Can I Swim With Clip in Hair Extensions | 4 Important Facts 

Can I swim with clip in hair extensions? Dive into the pool worry-free! Discover the dos and don’ts of taking a dip with your extensions intact. We provide expert insights on how to protect and care for your clip-ins before and after swimming, ensuring they stay stunning.

Clip-in hair extensions are a commonly used hair accessory by many people because it is a very easy and simple way to add length to your natural hair and make it look voluminous.

They can add style to your natural hair and you need no commitment either, unlike getting sewn-in extensions.

But then I’m pretty certain that many of you may have this dilemma in mind – ‘Can I swim with clip-in hair extensions’?

Maybe you go out for a picnic to the beach or your family is enjoying a pool day and then there’s you, with your clip-ins on! Can you just jump into the water for a swim or do you need to take them off before getting in?

Well, the hesitation is obvious because you’re uncertain, but guess what, we’ll give you the answers to all your questions regarding whether swimming with hair extensions is a possibility or not.

So, let’s “dive” right in, shall we?

Can I Swim With Clip in Hair Extensions

Yes, you definitely can! (That’s a relief, right?) But, (yes, here’s the tricky part), you can do so only if you aren’t going to be fully submerged into the water. This means that you can wade in the water or lounge in the pool or the hot tub, provided only the ends of your extensions get wet and not the whole head.

Say you’re going to a water park, down water slides or going for a swim in the ocean or in the pool, that’s when the problem arises.

Swimming pool and water park water contains chlorine which can damage your clip-in hair extensions and make it dry, while ocean water has high concentration of salt, which thereby can also damage your clip-in hair extensions and strip away its moisture.

Blonde or light colored clip-in hair extensions can also become brassy or develop a greenish hue.

Also, you need to remember that your clip-ins have tape, glue or bonds that can weaken due to the force of the water when your head is submerged and the clip-ins could come apart leading to a very embarrassing situation.

So consider what kind of “swim” you’re taking and then decide on whether you’re going to keep your clip-in hair extensions in your hair or not.

What Are The Risks Of Swimming With Hair Extensions?

While removing your hair extensions before getting into the water for a swim may seem like a tedious task, you should remember that there are risks involved if you keep them on.

Here are some of the risks of swimming with hair extensions on:

1. Your clip-in hair extensions may get tangled and matted

If you choose to swim with your hair extensions on, it could get badly matted and tangled.

This could make it difficult for you to brush your hair (with your clip-ins on) once it dries and it can also cause damage to your clip-in hair extensions.

2. The type of water may cause them to get damaged

The chlorinated water in the pool or salt water in the sea could cause discoloration, dryness, frizziness and damage to your clip-in hair extensions.

3. The clip-ins may come off

The bond or tape holding in the clip-in hair extensions may loosen out and they may come off.

4. Future maintenance, care and styling may become hard

If you have swam with your clip-in hair extensions on, then your hair dries, you will notice that there is some amount of damage to them. Be it coarseness and dryness or frizz, tangles etc.

Thus, it will make it difficult for you to brush your clip-ins when your hair dries and in addition to this, it may become quite hard for you to style your hair with clip-ins on, in future.

Related: Is Using Hair Towel After Swimming Good

Related: Can You Go Swimming After Dyeing Your Hair Red

How to Protect Clip in Hair Extensions While Swimming?

If you’ve chosen to keep your clip-ins on while you go for a swim, then you must know that there will be some preparation you’ll need to do before you get into the water, so you can protect your hair extensions.

Here are some tips to protect your clip-in hair extensions while swimming:

1. Always wear a swim cap over your head

This is one of the best and simplest things you can do when you have clip-ins on! Yes, you could still put on some leave-in conditioner over your hair before putting your swim cap on (for extra protection of course, because some water does seep in). But nevertheless, tucking your hair fully into the swim cap can help keep your hair away from the water majorly.

2. Wet your extensions before getting into the water

Just how you’d wash your natural hair before you get into the water, you should do the same even when you have your clip-in hair extensions on.

This is because dry hair can absorb more of the chlorine/sat in the pool/ocean water and stick to the hair strands, thus damaging your clip-ins extensively. This can also result in dryness, frizz, discoloration, brassiness (in lighter colored clip-in hair extensions) etc.

3. Use a good leave-in conditioner on your extensions

Before you get into the water, always make sure to use a good leave-in conditioner on your hair (with your clip-ins on).

Generously apply the leave-in conditioner, as this will act as  barrier to protect your hair from the water and will effectively reduce the damaged caused to your clip-in hair extensions.

4. Make sure your extensions are tangle free before entering the water

So, if you’ve not combed your clip-in hair extensions prior to entering the water, then you should do so. This is essential because in case your clip-ins get wet, then it will become rather difficult to detangle it thereafter because the hair will be dry and coarse.

Also, be sure to brush your clip-ins with a boar bristle brush or a nylon brush and be very gentle.

5. Tie your hair into a bun

If you choose to get into the water with your clip-in hair extensions on to just take a dip, then always tie your hair up into a bun (if your hair is long) or into a ponytail (if your hair is short).

Securing it on top will help keep it away from the water, thus avoiding chlorine/salt-water damage, tangling and will also prevent it from coming out.

6. Avoid being in the water for a long time

Avoid being in the water for over two hours at a time. This is because prolonged exposure to the chlorine or salt in the pool/sea water, can cause damage to the clip-in hair extensions.

This will mean that your clip-ins could loosen out and come off as the tape or bonds may lose its stickiness, the clip-ins can become dry and rough, they can get entangled etc.

Best Types of Hair Extensions for Swimming

Wearing your extensions in your hair if you have planned to submerge yourself fully into the water is not recommended.

But if you still wish to go ahead with it, in case you want to or you do not have a choice, then you could go in for tape-in hair extensions, water-resistant hair extensions, clip-in hair extensions, sewn-in hair extensions, synthetic hair extensions or even nano-ring hair extensions.

Dos and Don’ts You Need To Know About Clip-In Extensions

If you’re someone who often wears clip-in hair extensions, then do keep in mind some of these dos and don’ts.

The Dos

• Do comb and brush your hair extensions after every use in order to keep them tangle free.
• Do wash your clip-ins with a sulfate-free and silicone -ree shampoo and conditioner to maintain their quality and keep them clean.
• Do make sure to dry your extensions properly before brushing or styling them.

The Don’ts

• Don’t sleep with your clip-in hair extensions on as they can damage your natural hair.
• Don’t go for a swim with your clip-in hair extensions on if you’re completely submerging yourself in the water.
•  Don’t wear your clip-in hair extensions while you go to the gym or go for any other form of exercise as far as possible. If you do wish to, tie them up into a ponytail or a bun.
•  Don’t use clip-ins if you already have hair loss.
•  Don’t wash your hair with your clip-ins on, always take them off and wash them separately.

Conclusion

Swimming with clip-in hair extensions on is a possibility only if you’re taking a dip in the pool, lounging in the hot tub or in the ocean water, provided all your hair doesn’t get completely wet.

But, if you’ve decided to completely submerge yourself into the water, this means your clip-ins are going to be fully wet and there is a good chance that they can get damaged. 

This could mean the clip-ins could fall off, get dry and discolored and will not be fit for future use.

Therefore, you need to consider whether it’s just a one day thing or whether you’re going to be swimming on a daily basis, whether or not your hair will be fully immersed into the water or not. 

Then take a call on whether or not you need to keep your clip-ins on or take them off.

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

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