Your afternoon swim doesn’t have to come at the cost of your new hairstyle! While some swimmers see a love/hate relationship between their pools and their hair, we’re here to clear up the confusion and offer up some tips on how to keep your hair looking its best in and out of the pool. Take a look!

Fix the underlying problem

If you’ve ever had your hair turn green after a day of swimming, don’t be so quick to blame the chlorine—or to never return to the pool again! The problem is an often overlooked one (but still extremely fixable): the disproportionate presence of metals such as copper in your pool. You can perform a test on your water to see if there are higher-than-normal levels, something that’s more likely if you’re using a copper-based algaecide. We can help you rectify that issue to get back to more swimmable waters, quickly!

Rinse off before jumping in

Public pools are famous for warning signs that tell you to “shower before swimming.” But we think this advice can be helpful for your backyard pool, too! Showering or simply rinsing off before jumping in can help you wash out hair products and keep them from getting into your pool’s water.

Toss it up for an easy swimming ‘do

So you’ve finally solved your green hair problem—but if you still prefer to keep your hair out of the way as you swim, or if you want avoid a wet mess once you’re done swimming, try a simple look that keeps your hair out of your face. If you have long hair, you can even twist it into two braids for an easy, freeing swimming experience—once you get out, your hair will be neat and wavy (not knotted and unruly!). Finally, if you’re serious about swimming, toss on a cap so that you can swim with less resistance and move faster, more seamlessly through the water.

Care for your hair after the swim

Once you’re done for the day, avoid fresh water’s drying effects by washing and deep conditioning your hair! It’s a great habit to get into—especially for those of us who can’t seem to get enough of the water.

We hope that these ideas help you enjoy your pool to the fullest this spring and summer. We here at Extreme Pools will be happy to help you find maintenance solutions or pool repairs to help get your backyard oasis up and running at its best, so that nothing stands in between you and a great pool day.