KEMA Column
The key to hair after the beach or pool is "first aid"｜Rescue hair care after summer leisure
On the night of a day spent having fun at the beach or pool, have you ever felt your hair turn stiff, squeaky, or unmanageable despite having showered? The fate of your hair after leisure activities is essentially decided by "what you do within that same day." In this column, we cover everything from the mechanisms of how salt, chlorine, and UV rays affect your hair, to preventative measures before swimming, immediate first aid after getting out of the water, and intensive evening care. We deliver essential rescue hair care to protect your beautiful hair while enjoying the summer.
Why do seawater and pool water make hair feel stiff?
Seawater has a salt concentration of about 3.4%. When hair is submerged, osmotic pressure draws moisture out of the hair, and salt crystals remain on the surface as it dries. These crystals continue to absorb moisture, causing the hair to dry out even further and keeping the cuticle open. This "salt souvenir" is the cause of that rough texture and difficulty in running your fingers through your hair.
On the other hand, chlorine in pool water oxidizes the lipids and proteins that protect the hair's surface, damaging the cuticle by slowly dissolving it. For color-treated hair, this also accelerates the breakdown of pigment, leading to fading or greenish discoloration. In both cases, UV rays at the water's edge are stronger than on land, reaching deep into the now-vulnerable, wet hair. With salt, chlorine, and UV rays, summer leisure creates a "triple punch" environment that attacks your hair all at once.
The 3 minutes before swimming decide your hair for the evening
It may come as a surprise, but rescue care begins before you even start swimming. The key is to "pre-saturate" your hair. Just as a dry sponge absorbs water rapidly, dry hair greedily absorbs seawater or chlorinated water. Once you reach the poolside or beach, make sure to thoroughly wet your hair with fresh water first. This simple step can significantly reduce the amount of saltwater or chlorine-heavy water your hair absorbs.
If you have extra time, apply a hair oil, focusing on the ends to create a thin veil, and tie your hair up. This prevents friction and tangling while reducing the actual surface area exposed to the water. Wearing a hat also takes care of UV protection. All of this takes just about three minutes.
Immediately after getting out: "Use fresh water," "Don't rub"
As soon as you leave the ocean or pool, rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water as quickly as possible. The longer salt and chlorine stay on your hair, the more the damage progresses. Using the shower at the beach or pool is fine. Rinse carefully from the scalp to the ends until the slickness and the smell of the ocean fade away.
What you must avoid at all costs is rubbing your hair with a towel. The open cuticles can be peeled away by even the slightest friction. Once you have gently blotted the water out with a towel, use a wide-toothed comb to gently detangle from the ends. Leaving your hair tied up or letting it dry while blowing in the strong wind are also causes of tangling and breakage.
In-bath care that evening: Wash, replenish, and seal
Your bath time after returning home is the main event of the day. First, use shampoo to thoroughly wash away remaining salt, chlorine, sebum, and sunscreen. Choosing a shampoo that can replenish protein while washing allows you to combine cleansing and care. What was lost to seawater and chlorine is not just moisture, but the very protein that makes up the internal structure of your hair.
Follow with a treatment, applying it a bit more carefully than usual. After applying it from the mid-lengths to the ends, use a wide-toothed comb to distribute it evenly and leave it on for a few minutes. On days when you are concerned about damage, switch to a high-moisture intensive treatment to deliver nourishment deep inside the open cuticles. Finally, rinse with lukewarm water to tighten and close the cuticles. This "wash, replenish, and seal" routine is your treatment for the evening.
"Seal" and sleep with out-bath care
After your bath, apply a leave-in treatment after towel-drying. For hair that has suffered damage, a balm-type product that repairs from within while coating the surface is your best bet. Warm it in your palms and apply from the ends up to the mid-lengths. Dry from the roots with a hair dryer, and finish with a blast of cool air to set the surface, effectively "sealing" the moisture and nutrients inside.
Sleeping with wet hair is strictly forbidden, especially on this day. The open cuticles will be worn down by friction against your pillow, rendering your care efforts useless. Dry it thoroughly before sleeping—that alone will make the texture noticeably different the next morning.
Don't forget after-care for your scalp
One thing often overlooked is the scalp. Just like your hair, your scalp suffers damage from chlorine and UV rays. If it feels hot from sunburn, wash it gently with a lukewarm shower, without scrubbing. A summer scalp, coated in a mix of sweat, sebum, and sunscreen, can lead to stickiness, odor, and itching if left neglected. In the days following your outing, use a scalp shampoo or tonic to balance moisture and sebum, which helps rebuild the very foundation where hair grows. Beautiful hair starts with a healthy scalp. Summer is the time to return to this principle.
For summer rescue: Popular KEMA items
KEMA Crema Shampoo
A protein shampoo that washes while replenishing 4 types of protein. Restores the hair's internal structure lost to salt and chlorine as you wash.
¥9,020 (tax incl.)
KEMA Crema Treatment Black
A high-moisture intensive treatment. Saturates the inside of stiff hair with moisture after leisure activities and smooths the cuticles.
¥11,990 (tax incl.)
KEMA Miracle Bond Balm
A high-repair leave-in balm. For the "sealing" care on damaged nights. Rebuilds from within, leading to manageable hair the next morning.
¥4,290 (tax incl.)
KEMA Penta S Oil
A non-sticky natural oil. Your summer companion, perfect for creating that "thin veil" before swimming or adding finishing shine.
¥5,940 (tax incl.)
The Korean aesthetic passed down by KEMA
In Korea, many people consider it essential to "return to the original state" after summer leisure. The idea that beauty persists only when you both enjoy life and maintain your body aligns with KEMA's philosophy of "Order, Equilibrium, and Harmony." Restore the balance tilted by salt, chlorine, and UV rays within that same day. KEMA's hair care, which delivers repair ingredients to the deepest layers of the hair using advanced liposome technology, is most effective for this nightly "restoration." You don't have to give up the beach or the pool. With proper protection and proper recovery, your hair can survive the summer.
Reset your summer damage within the same day.
Wash, replenish, seal—KEMA has everything you need for rescue care.
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