
– I was swimming in the indoor pool, and when I got out of the water, my bleached hair had turned mint green from the ends.
In addition to chlorine, other strong cleaning chemicals that affect hair are used in pools, spas and other indoor pools.
Thorough wash and conditioner
It is important to protect the hair before and after wetting the hair.
The most important thing after swimming in any water is to wash thoroughly as soon as possible after swimming. Anu Purojärvi, owner of the Jyväskylä hair salon Verstaa, recommends washing your hair twice.
– Especially if you have swum in the pool water.
During the first wash, the shampoo is rubbed well into the head and foamed properly. Shampoo opens the surface of the hair. The second time the hair is properly cleaned. After shampooing, it is important to use an effective conditioner that protects the hair. Otherwise, the hair may feel rough after washing.
A deep cleansing shampoo is the best option when impurities have clearly accumulated in the hair. It washes away minerals and iron, which can be present especially in lakes.
You can wet your hair without worry, as long as you remember to clean and care for it carefully. Unsplash
Since it is important that the hair’s scale surface is closed after washing, conditioner is the solution for this. Hagros-Koski advertises a conditioner. It closes the surface of the hair, protects and does not leave the hair rough.
Purojärvi adds that it would be good to use leave-in hair conditioners, especially before taking a dip in the seawater, so that the hair is not unnecessarily exposed to pollutants and the sun.