No..No..No.. If you’ve just treated your hair with semi-permanent hair dye, whether purple, red, blue, or any other color, you should wait at least 48 hours, but ideally 72 hours, before going swimming in a pool or sea.
When exposed to chlorine, salt water, or UV light, semi-permanent dye pigments fade faster. You should also take extra precautions after the first 72 hours. In this article, Wrinky will show you how to avoid the sea and pool water becoming your hair color’s worst enemies.
WHEN CAN I GO SWIMMING AFTER DYING MY HAIR?
Hair dye, whether semi-permanent or permanent, requires time to infiltrate the hair shaft and truly affect its color.
As a result, you must wait at least 48 hours after dying your hair with semi-permanent or permanent hair dye before going swimming.
This is due to a number of factors.
- Semi-permanent dye pigments fade faster when exposed to chlorine, salt water, or ultraviolet light.
- Chlorine will fade the pigments in your hair color by up to 60%. Swimming increases the amount of time you need to wash your hair, which accelerates the fading of the color. So, while swimming with semi-permanent hair color won’t destroy it, it won’t help it hold its color either.
Always remember to dispose of hair coloring in a secure manner.
DOES CHLORINE AFFECT SEMI-PERMANENT HAIR DYE?

Before we get into the specifics of how semi-permanent hair dye reacts with chlorine, it’s important to know why chlorine is added to pool water in the first place.
The risk of germ exposure for people swimming in a pool is rather considerable due to the large number of bodies entering a basically static body of water.
It is for this reason that chlorine was introduced. It eliminates germs that might cause viruses and fights bacterial diseases as well.
Chlorine is a substance. In truth, it’s a naturally occurring substance that’s made from regular salt through a process known as electrolysis.
It is, nevertheless, still a disinfectant. It will react with the ingredients of your hair dye because it is a chemical.
Chlorine, in most cases, bleaches hair, removing its color. Chlorine could thus result in unpleasant ginger or blonde streaks running through your hair.
Chlorine will dehydrate your hair as well. This is especially problematic if your hair dye is drying, since you’ll be exacerbating the situation and risk ending up with dry, brittle, and easily broken hair.
Chlorine, like hair dye, is harsh on the scalp, producing irritation and dryness. This is why some people believe that using lice-killing hair dye is a good idea.
Despite this, some anecdotal data suggests that swimming with dark semi-permanent hair dye, rather than permanent hair dye, is preferable to swimming with lighter semi-permanent hair dye.
Although the color may fade faster, you will be less likely to have hair discoloration.
DOES SEMI-PERMANENT HAIR DYE REACT WITH SEAWATER?
There’s something special about your hair after a dip in the sea.
Sea salt adds volume, bounce, and texture to hair. That’s why so many sea salt hair care sprays are available.
Your hair is more prone to falling in beachy waves after swimming in the sea. Is this true, though, if you use semi-permanent hair dye?
Both yes and no. Seawater, as you may know, is extremely salty.
Although this is less likely to react negatively with semi-permanent or permanent hair dye than chlorine, if you go sea swimming with semi-permanent hair dye, your hair will still fade in color.
If you frequently change your hair color and bathe in the sea, your hair is prone to becoming brittle and dry.
Sea salt is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs moisture from hair strands. If your semi-permanent hair dye is prone to drying hair in the first place, you’re compounding the problem, which could leave your hair lifeless and dry.
Furthermore, if you wash your hair more frequently to remove the sea salt, the color will fade with time.
IS IT SAFE TO SWIM WITH PERMANENT HAIR DYE?

Permanent hair dyes are always stronger than semi-permanent dyes.
They operate by permeating the cuticle of your hair; therefore, they’re made with harsher chemicals and must be left on for longer.
Potent molecules like ammonia and/or hydrogen peroxide can be found among these substances. This is also why permanent hair dye is more difficult to remove from your skin.
Inevitably, the procedure of permanently coloring your hair will cause some damage to the strands.
Some shine and suppleness may be lost, and your hair may become weaker and more prone to breakage as a result.
Permanent hair color chemicals are more prone to reacting negatively with chlorine in water.
If you’re going swimming with permanent hair dye, you should consider wearing a swimming hat or incorporating a deep conditioner or oil into your hair care routine.
That way, you’re aiding hair in regaining and maintaining its natural moisture levels while also attempting to mitigate any damage caused by chlorine or saltwater.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO DYE MY HAIR AFTER SWIMMING IN THE SEA?
Perhaps you’re short on time and want to brush up on your roots after a swim in the water. Maybe you colored and bleached your hair on the same day.
We understand how difficult it is to fit everything into your daily routine.
However, dying your hair with either semi-permanent or permanent hair color immediately after swimming in the ocean or pool is not recommended.
In an ideal world, you’d be visiting a salon to have your tresses treated with the care and attention they require.
Prior to dying hair, salons are more likely to provide a deep washing and moisturizing treatment, which will help the color penetrate deeper and remain longer.
Plus, who doesn’t enjoy getting a break from work? Why not go to the salon with a good book or magazine in hand and let someone else do the dirty work?
If you want to color your hair at home right after a swim, you can use a conditioner mixed with hair dye to keep your strands from drying out.
SWIMMING WITH HIGHLIGHTED AND BLEACHED HAIR
If you bleach your hair on a daily basis, you’ll know that it takes a lot of time and effort.
When you bleach your hair, you are removing the color from it.
In most cases, two agents will be involved in this process. One is an alkaline agent that prepares the hair cuticle for color by opening it up.
After that, you’ll be given an oxidation agent to use. This enters the hair, allowing color to adhere to the hair in place of your natural color.
Swimming in a pool with bleached hair is severely discouraged. This is a common thing for those who swim with blond hair.
Swimming in the sea can also dry out bleached hair, robbing it of its natural oils.
Swimming with highlighted hair isn’t a good idea either. The chlorine will inevitably cause the highlights to fade faster, necessitating more frequent touch-ups. Then you must make an effort to seal in any remaining moisture in your hair.
Fortunately, we’ve outlined the actions you can take to prevent semi-permanent or permanent hair color while swimming in the section below.
HOW TO KEEP SEMI-PERMANENT HAIR DYE SAFE WHILE SWIMMING

Here are some tips for keeping your colored hair safe when swimming:
#1 Make Use of a Swim Cap
A swim cap may not be fancy, and it may make you feel like a kid at school swim meets, but it works.
Because it acts as a barrier between your semi-permanent hair dye and chlorine or saltwater, it will help to prevent fading and color stripping.
Put your hair up and keep your head and hair out of the water if you truly don’t want to wear a swim cap.
Before jumping into the water, go to the nearest shower and wet your hair.
If you’re going to swim in a pool, this will be easier, but most beaches will also provide a shower.
Because your hair swells when it absorbs water from the faucet, it is less prone to absorbing salt water or chlorine.
As a result, your hair will be less likely to be affected by either, and your dye will last longer.
#2 Make Use of the Right Shampoo
You’ll need a shampoo that’s formulated specifically for your hair dye. Have you gone blonde? You’ll need shampoo for that hue.
Massage this shampoo into your hair and scalp if you want to make your color last longer. Leave it on for 20 minutes before returning to your normal hair care routine.
This will allow the dye color to penetrate deeper into the skin and linger longer.
Similarly, while it may be tempting to rush from the pool to your next important project, you must take the time to wash the chlorine or salt out of your hair.
Allowing it to sit in your hair will only cause the dye to fade faster.
#3 Moisturize
Swimming and semi-permanent hair dye aren’t a good combo. Giving your hair a little help will help it retain its color and moisture levels.
Before swimming, apply coconut or olive oil to your strands. As a result, the chlorine or salt will be separated from the pigments in the hair as a result of this.
Oils can also be used as a deep moisturizing treatment after swimming.
Alternatively, use a leave-in conditioner or mask to hydrate your hair and restore its elasticity and bounce.
#4 Apply SPF to your hair.
Yes, just like your skin, your hair requires SPF protection.
Hair products that protect against both UVA and UVB should be sought out in the same way sun cream does. Your tresses will be eternally grateful.
Here you can read some real experiences and advice extracted from a hair forum.
Chlorine will make your hair dye leak into the pool. I’ve seen it first hand. And chlorine, like bleach, turns hair greenish if the hair is blue. So be careful. Bathing cap will be a MUST.
The worst that has happened to me is my white bathing suit got tinted purple where it tied behind my head. But it didn’t leak into the pool. Of course the chlorine causes a lot of fading. If you’re going to be in salt water that’ll fade too 🙁
Chlorine in pools can strip or dull color, so pour bottled water (which can lessen the effects of chlorine) in your hair before swimming, and consider wearing a swimming cap.
Read more:
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