Everything You Need to Know About Swimming with Extensions

Planning a beach trip, but worried about your new extensions? That’s perfectly normal. If not given the proper care, swimming might affect your hair extensions just as it would your natural hair.

To keep your locks safe from water damage, there are certain steps you have to take. Here are a few tips that you can follow to prepare for your next summer outing.

Keep Hair Away from Saltwater or Chlorine

If you’re going swimming, whether at the pool or the beach, it’s best to keep your hair tied up. Too much exposure to saltwater and chlorine could damage your hair extensions and cause matting. Not to mention, it will also get in the way of your swimming in general.

For the ultimate protection, try using a swimming cap. If this is not possible, hair tying should do the trick. From braids to buns to ponytails, any hairstyle will do as long as it keeps most of your hair away from the water.

Hair matting is difficult to fix, especially if your holiday trip is miles away from home, where your hair supplies are. Not only that but chlorine and saltwater will affect any part of your extensions’ attachments. This may include micro rings, nano rings, tape, glue, or weft.

To avoid any inconvenience of fixing this, it’s best to just stay on the safe side.

Brush Away Knots after Swimming

After a dip in the pool, make sure you brush away knots that accumulated from wetness. As soon as possible, dry your extensions to prevent any further damage. If your extensions are glued, then there is a high likelihood that they will unstick, so take good care.

Remember, when brushing your tangles away, be gentle with your hair. Aggressive yanking could easily take out your extensions if you’re not careful.

Don’t Jump Into the Water with Dry Hair

Before the big plunge, remember to wet your hair with normal water. Jumping head-on into chlorine-infested waters (or saltwater) with dry hair will leave it with more exposure to the water. Dry hair, much like a sponge, will absorb significantly more water than damp hair.

If your hair is already damp, then it will take on fewer water molecules, absorbing less of the chlorine or saltwater. A quick shower should do the trick.

Use Pre-Shampoo Treatment

For an extra layer of protection, it is also good practice to apply hair treatments right before you go swimming. This will apply oils to your natural hair and your extensions so that it is at less risk for drying.

You can apply this before swimming and tying your hair. After swimming, just rinse it out and shower as you normally would.

Why Chlorine and Saltwater Bad for Your Extensions

Chlorine and saltwater have a harsh effect on natural hair. If you’ll notice, your hair dries at a faster rate after swimming than it does when you shower. Unlike your natural hair, extensions don’t have oils produced by your skin to keep it hydrated, thus will have a higher rate of drying.

Conclusion

Even if you’re on vacation, hair care is not. Consistent maintenance of both your natural hair and your hair extensions will increase its longevity and health. Make sure to take proper care of full and luscious locks.

If you’re looking for the best hair extensions in Ontario, London, then contact GT Hair Boutique. We provide quality human hair extensions, including clip-ins, sew-ins, tape-ins, micro rings, and hair braiding. Browse our catalogue to find one that fits your style!