Best hair mask for swimmers
For swimmers, Philip Kingsley Swimcap Water Resistant Mask is our most effective pick because it works before you get in the water, not after. You apply it to damp hair and leave it on while you swim, so it acts as a barrier against chlorine, salt water and sun. It contains hydrolyzed elastin, castor oil, olive oil and a UV absorber: the oils coat and seal the cuticle so less pool or sea water soaks in, and the brand says it helps keep bleached hair from turning green. Protection starts on the first swim. Our ethical pick, Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Super Nourishing Hair Masque, is cruelty free and vegan, a repair mask for afterwards made with coconut, fig extract, argan oil and shea. The table below compares price and time to results. Wet your hair with fresh tap water before swimming, then rinse and shampoo soon after you get out.
| Option | Product | Price | Price per use | Days to results | Compared with most effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Most effective | Philip Kingsley Swimcap Water Resistant Mask | US$37 | US$5.33 | 0 | |
| Cruelty free and vegan | Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Super Nourishing Hair Masque | US$32 | US$4.60 | 1 | US$5.00 less than the most effective pick, 1 more day to first results |
Why it works
UV and sun protection for hair and hair color
Sunlight damages hair much as it does skin. A review in a cosmetic science journal describes UV breaking down proteins and lipids in the cuticle, lowering strength and making hair harder to comb, while visible and UV light bleach natural pigment. Light and blond hair is more vulnerable, and dyed color also fades, mainly from visible and UVA light. Lab studies show UV absorbers in hair products can reduce fading and yellowing, but this is mostly manufacturer testing on hair swatches, and results depend on how much filter actually stays on the hair. Dermatologists' first advice is a wide-brimmed hat and avoiding midday sun.
Plant oils for hair (coconut, argan)
Plant oils mainly coat the hair surface, reducing friction and slowing water uptake. Coconut oil is the best studied: in a lab study by researchers at a hair-oil company, it was the only one of three oils that markedly reduced protein loss from hair, which the authors credit to its small, straight fat molecules entering the shaft. Sunflower and mineral oil did not reduce protein loss. Evidence for argan oil is thinner: one small lab study found a conditioner containing it reduced protein loss in hair treated with a lightening dye. There are no good consumer trials. Like other leave-on products, oils can make fine, straight hair look oily.
Conditioning agents (silicones, cationic surfactants, fatty alcohols)
Conditioners work mainly on the hair surface. Washing leaves hair with a negative electrical charge, and positively charged cationic surfactants, the backbone of most conditioners, bind to it and cut static. Silicones such as dimethicone and amodimethicone form a thin film that lowers friction between strands and shields them from abrasion, and fatty alcohols like cetyl and stearyl alcohol add body and slip. Reviews link this to less frizz, easier combing and less grooming damage. This is well-established cosmetic science, measured mostly in the lab, not consumer trials. Effects last until the next wash, and leave-on products can make fine, straight hair look oily or dull.
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Sources
- Review of the current understanding of the effect of ultraviolet and visible radiation on hair structure and options for photoprotection
- Protection of Artificial Haircolor
- Must-try summer hair care
- Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage
- Hair Cosmetics: An Overview
- Hair Protective Effect of Argan Oil (Argania spinosa Kernel Oil) and Cupuassu Butter (Theobroma grandiflorum Seed Butter) Post Treatment with Hair Dye
- Shampoo and Conditioners: What a Dermatologist Should Know?
Reviewed by Emilie Sydney-Smith