Summer Hair Survival: Chlorine, Salt Water and the Canterbury Sun

Between the pool, the beach and a Canterbury sun that doesn’t hold back, summer is harder on your hair than any other season. Here’s what’s actually happening to it, and what helps.

What summer actually does to your hair

UV exposure breaks down the pigment in your hair much like it fades fabric left in a window — colour lifts, ends turn brittle, and hair that was smooth in October can feel rough and dry by January. Chlorine strips the natural oils that keep hair flexible, and repeated exposure over a summer of pool visits builds up on the hair shaft, which is often what turns blonde or lightened hair a dull green tinge. Salt water dries hair out fast, pulling moisture from the cuticle and leaving it feeling coarse once it’s out of the water and in the sun.

None of this happens from one swim. It’s the cumulative effect of a Canterbury summer — repeated sun, repeated chlorine, repeated salt water — that shows up as real damage by February.

Before you get in the pool or the sea

A few minutes’ prep before you swim makes a real difference to how much damage your hair actually takes on.

• Wet your hair with fresh water first. Hair absorbs water like a sponge — if it’s already saturated with fresh water, it soaks up less chlorine or salt water once you’re in.
• Add a leave-in conditioner or a light oil. This creates a barrier between your hair and the chlorine or salt, similar to how sunscreen works on skin.
• Tie it up. Less hair exposed to the water and the sun means less damage, especially at the ends where hair is oldest and most fragile.
• Rinse straight after. Chlorine and salt keep working on your hair until you wash them out — the longer they sit, the more damage they do.

Everyday sun protection, not just for swimming

You don’t need to be in the water for the sun to affect your hair — everyday exposure over a Canterbury summer adds up on its own. A UV-protectant spray before you head outside works the same way it does before swimming, and a hat does double duty, protecting your scalp and keeping direct sun off your hair on the days you’re outdoors for hours rather than minutes.

Colour-treated hair needs extra care

If your hair is coloured or lightened, summer is when it shows the most wear. Chlorine oxidises hair colour and can pull warmth out of blondes and brunettes alike, and UV fades colour from the outside in regardless of how well it was applied. A purple or blue toning shampoo used once or twice a week helps counter brassiness between salon visits, and a UV-protectant spray protects colour the same way it protects your skin.

If the damage is already done

By the time hair feels rough, dry or difficult to manage, home products can only do so much — they sit on the hair rather than repairing what’s happened inside it. A hair botox, keratin treatment or nanoplasty works from the inside, filling in the parts of the hair shaft that summer has stripped out, and all three make hair noticeably easier to manage afterwards. If you’re not sure which is right for your hair, our comparison of all three smoothing treatments explains the difference.

Common questions

Does chlorine really turn blonde hair green?

Yes — it’s usually copper from pool water bonding to the hair, not the chlorine itself, but chlorine makes hair more porous and more likely to pick it up. A clarifying or toning shampoo after swimming helps stop it building up.

Should I wash my hair every day in summer if I’m swimming a lot?

Rinsing with fresh water after every swim is worth doing, but daily shampoo can dry hair out further. A rinse, or a light conditioner-only wash, is usually enough between full shampoos.

Will a smoothing treatment protect my hair from summer damage, or just fix it afterwards?

Both. Hair botox, keratin and nanoplasty all strengthen the hair shaft, which makes it more resistant to the damage UV and chlorine cause over summer, not just a fix once it’s already dry and brittle.

Where can I get this done?

Hair services are done at our St Albans salon.