Can You Swim With Hair Extensions?

Many people believe that they have to remove their hair extensions before swimming. Because they are worried that the hair extensions will fall off or deform under water. It's true that human hair extensions can get damaged if they sit in water for too long. Therefore, you need to take steps to protect and restore your hair extensions for your next swim. So can you swim with hair extensions? Let's take a look.

Knowing this is not enough, you also need to know the following 4 things.

1. Can you swim in salt, chlorinated, fresh or harsh water with hair extensions on?

2. The best type of hair extensions for swimming.

3. How to protect hair extensions before swimming?

4. How to maintain hair extensions after swimming?

First let's talk about what types of water we can swim in with hair extensions.

a. It is not suitable to swim with hair extensions in salt water. 

If you insist on swimming in salt water, for the health of your hair, don't stay underwater for too long. Moisture content is very important for hair growth to be flexible, smooth and moisturized. Just like your skin, your hair can also suffer from dehydration. Salt water can cause damage to your hair because the salt in it is hygroscopic and your hair loses moisture. Your hair can quickly become dry, brittle, and have split ends. After dyeing or chemically styling your hair, your hair will get worse if you soak it in salt water. Because the oils in your hair are lost during the styling process and are damaged by dehydration from salt water.

b. Is chlorinated water suitable for swimming with hair extensions?

Generally, swimming pools use chlorine to disinfect the water for water quality, but this will definitely be harmful to your hair. The higher the chlorine content, the more severe the impact on hair. If you smell chlorine in your pool, you can tell it has high levels. Then you'd better stay by the pool and think twice. Chlorine can also affect scalp health, possibly causing dandruff and rashes. Your scalp may be negatively affected if you scratch your head frequently, let alone swimming in a pool with high chlorine levels. When your hair extensions are dyed, it's best to wait a week or two before going swimming. Otherwise, chlorine can wreak havoc on the beautiful color you gave your hair extensions.

c. Can you swim in fresh water with hair extensions?

Fresh water should be the friendliest for your hair extensions because it contains less of the least chemicals, such as calcium and magnesium, so your hair can grow healthily without too much chemical damage.

"Hard water" refers to fresh water with a high mineral content. Probably we all think that the water in the tap is fresh water. This is an innate idea. In fact, tap water is "hard water". Because you never know what minerals are in your home's tap water.

Second, the best type of hair extensions for swimming

There are various types of hair extensions on the market, and here we will look at a few types and see how they react to water.

It is not recommended to use fusion hair extensions while swimming as they are more susceptible to brittleness and damage than other hair extensions. If you insist on swimming in them, you'd better tie your hair extensions up.

c. Braided Hair Extensions.

When you finish swimming with this type of hair extensions(when you come out of salt water or chemical water), you must promptly wash your hair and apply nutrients.

d. Nano Ring Hair Extensions

Nano ring hair extensions are also recommended for use while swimming, provided you comb your extensions carefully after swimming.

Third, how to protect hair extensions before swimming?

To protect your hair extensions from damage caused by chemicals in the water, you must use the correct method when immersing it in the water. We have summarized 7 points to protect your hair before bathing:

1. Use conditioner before swimming. Before swimming, apply some conditioning product to the ends of your hair. This helps keep your hair moisturized and free from harmful ingredients in the water.

2. Before swimming, comb your hair neatly from beginning to end. This will avoid knots. Make sure your extensions are securely attached to your roots and don't pull too hard when combing your hair. 

3. Make sure your hair extensions are tied up. It is best to check before immersing in water. As soon as you notice your hair extension falling out, grab it firmly. Otherwise you'll most likely have to look for your hair extensions in the pool.

4. Tie your hair up with a hair tie. You should braid it. Damp hair is heavy and can increase stress on your extensions and cause damage. Tying your hair up can help avoid this.

5. Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your hair. Many people apply sunscreen before swimming, but they don’t know that once the material of the sunscreen comes into contact with the hairline, the hair extensions will loosen. Therefore, remove the sunscreen from your hands before touching your hair extensions, otherwise you will need to search for them underwater.

6. Put on your swimming cap. It turns out that this is the best way to prevent damage to your hair extensions. Silicone swim caps are suitable for people with long hair and are waterproof. Just a reminder, the size of the hat should fit your head perfectly and not be too tight. 

7. Do not use heat styling tools before swimming. Heated products strip your hair of its natural oils, leaving your hair brittle without the oil's protection.

Forth, important tips for protecting hair after swimming

We give you 5 tips to protect your hair after swimming:

a. Wash your hair as soon as possible after leaving the water. Waiting too long is not good for your hair as the chemicals will penetrate into your hair during your stay. Make sure you are using a non-sulfate shampoo. 

b. Use conditioner on hair extensions. After cleansing your hair thoroughly, apply conditioner to retain moisture inside your hair and make it soft and healthy. 

c. Make a hair mask. It’s not necessary to wear a hair mask while swimming, but it plays an important role in maintaining your hair and extending its life. One key point you need to remember is to leave the hair mask on for as long as possible to get the best results.

d. Use a comb to gently comb your hair to make it smooth. Since combing wet hair can cause damage to your hair, it is recommended that you wait a while before combing again. 

e. Blow dry your hair on low heat. Do not leave your hair wet for more than 2 hours as this can cause damage to the extensions.

There are so many hair extensions type we did not mentioned in this article. If you still have questions or inquries, please feel free to contact us directly. Ace Hair Factory is one of the leading wholesale hair extensions suppliers in China for more than 20 years. As a factory based hair extensions supplier, we only supply top quality hair extensions at real factory prices. You would get more and more business if you purchase hair extensions from us based on our top quality hair extensions and the most competitive factory prices. Welcome to Ace Hair Factory!