How Your Shower Water Can Affect Coloured Hair

Many years ago, when I was 16, getting your hair highlighted was something only the “rich kids” did—and I definitely wasn’t one of them.

My parents considered it an unnecessary expense, so I got a part-time job to pay for my own “unnecessary expenses.”

I was thrilled when I finally saved enough money to get my already-blonde hair highlighted so it could be even blonder. I loved it!

Then, the very next day, I was invited to a pool party.

I spent the day swimming with friends until one of them suddenly said:

“Laura! Your hair looks green!”

I panicked and ran inside to look in the mirror. Sure enough, my beautiful blonde highlights were turning green.

I was mortified. Why? What was happening? Then it dawned on me, it was the chlorine in the pool water changing my hair colour. It wasn’t until years later that I realized why. 

How Chlorine in Water Affects Colour and Highlights

Chlorine pulls out the melanin in your hair —the element which gives your hair its natural colour.  If you have coloured hair chlorine will bond with the artificial colour and draw it out quickly.

What’s more, when chlorine bonds with copper, it creates a chemical compound that is known for its bright, blue-green colour, which can ultimately cause your hair to turn pale green.  This can happen instantly in heavily chlorinated pool water OR overtime when you shower in chlorinated water.

This is not just true for blondes, chlorine strips the colour faster in all types of colours or highlights. 

Chlorine attaches itself to your hair and skin, and then begins to draw out your hair’s natural moisture, or sebum, and breaks down your hair structure, causing it to become dry and brittle over time. Your hair more quickly loses the beautiful colour (which you paid good money for) and it becomes dull and dry looking faster.

Over time, repeated exposure to chlorinated water may contribute to:

• Dry, rough-feeling hair

• Dull-looking colour

• Fading of colour and highlights

• Increased dryness and brittleness

• Hair that feels less soft and manageable

What About Chlorine in Your Shower Water?

You don't have to be a regular swimmer for chlorine to affect your hair colour.

Municipal water is commonly disinfected with chlorine or chloramine. While this is important for maintaining safe drinking water, repeated exposure to chlorinated shower water can contribute to dry-feeling hair and skin.

The Fix: Protect Your Hair Between Salon Visit

A good shower filter will reduce 99% of the chlorine in your shower water before it reaches your hair and skin.  It protects your hair and skin from the drying, colour stripping effects of chlorinated water.

For me, it's a simple investment that makes sense. If I'm spending over $150 at the salon for each visit, spending around $100 on a shower filter to help reduce chlorine exposure and protect my hair between appointments is worth it.

As always, we’re happy to help! Contact us if you’d like more information.