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Spending time in the pool is probably at the top of your summer bucket list. But (and we’re sorry to say it), it’s ruining your hair.
Chlorine strips your scalp of natural oils and weakens your hair structure, leading to dryness, frizz, and split ends. If you color your hair, chlorine can make it fade faster. And if you’re blonde, strawberry blonde, or auburn, it can even give your hair a greenish tint.
Thinking of switching to a saltwater pool? Get ready for tangles, breakage, and salty buildup. And don’t forget the sun. UV rays, chlorine, and saltwater are a triple threat to healthy hair.
Luckily, we’re here to help. We found the best hair care products that protect, cleanse, and hydrate your hair before and after swimming.
From clarifying shampoos to deep conditioners and leave-in sprays, these picks are made to fight pool damage. Even better, they’re all available on Amazon starting at $10.
So go ahead and enjoy your pool time without stressing over the damage! Shop our must-have pool hair care essentials below.
Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Shampoo and Conditioner + Hair Mask
This must-have post-swim hair care set includes an anti-chlorine vegan shampoo, a hydrating conditioner for dry hair, and deep-clean chlorine masks with vitamin C to protect your hair from pool damage and dryness.
K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask
After washing all that chlorine out of your hair, you need something that will bring back your hair’s strength, moisture, and elasticity.
The K18 Leave-In Molecular hair mask adds in moisture and helps soothe any protein damage from the pool. Plus, it’s small enough that you can take it with you when you travel.
Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three
Stop your hair from getting that dreaded green tint from the pool! This Paul Mitchell shampoo is designed to sleanses impurities, remove chlorine, and strengthens strands.
“I can not believe how soft and shiny and healthy my hair feels after using this shamoo! It instantly makes a difference. Yesterday I went to the pool twice and washed my hair with this while rinsing off after the second swim and I didn’t even use any conditioner or styling product but my hair feels amazing today,” an Amazon customer says.
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Mask
It’s worth spending $10 to save your hair from the combination of harsh chlorine and UV rays.
This deep conditioner is designed to replenish dry, brittle strands with deep hydration. Its ingredient list includes biotin, rosemary, sesame seed oil, honey, and certified organic coconut oil for soft, silky hair.
Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray – Leave In Hair Treatment
E! editor here, I actually own and love this 4.6-star-rated leave-in treatment.
Not only does it leave my hair shiny and soft, but it also works wonders on frayed ends, smoothing out frizz and flyaways.
AQUA GUARD Pre-Swim Hair Defense
You actually apply this product before you go swimming to preserve the integrity of your hair.
This product is a must-have for anyone who colors their hair and wants to keep it vibrant. According to the brand its protective formula is designed to enhance natural and dyed hair.
Amika soulfood nourishing mask
Nourish your hair back to health post-swim with this lipid-restoring deep conditioning mask.
Sun Bum Revitalizing Protect and Repair Hair Oil
This ultra-lightweight hair oil blends sunflower seed, jojoba, and abyssinian oils to strengthen, hydrate, and protect your hair from heat and UV damage while giving it a healthy shine.
Plus, natural oils like argan, jojoba, or coconut are great for coating your hair and keeping chlorine out.
Tangle Teezer Extra Gentle Detangler Hair Brush
Post-swim isn’t the time to be rough on your hair.
That’s why we love this extra gentle detangler brush. It has wide spaced teeth and works safely on both wet and dry hair.
SLIP Skinny Scrunchies
One of the easiest ways to protect your hair from the pool is by keeping it out of the water.
Put it in a pony or a bun with these anti-crease, anti-breakage scrunchies. We like this jade green shade, but you can choose from many colors.
HAIMEIKANG Metal Gold Shell Claw Clips
Hey mermaid, you can also keep your hair up in one of these fun shell-shaped claw clips.
These will make the perfect accessory for your next beach vacation.
How We Choose
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
