Does salt water cause hair loss? There is no direct evidence to suggest that salt water causes hair loss. However, excessive exposure to salt water can cause hair to become dry and brittle, which can increase the risk of breakage and hair loss.
Salt water can dehydrate your hair and scalp, leaving it feeling dry, brittle, and frizzy. This is because salt water draws out moisture from your hair and scalp. Salt water can cause damage to the hair cuticle, which is the outermost layer of your hair. This damage can lead to split ends, breakage, and frizz.
High levels of salt can be toxic to hair, as sodium deposits can build up around the hair follicles and prevent important nutrients from entering your follicles. When your hair follicles don't get these nutrients, hair loss can gradually occur.
Salt water especially is extremely aggressive to your hair. A significant amount of hair loss is caused by dryness, and salt water can extract the protective oils that naturally moisturize your hair and scalp, leaving it dry, weak, and susceptible to breakage.
“Sea Salt adds extra thickness and a gritty texture to hair, making it look fuller and more rigid. It also simply makes hair easier to style.” says Murdock Covent Garden Head Barber Miles.
After you've been swimming in salt water, it's important to wash your hair right away.
A study from The Journal of Dermatology concluded that swimming in a pool has no correlation to hair loss. Instead, swimming in a pool with chlorine usually results in the stripping away of natural oils from the hair and skin, which often leaves you with dry, brittle hair.
Regular exposure to chlorine can make your hair highly porous. Chlorine can change the colour of your hair. It can weaken your hair strands, resulting in split ends. If your skin is sensitive to chlorine, it can result in an itchy and irritated scalp.
Sea water is known for its mineral content, and is rich in vitamin B5, protein, iodine, and magnesium. Salt water crystals in seawater will add extra body and fullness to your hair. Sea water has a pH level of 8.1, making it the perfect solution to use as a natural conditioner for your hair.
It Promotes Hair Growth
Specifically, sea salt contains sulfur that has antimicrobial properties which help dissolve oils and unclog pores. Sea salt is also rich in zinc, which promotes tissue and cell regeneration in the scalp. Together, these minerals promote healthy hair growth.
Showering before you go into the pool can make pool water and chemicals less likely to soak into your hair and damage it. It's also imperative to use the best hair products for swimmers, like sulfate-free shampoo, and a moisturizing conditioner.
Avoid harsh hair treatments like heating tools, hair dye and bleaching. Hairstyles like tight ponytails or braids can affect your hair as well. Keep your scalp healthy by washing your hair and scalp regularly. “Any inflammation on the scalp will affect the hair growth cycle,” says Dr. Bergfeld.
However, if your hair is in contact with seawater or chlorinated water, washing becomes essential in order to preserve your hair health. Note: Even if your hair is in contact with seawater or pool water every day, you should wash it every day!
Wash your hair with fresh water as soon as you can
Immediately wash your hair after swimming in the sea or pool! As soon as you can, rinse your hair well with fresh water. Try a gentle product, preferably specifically after-sun, such as SU Hair & Body Wash.
Saltwater and chlorinated water can cause damage to your hair even once you're out of the water. If you don't wash your hair with fresh water after you finish your swim, the saltwater or chlorinated water can sit in your hair for the rest of the day and make your hair dry out and cracked.
Salt water can have some positive effects on your hair, which is why many people love the look and feel of their hair after a day at the beach. The salt in the water can actually help to add texture and volume to your hair, giving it a tousled, beachy look.
According to Dr. Gaby Longsworth, a Ph. D., scientist, certified hair practitioner, and the founder of Absolutely Everything Curly, rice water is known for its protein and vitamin content—both of which can lead to a stronger, healthier head of hair.
You might be asking yourself, does drinking water reduce hair fall and promote hair growth? Well, the answer is yes. Staying hydrated energizes your hair follicles and enhances hair growth from roots tips.
Excessive hair breakage or textural change due to hard water is a reversible condition. The first step is to stop using hard water altogether and work on bringing life back to your hair.