How to Take Care of Wavy Hair After the Pool
I was born with wavy hair and spent half of my life thinking that in order to be 'appropriate' I had to straighten it. It wasn't until I started surfing and traveling (and didn't want to travel with a hair dryer) that I embraced my waves.
Then when I first started surfing, I didn't take care of my hair AT ALL. I never pulled it back, braided it, I’d sleep with it salty, I didn’t do anything. I let it flow & it turned into a bleached, brittle…ummm… I don't want to say mess.. but it needed help — moisture, maybe?
Chlorine, salt water, hard water, shampoo, how you wear your hair at night… so many things impact your wavy hair.
Now I've figured out that a few small changes make a big impact. Let's discuss.
How to Take Care of Wavy Hair After Pool?
Let’s get reallll - wavy hair is more porous & sensitive to environmental changes, so we have to prioritize moisture, gentle detangling & lightweight styling to support and keep the waves defined, soft & manageable — even after regular pool days.
When I say that wavy hair is more sensitive to environmental changes what I mean is, it’s structure sits right in that in-between zone, which makes it easier for chlorine & sun exposure to disrupt the moisture balance & throw the whole wave pattern off. The fix isn't complicated — it's moisture recovery, gentle detangling & lightweight styling support. When done consistently, not just when your hair's on it’s death bed or having a moment, and it will love you.
What Is Wavy Hair?
Wavy hair falls between straight & curly — it's more prone to frizz & dryness because the natural oils from the scalp don't easily travel down the hair shaft. That said, it's highly responsive to moisture levels, humidity & environmental exposure — sun, pool, salt water, all of it.
How Chlorine Affects Wavy Hair Structure?
Chlorine isn't subtle. It gets in there & starts rearranging things before you've even towel-dried.
1. Strips natural oils
Chlorine removes your hair's natural oils, leaving wavy hair drier & more prone to frizz. Those oils are what were supposed to be traveling down the hair shaft & giving your wave its definition in the first place — pool water just wipes the slate clean.
2. Opens the hair cuticle
It causes the outer layer of the hair to lift, making strands more porous & less able to retain moisture. This is the part people skip past, but it's the actual mechanism — once that cuticle's open, everything else on this list follows.
3. Loss of wave definition
As moisture decreases, the natural S pattern loosens & gets less defined. You'll notice this the most a day or two post swim, when your wave just isn't doing what it usually does.
4.Increases frizz & flyaways
Dry, porous strands create uneven texture, which shows up as visible frizz — especially around the crown & hairline.
5.Leaves hair feeling rough or brittle
Extended exposure can make hair feel less smooth & harder to manage, even to the touch.
6.Reduces elasticity
Weakened structure affects bounce & movement, making waves look limp instead of alive.
7.Causes tangling & breakage risk
Roughened strands create more friction, which means more tangling after swimming & a higher risk of breakage if you're detangling the wrong way (more on that below).
How to Take Care of Wavy Hair After Pool Step-by-Step Routine
This is the routine — start to finish, no skipping steps because you're tired & just want to be horizontal.
1.Rinse hair immediately with clean, fresh water
Wetting your hair with fresh water BEFORE swimming or surfing actually helps — your strands can only absorb so much liquid, so if they're already saturated with clean water before you get in, they'll take on less chlorine. Then rinse your hair again the second you're out. Don't let it sit.
2. Use a sulfate-free shampoo to gently remove chlorine residue
A moisturizing shampoo that's sulfate-free will remove chlorine residue without stripping whatever natural oils you've got left. This is where you start to actually protect your hair instead of just reacting to damage after the fact.
A few brands that are sulfate free are Amika, Olaplex, and Pureology.
3. Apply a deep conditioner or hydrating mask for moisture recovery
This is non-negotiable post swim. A deep conditioning treatment replenishes moisture & helps close that lifted cuticle back down. I do this weekly even without pool exposure — after a swim, it's essential.
4.Detangle gently using a wide tooth comb while hair is damp
Roughened, porous strands tangle easily, so a wide tooth comb — not a brush — is how you avoid harsh breakage. Start at the ends & work up.
5.Apply leave-in conditioner or lightweight curl cream to restore softness
Once you apply a leave-in conditioner, you're creating a protective layer between your hair & whatever's coming next — sun, wind, heat styling, another swim.
6. Air dry or diffuse to encourage natural wave formation
Let your wave do what it's supposed to do. Heat styling right after a swim, when your hair's already compromised, is asking for more of the harsh effects we just spent this whole post talking about.
Also - trick of the trade - I apply conditioner in the shower, then brush it through with the Tangle teaser. Then I don’t brush my hair again, I just let it air dry. I found that it keeps the curls curlier and more like tendrils.
And if you're a frequent swimmer, a swim cap is genuinely the easiest way to sidestep most of this — I know, I know, not exactly a vibe, but it works.
For more on keeping your skin & hair hydrated through the hotter months, I wrote up my hydration tips for summer — worth a read if you're dealing with pool + sun exposure on repeat.
Best Products for Wavy Hair After Pool Exposure
Crown Affair
Crown Affair leads with clean, minimal formulas built around restoring moisture without weighing wavy hair down. Their oil & leave-in conditioner are what I reach for.
Hinu is all about ritual — their products are designed to replenish moisture & support the scalp, which matters more than people think when it comes to wave health, since healthy oil production starts there..
Amika's Soulfood Nourishing hair mask is one of my favorites. As is their The Kure Shampoo & Conditioner.
Not glamorous, but essential — this is the detangling tool I actually trust on wet, post-swim hair. I usually add a leave-in conditioner or some type of moisture before I brush it. It does the job a wide tooth comb does, with a little more control.
Bottom line: wavy hair after the pool isn't ruined, it's just asking for a little attention. Rinse it, protect it, moisturize it & let it do its thing. That's it.
