How to Protect Black Hair from Chlorine Damage

With summer well under way, it's time to seriously consider protecting black, textured hair against chlorine damage. Sisters who swim regularly (more than once a week) tend to be keenly aware of chlorine's negative effects, but those of us who only spend a few hours in the pool here and there should also be aware of chlorine's affect on black hair and hair structure. Chlorine damage can lead to dry, breaking, discolored hair-especially for those with black, color treated or chemically relaxed tresses. Try these steps to protect your black, textured hair from chlorine damage.

How Chlorine Damages Black Hair
The hair's cuticle, its outer protein layer, is most affected by chlorine damage. Black, textured hair is especially vulnerable to chlorine problems. Color treated and relaxed hair must be given special support to ensure it can withstand heavy chlorine contact and treatment. Chlorine destroys the hair's sebum, the material that naturally coats and nourishes the hair fiber. With no sebum, the hair fiber and cuticle may begin to crack and split. Repeated washing may exacerbate the problem, so if you plan to add swimming permanently to your regimen-a plastic swimming cap may be in order. Because most black hair has sebum transport issues along the fiber-- meaning sebum isn't able to travel the fiber as easily due to the texture, extra precautions must be taken to ensure that the hair is adequately protected from chlorine damage.

To prevent chlorine damage to black hair:

1.) Never get into a pool with dry hair.
Prep the hair by completely soaking it in fresh water. Alternatively, you may rinse the hair in fresh water, then coat it in a lightweight cheapie conditioner like Suave. Hair can only absorb so much water. Black hair, which tends to be naturally porous tends to absorb a lot of moisture. You want the water absorbed to be fresh water, not chlorinated water. Saturated hair will take in very little chlorine.

2.) When possible, avoid swimming in braids.
While braids are an easy summer style and can be managed carefully within a regimen that involves swimming, it is often difficult to ensure that all traces of chlorine are out of the hair when its braided. Even if treated well, braided hair can come out weak, limp and damaged when it has been exposed to chlorine.

3.) Properly detangle the hair before and after getting into a chlorinated pool.
Proper detangling textured hair prior to getting in the pool will prevent knotting that can lock in once cuticles are wet and raised. Detangling properly afterward prevents matting and dreading that can occur once the hair begins to dry.

4.) Chelate or clarify the hair.
Clarifying and chelating shampoos will help remove stubborn chlorine deposits. Chelating shampoos are stronger than clarifiers and are able to lift a variety of "metals" from the hair including copper and others that can make the hair dull and dry.

5.) Reconstruct with protein.
Because chlorine disturbs protein bonding along the cuticle, protein reconstructors are perfect for post swimming upkeep. These conditioners will smooth and give the hair an added layer of strength and protection.

6.) Deep condition textured hair with a moisturizing conditioner.
Always follow a protein reconstruction treatment for correcting chlorine related issues with moisture to restore your hair's pliability and replenish some of the moisture lost to it.

7.) Reduce heat in your regimen.
Heat and chlorine do not mix, especially for those with black, textured hair types. Chlorine already disturbs your hair's protein bonding, and heat only alters and strains it further. The combination can mean very weak, dry, crispy feeling hair.

Try these tips whenever you think you'll be coming in contact with chlorinated pool water. Good luck!