How Chlorine in Water Strips Natural Oils from Hair and Skin

RiverSoft | 30 April 2025

Did you know that more than 80% of the drinking water available in India is chlorinated? While chlorine disinfects water and kills harmful bacteria, it may also gradually affect your skin and hair. Be it a morning shower or a quick dip in the evening pool, the dryness, frizz, or sensitivity that you harbor could be attributed to chlorine rather than the pollution or weather conditions.

What is Chlorine, and Why Is It Used in Water?

Chlorine is a chemical disinfectant that is used in many public water systems to kill bacteria and viruses. To maintain hygiene, municipal authorities across India add certain amounts of chlorinated compounds into water to control microbial growth, primarily with reference to urban pipelines.

The most common presence of chlorine is in:

Tap water
Swimming pool
Shower water

According to the WHO, chlorine levels in drinking water are safe until 5 mg/L. With that said, at what point does exposure become too much, especially with regard to our hair and skin?

How Chlorine Affects Hair and Skin

1. Chlorine Reacts with Keratin and Lipids

Chlorine reacts with the keratin proteins that exist in your hair and skin, and the lipid layer that protects them. Both of these reactions weaken its structures.

2. Strips Natural Oils

Thus, natural oils are present in your body to keep it moisturized and protected. Chlorine is a strong oxidant that strips these oils, leaving the skin and scalp dry and weak.

3. Changes pH Balance

A pH of about 5.5 is slightly acidic and is required by skin and hair for growth and survival. Chlorine disturbs this pH balance, leading to:

Dryness
Itchiness
Brittleness
A Dull Appearance

These are some of the prime disadvantages of chlorine found in water that are overlooked.

The Science of Natural Oils

Your skin produces sebum, and your scalp and hair follicles release natural oils that:

Lock in moisture
Protect against pollutants and bacteria
Maintain the skin and scalp barrier

Without these oils, the skin dehydrates, leading to cracks, and hair becomes frizzy, more prone to breakage, and less elastic, making the natural barrier weaker to environmental stressors.

This is why using a hard water filter or a shower filter for hard water becomes essential if your water supply contains high chlorine levels.

Preventing Hair and Skin Damage From Chlorine

1. Install a Hard Water Filter

The easiest, and very effective, way to protect your hair and your skin from chlorine is installing a hard water filter at the point of use, especially at the shower or any tap you use.

How Hard Water Filters Make a Difference:

For example, hard water already has minerals such as calcium and magnesium that deposit on the skin and scalp. Then put chlorine in there, and you get such a harsh combination that:

Strips the natural oils
Damages the scalp and the barrier of the skin
Makes your hair feel frizzy and brittle

Installing a water filter for hard water reduces this impact largely. These filters use multi-stage filtration that removes chlorine, hardness salts, rust, and sediments, leaving the water much more gentle on your skin and hair.

If you're asking yourself "does chlorine water damage hair?"- yes, but shower filters for hard water can be a proactive measure.

2. Choose The Right Cleansers and Conditioners

Use gentle sulfate free products that cleans without overdrying.
Conditioners that hydrate, with natural oils like argan or jojoba.
Use shampoos that neutralize chlorine, after swimming sessions.

3. Moisturize Regularly

Choose lotions with ceramide, hyaluronic acid, and glycerin.
Moisturizer should be applied immediately after showering when your skin remains damp.

4. Water Testing

Not sure if your water is too chlorinated? Learn ways to check for the simple chlorine levels in water using its simple online or pharmacy test kits. Chlorine levels are high; you are bound to find a hard water filter.

Home Remedies & Product Suggestions

1. Aloe Vera Gel: Suitable to soothe and moisturize dry skin and scalp after the shower.

2. Coconut oil and Vitamin: These act as natural barriers against chlorine and also help in repairing the skin's protective layer.

3. DIY Hair and Face Packs Hair:

Combine coconut oil with yogurt and honey.
Use once a week for softness.
Combine aloe vera, cucumber juice, and a drop of tea tree oil on the face to achieve calming effects.

Conclusion

Chlorine is used widely in ensuring clean and safe water, but long-term exposure can damage the skin and hair. This includes changes from dull hair to constant dryness. But small changes in your routine can make big differences: