Photo courtesy of Destiney Green
Summer means prolonged time in the sun; it is important to know how to care for your child’s hair to avoid untimely damage.
Pools carry high levels of chlorine, plus other toxic chemicals, and even nature’s saltwater is harmful in large quantities.
1. Products to Keep Handy
To avoid great havoc, prime your child’s hair, clarifying it easier after a day of swimming. It is best to wash their hair before entering the pool or any other body of water, and as odd as it may sound, swimming with clean hair will prevent the harmful chemicals from being soaked up by the hair.
Next, you want to add another coat of protection by oiling all hair strands to keep salt and chemicals from penetrating and drying up your kids’ hair. You can use coconut, jojoba, or olive oil to lock in moisture and protect hair from brittleness. (Pro tip for grown-ups: this will also protect your color-treated hair.)
If you are not a fan of oils, a leave-in conditioner will do the trick just as well. You can even try both for maximum moisture! SoCozy Splash Swim Leave-In Treatment + Detangler for Kids is great for before and after being in the water. It contains natural ingredients that protect, repair, and restore their hair while clarifying strands from all harmful build-up.
Image Source: @maliyah_hammond
After moisturizing, a protective style, such as braids or bun, is recommended. This will help you avoid tangles (and prevent major drama during the post-swim detangling stage. Swimming caps are a great option when rinsing and moisturizing aren’t an option; they keep all harmful chemicals from being absorbed and minimize tangling.
2. Post- Swim Maintenance
Image Source: @mslisa.li
After the fun, clarify and condition their hair to fight chemical, salt, or sun damage. Remember to handle your child’s hair as gently as possible because wet hair is weaker and can break more easily. Divide hair into sections and rinse thoroughly one by one rather than working with all the hair together.
Fairy Tales Sunny Days Chlorine Removal Body Wash, For All Age Swimmers is a great 2-in-1 product that helps rebalance the pH of the hair while gently washing away the pool’s chemicals from their hair and skin. This product contains organic ingredients that moisturize quickly and won’t be harsh on their skin or eyes. Another option to rinse out chlorine could be Anti-Chlorine Shampoo Swimmer Kids: Mango and is great for daily use.
Image Source: @unicornbrowniemom
After clarifying and deep conditioning their hair to bring back its moisture, California Baby Hair Conditioner Swimmer’s Defense is perfect to follow up after shampooing to prevent split ends. We recommend taking your time regarding moisture, but if you’re in a rush, L’Oreal Paris Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Shampoo, Sunny Orange Swim is the go-to product to clarify and condition all in one step.
After the washing and conditioning, add another layer of moisture with a leave-in conditioner, then detangle with a wide-tooth comb to avoid too much hair breakage. Finally, add a layer of oil such as shea or coconut to lock in intense moisture and avoid brittleness in the future.
What other tips and tricks do you have to care for your child’s hair when in the water? Let us know!
