How I Protect My Gray Hair While Swimming: My Simple & Sweet Routine

When we first moved into a house with a pool last year, I couldn’t wait to spend the summer swimming.

But it didn’t take long before I found myself worrying about my gray hair. My fine hair is really prone to yellowing, and chlorine is notorious for discoloring gray or blonde hair.

Before I knew it, I was spending most of my pool time fretting about my hair. 

I was so afraid of discoloring it that I spent most of my swimming time trying to keep my head above water, or (if I was desperate to swim underwater) wearing a fairly uncomfortable swim cap.

This summer, I decided enough was enough. 

After all, one of the biggest reasons I stopped dyeing my hair was because I wanted a simpler life, not another complicated hair routine.

So after plenty of trial and error (and lots of advice from other silver sisters), I’ve settled on an approach that works well for me.

Is it perfect? Probably not.

But it protects my hair reasonably well while letting me actually enjoy being in the pool.

Prefer to watch? Here’s the video version of my simple gray hair swimming routine:

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Why Swimming Can Be Challenging for Gray Hair

Because gray hair lacks melanin, yellowing and discoloration tend to show more easily. And chlorine isn’t the only culprit, either. Minerals in the water, copper, sunscreen buildup, hard water, and UV exposure can all contribute to gray hair yellowing over time.

The good news?

Most yellowing isn’t permanent, unless it is caused by sun exposure or heat damage. And if yellowing happens, there are products that can temporarily brighten or tone your hair to keep it looking bright and shiny.

While I’d always prefer to prevent yellowing in the first place, I decided this summer that I could put up with a little temporary yellowing (and neutralize it with brightening products) if it meant I’d have a better time swimming.

And that’s exactly what I did!

My Simple Gray Hair Swimming Routine

Here’s the simple routine I came up with this summer. It keeps my hair relatively bright, and still allows me to have fun:

Before Swimming: Rinse with Fresh Water

Before I get into the pool, I thoroughly wet my hair with fresh water. That’s it.

Hair absorbs water like a sponge. If it’s already saturated with fresh water, there’s less room for it to absorb chlorinated pool water.

Will this completely prevent chlorine from affecting my hair? Probably not.

But it feels like a simple, reasonable first step that takes less than a minute.

Some women also apply a leave-in conditioner or hair oil before swimming. Personally, I haven’t found either one necessary, but if those products work well for you, there’s certainly nothing wrong with continuing to use them.

During Swimming: I Let My Hair Get Wet

This is where my routine has changed the most.

Last year I spent most of my time trying to keep my hair dry. I wore my hair in a bun. I paddled around instead of putting my head underwater. I even bought a Hairbrella swim cap so I could keep my hair mostly dry.

(That swim cap worked pretty well, by the way. I just didn’t enjoy wearing it.)

These days? I let my hair get wet, and I don’t fret. If it’s sunny outside, I’ll wear a water-friendly sun hat to help protect both my hair and my scalp from the sun. (A good sun hat is also one of my must-have gray hair summer essentials).

Otherwise…I swim. I float. I splash around. And, most importantly, I don’t think about my hair.

That simple change has made a much bigger difference than I ever expected. I have so much more fun in the pool now!

After Swimming: Rinse, Then Move On

As soon as I get out of the pool, I rinse my hair thoroughly with fresh water. That’s it!

I only wash my hair if it’s my normal wash day. If it is, I’ll just shampoo and condition using my regular products.

Once a week, I swap my regular products for a clarifying shampoo followed by a deep conditioner, just as I normally do.

After rinsing, I wrap my hair in a T-shirt towel for about 10 to 15 minutes before putting it into a loose bun to air dry.

Sometimes my air-dried hair waves beautifully. Sometimes…not so much. I’ve learned to be OK with that.

If You Prefer Maximum Protection

My swimming routine is all about finding a balance between protecting my gray hair and enjoying my time in the pool.

But everyone’s priorities are different.

If your goal is to minimize chlorine exposure as much as possible – perhaps you’ve recently toned your hair, have an important event coming up, or simply feel more comfortable taking every precaution – there are additional steps you can take.

The women in the Silver Revolution community have shared all kinds of successful routines over the years, and I love that there isn’t just one “right” way to do this.

For me, though, I realized I was replacing one high-maintenance routine with another.

I’d rather accept the possibility of a little yellowing now and then than spend every swim worrying about my hair.

What Other Silver Sisters Do

The Biggest Lesson I Learned

This routine has changed more than my hair. It’s changed my mindset.

When I first went gray, I became obsessed with preventing yellowing. I wanted my silver hair to stay as bright as humanly possible.

But somewhere along the way, I realized I’d accidentally created another high-maintenance hair routine, which was not what I wanted when I first went gray.

These days, I still take good care of my hair, but I also remind myself why I stopped coloring it in the first place: Freedom.

If a little yellowing happens over the course of the summer, I’ll deal with it. I’ll use a toning product if I need one, and eventually, those yellowed ends will be trimmed away.

What I don’t want is to miss out on enjoying the pool because I’m afraid of what might happen to my hair.

There are women whose priority is keeping every strand of gray hair as bright as possible.

There are women whose priority is diving into the pool with their children or grandchildren without worrying about their hair.

Most of us probably fall somewhere in between. I’ve finally found the balance that works for me.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I wet my gray hair before swimming?

I think it’s a great first step. Saturating your hair with fresh water may reduce how much chlorinated water it absorbs, and it only takes a minute.

Does chlorine turn gray hair yellow?

Sometimes—but chlorine isn’t always the only factor. Minerals, copper, sunscreen buildup, hard water, and sun exposure can all contribute to yellowing over time.

Should I shampoo after every swim?

I don’t. I rinse thoroughly after every swim, but I usually shampoo only if it happens to be one of my regular wash days.

Do I need a swim cap?

Not necessarily. If you enjoy wearing one or it gives you peace of mind, absolutely wear it. Personally, I discovered I enjoy swimming much more without one.

Are saltwater pools easier on gray hair?

Not necessarily.

Most residential saltwater pools still generate chlorine from salt, so I follow the same routine whether I’m swimming in a traditional chlorinated pool or a saltwater pool.

Because salt can also be drying, you may find that a weekly deep-conditioning treatment helps keep your gray hair soft if you swim frequently.

Can yellowing be reversed?

It depends on what’s causing it.

Yellowing caused by buildup (such as chlorine, minerals, or hair products) can often be removed with a clarifying or chelating treatment.

Once a week, I use a clarifying shampoo followed by a deep conditioner to keep my hair bright and soft.

I also use the QuickSilverHair Squalane Kit once a month to help remove buildup and discoloration and keep my gray hair bright.

But yellowing caused by heat or sun damage is permanent. Once the hair itself has been damaged and discolored, the only way to completely remove that yellowing is to grow it out and eventually cut it off.

In the meantime, you can temporarily neutralize yellow tones with products such as purple shampoo, purple conditioner, hair masks, or toning drops (my personal favorite).

Just remember: toning products don’t actually remove the yellowing. They deposit color that temporarily neutralizes the yellow and makes your hair appear brighter.

Before you start treating yellowing, though, make sure you’re actually dealing with discoloration!

As my friend Joli Campbell from QuickSilverHair points out in this video, gray hair comes in many different shades, including warmer grays and off-whites that may naturally have a slightly beige or yellowish cast.

Learn more about the causes of yellowing gray hair and how to treat it.

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