Longevity has become the new standard in beauty and personal care. According to Euromonitor International, as many as 75% of consumers now approach beauty strategically, combining everyday routines with long-term health and overall wellbeing. We choose swimming pools, contrast showers, cold plunges or home baths as part of prevention, recovery and psychophysical balance. Yet one thing is rarely discussed: these healthy habits can be surprisingly demanding for the scalp and hair.
Chlorine is typically associated with swimming pools - but we also come into contact with it in the shower, and hard water adds another challenge in the form of mineral buildup that hair and skin feel sooner than we realise. This is exactly where the need for conscious, tailored care emerges - at the intersection of healthy rituals and real environmental stressors.
The pool is only the beginning of the story
Swimming remains one of the healthiest and most popular forms of activity supporting fitness and recovery. For hair, however, it is an environment with an elevated level of challenge. Research (“Chronic effects of swimming pool disinfectants on skin and hair”, USA 2024) indicates that regular exposure to chlorinated water weakens the hair’s natural protective layer, affecting hydration, elasticity and overall condition. Chlorine is not the enemy of a healthy lifestyle - it simply signals the need for more mindful hair care when swimming frequently.
“Swimming is one of the most comprehensive forms of movement, but hair experiences it like an intense chemical treatment. Chlorine disrupts its structure, lifts the cuticle and accelerates moisture loss. If we don’t focus on neutralising and rebuilding, the effect accumulates session after session,”
- explains our expert.
Chlorine in the pool, chlorine in the tap - it’s still the same opponent
What surprises many people: chlorine doesn’t end at the pool. It is also a standard element of tap water. Across Europe, chlorine levels in drinking water are regulated, but even low and safe concentrations can contribute to dryness and hair discomfort - especially when combined with hard water and high mineral content. In many European cities, water hardness can exceed 300 mg CaCO₃/L, which means a higher concentration of calcium and magnesium ions that may deposit on the hair and scalp.
In addition, ageing infrastructure and water distribution systems can contribute to deposits and secondary water contamination, including the presence of biofilms and trace elements that further impact hair comfort and appearance. For hair, the takeaway is simple: exposure to minerals, chloramines and metals isn’t an occasional event - it can be part of everyday life.
“Hard water makes hair rough, dull and difficult to style. Chlorine further degrades its lipid layer. As a result, even people who don’t swim regularly may experience dryness, breakage and loss of shine,”
— adds our expert.
A perspective-changing fact
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In many European cities, water can be classified as very hard (above 300 mg CaCO₃/L).
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Chlorine and chloramines may remain on the scalp and hair for up to 30 minutes after washing.
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Mineral deposits can act like “sandpaper” - increasing friction, promoting micro-damage and frizz.
A new generation of care: neutralise, don’t mask
In response to these challenges, a new category has emerged: after-swim care - hair care that doesn’t merely mask the smell of chlorine, but removes its cause. One of the pioneers of this approach is TRISWIM, recommended by organisations such as Swimming Teachers Association (UK) and United States Masters Swimming.
In TRISWIM shampoo, the neutralising effect comes in part from sodium thiosulfate - an ingredient that binds chlorine and bromine — while provitamin B5 supports regeneration and helps restore softness. The formulas are further enriched with aloe vera, vitamins and botanical extracts to soothe the scalp and rebuild comfort after water exposure. Conscious hair care makes it possible to maintain healthy routines without sacrificing scalp and hair health.
It’s not just the pool that can damage hair
Everyday showers, baths, hotel bathrooms, gyms, water parks - all involve contact with water containing chlorine and minerals. The result? Dull strands, roughness, styling difficulties and faster colour fading. And while many people blame cosmetics or the weather, the real culprit often comes straight from the tap.
In many European regions, water is hard, rich in calcium and magnesium, and often treated with chlorine to ensure safety and hygiene. These elements deposit on hair, forming an invisible layer that disrupts structure, weighs strands down and reduces the absorption of nourishing ingredients. As a result, even the best hair mask or conditioner may “not work the way it should”.
Why does hair react faster than skin?
Hair is a dead structure - it cannot regenerate on its own. Every contact with hard, chlorinated water can cause: lifted cuticles, loss of natural lipids, increased breakage and frizz, and accelerated colour washout. That’s why active people - swimmers, triathletes, gym-goers, as well as frequent travellers - tend to notice hair deterioration faster than others.
Don’t mask it. Neutralise it.
Most shampoos simply remove the smell of chlorine. The issue is that chlorine molecules and minerals may still remain on the hair. This is where TRISWIM differs.
TRISWIM formulas were designed specifically to neutralise chlorine, bromine and heavy metals - not just cover them with fragrance. This effect is delivered in part by sodium thiosulfate (a chlorine-binding ingredient) and mineral chelators that remove hard-water buildup. In practice, this means hair regains softness, feels lighter, is easier to style - and care finally starts to work.
After-swim care = after-water care
This is an important shift in thinking. Care after swimming isn’t only about the pool. It’s care after any exposure to water that burdens the hair - including at home.
TRISWIM treats the hair of athletes, children, active people and travellers the same way: as a structure that needs protection and recovery, not “just washing”. That’s why the products include rebuilding ingredients such as provitamin B5 for hydration and elasticity, aloe vera for soothing, vitamins A and E for protection, and botanical extracts for softness and shine.
Two-step neutralisation of chlorine and mineral buildup
1) Neutralising cleanse
Hair care after swimming and contact with hard water should go beyond regular washing. The key is reaching for shampoos that help remove chlorine, minerals and metals that build up on the hair and scalp after each wash. Gentle formulas enriched with soothing and moisturising ingredients help reduce dryness and discomfort, restoring freshness and lightness.
2) Repair and recovery
After cleansing, the repair step is essential. Conditioners enriched with strengthening ingredients -proteins and complexes inspired by natural keratin — support rebuilding, improve elasticity, smooth the hair and make detangling easier. This step truly prepares hair for the next exposure to chlorinated or hard water.
