Keeping blonde hair looking fresh is tough at the best of times. In addition to mitigating bleach damage, you’ve got to battle brassiness, dryness and ensuring you don’t over-do it on the purple shampoo (unless lilac was the look you were going for, of course). Come summertime, you can add to that the fear of hair turning green thanks to chlorine, colour going awry from the sun and more general damage thanks to salt water.
Sounds like a nightmare, right? Well, if you’re committed to the blonde life you’ll know it is worth it (we have more fun, right?)—even if it means you have to invest in keeping your ‘do looking good. To make things easier, we tapped Edwards & Co. Founder and Expert Colourist, Jaye Edwards for his advice on keeping blonde hair healthy all summer-long.
Related: How To Grow Your Hair Long, Faster—According To Experts
protecting blonde hair from salt water & chlorine...
1. Saturate your hair with fresh water before & after swimming
Jaye’s first tip is *super* simple. Like, so simple you have no excuse to not do it.
Before and after a dip in the ocean or a chlorinated pool, Jaye advises saturating your hair with fresh water, which can typically be found in showers at the beach and public pools.
“This prevents your hair from absorbing as much chlorinated or salty water because it’s already soaked with clean water, while rinsing after ensures your hair isn’t sitting in the salt/chlorine,” Jaye explains.
2. Apply a leave-in conditioner
Leave-in conditioners and hydrating masques aren’t just great for giving your locks some extra shine.
“A leave-in conditioner acts as a protective barrier, especially if it contains moisturising ingredients,” Jaye says. “Look for ones with UV protection too, as they guard against sun damage.”
Just your favourite product through your hair pre-swim and voila!
3. Use an oil or a cream
Similarly to the previous tip, lightweight hair oils or creams can also create a barrier around your strands, which Jaye says helps prevent chlorine and salt from penetrating the hair shaft.
“This is great for protecting coloured hair, as it minimises fading,” he adds.
4. Wear a swim cap
Although Jaye admits this is “not the most glamorous option,” wearing a swim cap might be the best op for those who spend *lots* of time in chlorinated or salt water.
5. Rinse & wash right after
6. Use a colour treatment
Depending on your shade of blonde, you may want to invest in a good toner to keep your colour in-check.
“After exposure to chlorine or salt water, O&M’s CLEAN.tone Platinum Colour Treatment can be a fantastic restorative solution,” says Jaye. “This treatment revives cool tones and replenishes moisture, helping to counteract any colour fade or dullness caused by the elements. It’s especially effective for blonde, grey, or highlighted hair, keeping it vibrant and refreshed.”
