Summer is right around the corner, our kids are off of school, and the likelihood of us jumping into a pool is much greater. While we may have differing opinions on sunshine, humidity, and warm temperatures, I think we can all agree that a dip in the pool is a great way to stay cool! We have so much fun that we oftentimes forget how much damage chlorine can cause to our hair! If you have color-treated hair and/or blonde hair, you might be deathly afraid of chlorine creating a green tint to your hair and even if you’re not color-treated and/or blonde, the tangles and dryness alone can be quite a frustrating issue for us. In today’s blog, we will simply talk about 1 category of product that is a must have this summer in our shower’s, gym bags, etc. that will give your hair its best chance at feeling clean and soft, while looking non-faded and shiny. 

While there are other essential products, such as leave-in conditioners and deep conditioning masks, that will assist you in restoring any damage from chlorine, we will begin by talking to you about “chelating shampoo”, also known as clarifying shampoo or deep cleansing shampoo. Chelating shampoos are formulated with the intention to cut through and strip mineral deposits and chemical buildup. Due to the natural porosity in our hair, it is actually quite easy for chlorine and other minerals to deposit into those nooks and crannies in the hair shaft. For this reason, those with recently chemically treated or lightened hair are advised to first seal the porosity and wait some time before jumping into pools. However, this isn’t always known or at the forefront of our minds and according to Melissa Ma, manager of Han’s Beauty Stor in La Canada Flintridge, her store will see a dramatic increase for chelating shampoo during the peak summer months in comparison to winter and fall months. Melissa says that customers who typically use chelating shampoo on a regular basis are “of course swimmers”, but also people who can notice the effects of hard water. Melissa advises to integrate chelating shampoo in our routines “1x per month” up to “1x every 2 weeks” especially if you use gentle shampoo as your cleanser. “Sometimes gentle shampoos or sulfate-free shampoos just aren’t enough to give a fully cleansed feeling, our scalp needs to be fully stripped from any build-up so it can reproduce new, natural oils, and it makes it easier to cover gray when coloring if used before the coloring process.” Now you've got the benefits, here are the one's you should consider. 

5 Best Shampoo's for Swimmers