How to protect hair from the sun, sea and pools

Summer is here! Everyone knows it’s important to protect your skin in the sun, but what about your hair? Our very own Colouring Specialist and Educator Declan Haworth is going to run through how to protect your hair this summer as well as answering all your holiday hair dramas, for healthy hair in the sun, sea and pool.

First up the sun…

What does the sun do to your hair?

Sun exposure can damage both coloured and non-coloured hair by breaking down the hair’s protein structure (keratin) and degrading its natural oils. UV rays act much like bleach, oxidising the pigment in your hair, whether natural or dyed.

For non-coloured hair, this leads to dryness and lightening or brassiness, especially in lighter tones. For coloured hair, the damage is more intense. UV rays accelerate colour fade, dull the vibrancy, and weaken the hair’s structure, making it more prone to breakage and frizz.

The sun can also dry out the scalp, leading to irritation or flaking, especially when combined with sea or pool water. Fine or curly hair types and those already damaged by heat styling or chemical treatments are particularly vulnerable. If you find you’ve got a sensitive scalp, a soothing treatment would ease any irritation.

How to protect your hair from sun damage

It’s always also a good shout to shield your hair from UV rays, cover up where possible, think wide-brimmed hats or chic silk scarves and avoid peak midday sun hours if you’re in sunnier climes. More importantly, use protective haircare.

Declan shares which products to use and how to apply them for a guide to healthy summer hair in the reel below. Oway’s Sunway range is specifically designed to defend hair from sun, salt, and chlorine exposure.

Your go to summer haircare heros:

Oway After-Sun Hair & Body Bath
Oway Sun Protective Elixir
Oway After-Sun Hair Mask

Used together, these products help maintain healthy, vibrant hair throughout the summer, whether you colour it or not.

Next up, the sea and chlorine pools…

Are sea water and chlorinated pool water bad for your hair and scalp?

Sea water and chlorinated pools can both damage your hair and scalp. Salt draws moisture from the hair, leaving it dry, brittle, and more prone to breakage, while also disrupting the scalp’s natural oil balance.

Chlorine strips away sebum (natural oils), making hair porous and frizzy, and with repeated exposure, can weaken keratin (the protein structure of the hair) and irritate the scalp.

Why you have to be extra careful if you have coloured hair

Coloured hair is more porous due to the dyeing process, making it more likely to absorb damaging substances like salt and chlorine. Chlorine can react with colour pigments, especially in blondes causing fading, brassiness, or even greenish tones. Check out our guide to maintaining blonde hair.

How to protect coloured hair from chlorine, the sun and sea

To protect hair from swimming in the pool and sea cleanse the hair with good quality sun exposure shampoos and conditioners.

As a pre-exposure treatment we love Oway’s Sun Protective Elixir which creates a UV barrier around the hair shaft, helping prevent colour fade and moisture loss. Apply it before sun exposure, especially if you’re swimming. Always rinse with fresh water straight after swimming and consider braids to minimise exposure.

Which is better for hair, saltwater or chlorinated pools?

When it comes to hair health, saltwater pools are generally better than traditional chlorinated pools but the salt still causes dryness.

Saltwater pools use a salt-chlorine generator to sanitise the water, producing lower, more stable levels of chlorine compared to standard pools. This means less chemical stress on the hair and scalp, reducing the risk of dryness, brittleness, and irritation.

If it’s a toss-up between sea or pool, the sea wins plus we all love that beachy hair look right?

Holiday hair Q&As with our Stylist Declan Haworth:

Is salt bad for my hair? Should I keep it out of the sea?

“Although we love the look of beachy hair, sea salt isn’t going to do wonders for your hairs health. If your hair is feeling a little dry after a day at the beach be sure to give it some TLC with a good quality shampoo and conditioner. Oway After-Sun Hair & Body Bath gently cleanses and rehydrates hair and scalp after sun exposure, removing salt and chlorine without stripping natural oils.”

What about sea salt hair products?

“For that year-round beachy look, there are sea salt products on the market that are designed to be gentle on the hair and scalp and can add benefits to the hair.”

Should I use hair products at the beach?

“Lots of people use oils at the beach, but this will fry your hair in the sun! My number one choice is a leave-in conditioner or a specific sun protector. It will continue to moisturise your hair throughout the day and you can top it up after going in the water.”

Declan adds, “I am also personally very conscious about wearing products that contain harmful chemicals which will end up in our oceans and be detrimental to wildlife when we go swimming. Look out for organic hair products or ocean-friendly ingredients.”

Will my hair go green in a swimming pool?

“The reason hair turns green in swimming pools is because of hard metals in the chlorine; these react with hair that is damaged or coloured because it absorbs the metals more.

Unfortunately, some chlorinated pools can cause hair that is naturally very blonde or has been bleached to a very pale blonde to turn a shade of green.

This happens in pools that use natural spring water or are not adequately maintained/the chemicals in the pool are not at the correct levels. The best way to prevent that pool green tone is to create a barrier with a leave-in conditioner and always use a clarifying shampoo straight after swimming.”

If your hair is green after your holiday make an appointment with your trusted colourist to remove it for you.

What’s an easy way to style my hair on the beach to keep it looking good with minimal effort?

Keep your hair out of the way on the beach by braiding it. Apply a leave-in conditioner to wet hair and braid, then let it air dry in the braids. When you’re done at the beach take your braids out and you should have a natural beachy waves look for the rest of the day.

How to keep my coloured hair healthy in the summer?

“The best way to protect your hair (and skin) during the summer is to avoid UV exposure; wear a hat, wear a headscarf, or just keep out of the sun! But while on holiday, that vitamin D feels so good so to be in the sun and sea and avoid the dehydration, use Oway After-Sun Hair Mask, it restores softness, hydration, and elasticity after a day in the sun, making it ideal for dry, coloured, or chemically treated hair.”

Hope this helps and you end the summer with healthy hair if not, just book an appointment and we can cater a healthy hair plan especially for you. If you’re looking for general summer hair tips to avoid the humidity frizz check this out from Kamila at Blue Tit Portabello.

Declan Haworth is a Colour & Technical Director at Blue Tit London, he’s a Hair Educator at Blue Tit Academy and is also part of the Global Creative Team for Oway. Check out more of his hair stories here.