Have you ever come back from holiday with hair that's lighter, drier and coarse as a scouring pad… or with a slightly green tinge? You're not imagining it. And it's not just the sun.
Summer attacks your hair on several fronts at once, and almost all of it can be fixed – mostly for free. Here's what happens to your hair, plus the full menu of fixes, from the ones that cost nothing to the ones where a product comes in.
What summer does to your hair
The sun dries hair out and fades it: UV radiation breaks down keratin (the protein hair is made of) and lightens the pigment, which is why you come back lighter. Sea salt and pool chlorine open up the cuticle – the hair's outer layer – leaving it porous, rough and dull. And sweat and excess oil clog up the scalp. The result: dry, brittle hair with no shine.
The mystery of "green" pool hair
Here's the interesting bit: the green tinge isn't caused directly by chlorine. The real culprit is the copper in the water (from algaecides and pipes), which chlorine oxidises. That oxidised copper binds to the keratin in your hair and gives it a faint green tint. It's most noticeable on fair, porous or dyed hair, which absorbs it more easily.
The menu of fixes (from free to product)
1. The water trick (free). Before you get into the sea or the pool, wet your hair with clean water. If the hair fibre is already full of fresh water, it absorbs far less chlorine and salt.
2. Rinse as soon as you get out (free). Don't let your hair dry with salt or chlorine still in it. A quick rinse washes away much of the damage.
3. A swim cap if you swim a lot (cheap). Less glamorous, far less damage. If you practically live in the water, it makes a real difference.
4. A homemade clarifying rinse (DIY). Once a week, rinse with water and a splash of apple cider vinegar to help clear residue and limescale. Rinse well afterwards.
5. Hydrate the hair fibre. A hair mask or a few drops of oil on the ends before sun exposure creates a barrier and replaces what the sun takes away.
6. Wash with something that cares for your hair, not something that dries it out. Many supermarket shampoos clean too harshly and finish off the job of drying your hair. This is where a dedicated shampoo helps – our Hair Thickening Shampoo is one option, not an obligation. And if you want to go a step further, the Hair Thickening Serum helps strengthen hair from the root.
What about hair loss after summer?
There's a genuine seasonal shedding phase at the end of summer and the start of autumn: it's normal and usually settles down on its own. Summer's wear and tear (sun, salt, chlorine, less of a routine) can make that shedding more noticeable. Only worry if you're losing a lot of hair, it lasts more than a few months or you notice clear thinning patches; in that case, see a professional.
FAQs
Does the sun damage your hair? Yes. UV radiation breaks down keratin and lightens the pigment, leaving hair drier, more porous and more brittle.
Why does hair go green in the pool? It's not the chlorine directly, but the copper in the water, which the chlorine oxidises. That copper binds to the keratin and tints hair green, especially fair or porous hair.
Does summer speed up hair loss? There's a normal seasonal shedding phase at the end of summer. Accumulated damage makes it more visible, but it's not usually cause for concern unless it's very heavy or prolonged.
How do I wash my hair in summer without drying it out? Use a shampoo that cares for your hair rather than stripping it, always rinse after swimming and hydrate the hair fibre with a mask or oil before sun exposure.
Save this for before your next swim. And if you want to give your hair back what summer takes away, have a look at the hair loss collection.
Why summer ruins your hair (and how to fix it at home)
Have you ever come back from holiday with hair that's lighter, drier and coarse as a scouring pad… or with a slightly green tinge? You're not imagining it. And it's not just the sun.
Summer attacks your hair on several fronts at once, and almost all of it can be fixed – mostly for free. Here's what happens to your hair, plus the full menu of fixes, from the ones that cost nothing to the ones where a product comes in.
What summer does to your hair
The sun dries hair out and fades it: UV radiation breaks down keratin (the protein hair is made of) and lightens the pigment, which is why you come back lighter. Sea salt and pool chlorine open up the cuticle – the hair's outer layer – leaving it porous, rough and dull. And sweat and excess oil clog up the scalp. The result: dry, brittle hair with no shine.
The mystery of "green" pool hair
Here's the interesting bit: the green tinge isn't caused directly by chlorine. The real culprit is the copper in the water (from algaecides and pipes), which chlorine oxidises. That oxidised copper binds to the keratin in your hair and gives it a faint green tint. It's most noticeable on fair, porous or dyed hair, which absorbs it more easily.
The menu of fixes (from free to product)
1. The water trick (free). Before you get into the sea or the pool, wet your hair with clean water. If the hair fibre is already full of fresh water, it absorbs far less chlorine and salt.
2. Rinse as soon as you get out (free). Don't let your hair dry with salt or chlorine still in it. A quick rinse washes away much of the damage.
3. A swim cap if you swim a lot (cheap). Less glamorous, far less damage. If you practically live in the water, it makes a real difference.
4. A homemade clarifying rinse (DIY). Once a week, rinse with water and a splash of apple cider vinegar to help clear residue and limescale. Rinse well afterwards.
5. Hydrate the hair fibre. A hair mask or a few drops of oil on the ends before sun exposure creates a barrier and replaces what the sun takes away.
6. Wash with something that cares for your hair, not something that dries it out. Many supermarket shampoos clean too harshly and finish off the job of drying your hair. This is where a dedicated shampoo helps – our Hair Thickening Shampoo is one option, not an obligation. And if you want to go a step further, the Hair Thickening Serum helps strengthen hair from the root.
What about hair loss after summer?
There's a genuine seasonal shedding phase at the end of summer and the start of autumn: it's normal and usually settles down on its own. Summer's wear and tear (sun, salt, chlorine, less of a routine) can make that shedding more noticeable. Only worry if you're losing a lot of hair, it lasts more than a few months or you notice clear thinning patches; in that case, see a professional.
FAQs
Does the sun damage your hair? Yes. UV radiation breaks down keratin and lightens the pigment, leaving hair drier, more porous and more brittle.
Why does hair go green in the pool? It's not the chlorine directly, but the copper in the water, which the chlorine oxidises. That copper binds to the keratin and tints hair green, especially fair or porous hair.
Does summer speed up hair loss? There's a normal seasonal shedding phase at the end of summer. Accumulated damage makes it more visible, but it's not usually cause for concern unless it's very heavy or prolonged.
How do I wash my hair in summer without drying it out? Use a shampoo that cares for your hair rather than stripping it, always rinse after swimming and hydrate the hair fibre with a mask or oil before sun exposure.
Save this for before your next swim. And if you want to give your hair back what summer takes away, have a look at the hair loss collection.