Summer Lovin' Curls: Curl Care for Swimming

Sunny days are here again and nothing beats the heat like a dip in the water to keep you & your curls cool! How to take care of curls at the pool? How do I protect my curly hair from water?Learn some quick tips on how to prep your hair before taking that deep dive and how to make sure your hair is protected against damage from chlorine and other water loving contaminants.

Condish vs Chlorine

First step to protecting your curls against the pool is to wet your hair with a spray bottle to hydrate the strand in prep to further absorb. Once wet, you will want to add a light layer of conditioner to coat the hair to fight the chlorine from soaking in. If conditioner has been absorbed, this eliminates the chlorines ability to penetrate the plump & full hair strand.  Refresh & Detangle Spray is perfect for this as it is lightweight yet moisture rich, and will do the job without being too heavy handed. Deep Conditioner will also work here, but remember the goal is to just add a light layer.  Your hair strands are porous, and can have lots of breaks or little pits in the strand that will allow chlorine and water contaminants to penetrate the shaft. To minimize absorption, the conditioner naturally "fills in" those little gaps to create a smooth surface while keeping hair moisturized. Detangle using the slip of the conditioner to navigate the knots and tangles made worse by swimming and to thoroughly work conditioner from root top tip for full coverage or in this case, full protection.

Water & Oil Don't Mix!

Oil fights water without fail..it's the power of science! After adding conditioner for protection, grab your favorite hair oil, like Strength Oil, to add a light layer to your strands. This will create a barrier between the water and your hair strand, locking in the moisture and humectants from the conditioner and repelling the contaminants in the water you are swimming in. Strength Oil is an essential oil blend with Maracuja, Flaxseed & Lavender oils that provide a slight  level of sun protection benefit as it has a slim level of SPF, but also provides strengthening attributes to hair compromised by sun damage and environmental oxidation. 

Suns out, Buns out!

After applying products, time to tie it up! Putting hair in a bun will help the protection from the products linger as long as possible. If you are enjoying an extended or underwater swim, you may need to reapply, but you will be fine for a  quick dip or a swim where your you are cooling off with your head mostly above the waterline. A braid will also work if a bun is not an option.  Anything to keep the hair from free flowing in the water which will rinse the protection out quickly and encourage nasty tangles and knots.

Rinse & Repeat

As soon as swim time is over make your way to the shower to rinse out your hair as soon as possible. Shampooing & Conditioning with products that will rehydrate and replenish moisture are especially important for hair that has been in chlorinated or salt water. Our Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo and Deep Conditioner are the perfect combo to revive water beaten tresses. If swimming is a regular summer activity enjoyed multiple times a week during the warm temps, you may want to add our Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp & Hair Rinse to gently clarify strands removing deposits on the strand and restoring pH balance. Repair and revive hair with Vitamin C Hair Repair Mask for a moisture boost and reparative ingredients like Vitamin C technology that will restore moisture loss from dehydrating chlorine and pool chemicals, while replenishing softness and shine. Also included in the this restorative formula, is Murumuru Butter which is rich, creamy and will deeply moisturize, repair damage and improve manageability.

 Have fun in the sun & protect you curls while you enjoy the summer splash scene!