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Before you dive into the chlorinated pool, make sure to soak your hair thoroughly under regular tap water or a shower. Wetting your hair with non-chlorinated water first provides protection from chlorine absorption. To understand how to properly care for your hair after swimming, it is a good idea to know exactly how and why pool chemicals cause damage. While it is effective in disinfecting the pool, chlorine is bad for your hair in the following ways.
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This allows other chemicals to react with your hair, such as copper compounds, which can give your hair a greenish tint. Your hair also becomes more susceptible to damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet radiation breaks the bonds in keratin, the protein that makes up hair, causing roughness and split ends. Pigment molecules also succumb to pool chemicals and the sun, so even if your hair doesn't turn green, it can become lighter or faded. Our conditioner will repair damaged hair that is dry and brittle–otherwise called “swimmer’s hair“, “pool hair”, or “chlorine hair”. Using these types of products will only make matters worse because the chlorine attached to your hair has a very strong bond that normal soaps won’t remove.
What causes swimmers’ hair and how to care for it?
A 1961 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. found that, prior to blacking out, swimmers recalled believing they could go forever. Though it is unclear if Alvarez suffered an episode of shallow water blackout, she remembers having a “great” performance before blacking out at the world championships. In artistic swimming, that means striving to perfect your every kick, every stroke, every theatrical pose. Swim conditioner, on the other hand, focuses primarily on hydrating and moisturizing your hair to promote its recovery and optimize hair health.
How Often Should I Test My Pool Water?
I don’t recommend using this on a daily basis since it removes your hair’s natural nutrients. The accompanying conditioner, made with vegetable oils, has a strong acidic pH to help balance your hair’s pH level. This formula also helps to restore your hair’s natural moisture and shine. I’d recommend this product to anyone who wants to get the chlorine out of their hair and help strengthen it. All the vitamins and Aloe-based ingredients help give your hair its natural shine and feel back. Even if you have colored, treated, or perm set in your hair, the shampoo is gentle on it while it removes chlorine and other metals.
This silicone cap comes in large, extra-large, and extra-extra-large sizes to easily stretch over weaves, dreadlocks, Afros, braids, or extensions. The wrong shampoo might provide a temporary fix, but you need something that will keep up with your vigorous swim schedule. The shampoo’s finishing touch is its cantaloupe and citrus scent. The Vitamin B strengthens your hair follicles and keeps your hair looking great.
Download this FREE cheat sheet to create the perfect swimming workout and routine. Learn how to structure your swim workout and enjoy 9 example workouts, ranging from beginner to advanced. We also consulted dozens of customer reviews to narrow down the best picks. EDTA has been shown in lab settings1 to be extremely powerful at reducing chlorine, and citric acid is an all-natural alternative.
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Conditioner is also great for keeping your hair soft and shiny and can help to untangle knots which makes brushing your hair easier. According to WebMD, there is no right or wrong answer for how much you should wash your hair. That said, if you need more frequent washing, that’s perfectly fine, and there is no harm in doing so. You can always purchase a smaller bottle and pour your shampoo or conditioner from the larger bottle into it. This may even be better since some of the smaller bottles tend to break and leak your hair product.
It also penetrates the already compromised cuticle, worsening existing damage. Have you noticed your hair looks a bit more dry and damaged since you started swimming regularly? That straw-like texture and lackluster appearance are likely due to chlorine exposure. Chlorine can do real damage to your hair, stripping away moisture and weakening strands.
Best Overall Swimmer Shampoo: Aveda Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser
When you get out of the pool, I guarantee you are about as clean as you will ever be. After a swim (in a bunch of pool chemicals) you don’t really need more harsh chemicals. First and foremost, swimmers need products that will remove the pool chemicals, and most importantly, the chlorine. One of the best things you can do before swimming is to wet your hair in the shower. You can then treat your hair with a little natural oil or a hair conditioner.
These masks infuse your hair with nutrients and oils to restore softness and shine. As soon as you can after your swim session, rinse your hair under regular tap water or hop in the shower. Thoroughly rinse your hair to remove any lingering pool water and chemicals on the surface. Without those natural oils, your hair cuticle (the outermost protective layer) becomes damaged. This leads to a roughened texture, tangled strands, and increased breakage risk. With the proper hair care routine, you can protect your strands and maintain healthy, vibrant hair even with regular pool time.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to experiment and make your own decision. Luckily, all of the products on my list are good options, so whether you go with a more or less expensive option, you’ll still see great results. As a bonus, the added vitamin B strengthens the roots of your hair. The smell isn’t as strong as some of the other shampoos, which is nice. Convenient and compact bottles are available for carry in your swim bag, as well as large bulk-buy jugs to save some money. That being said, this product is still quite expensive, with prices similar to the premium Malibu C Wellness range.
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Give your strands a chance to heal before subjecting them to more chemical trauma. When hair is wet, it is extremely fragile and prone to breakage. After swimming, gently work through tangles using a wide-tooth comb or your fingers rather than harshly pulling with a brush. For long hair, it may be easier to put your cap on while your hair is still dry to achieve full coverage. Besides having your hair looking healthy, it actually needs to be healthy. Your hair can start falling out or breaking off if it becomes too damaged from chlorine.
It is perfect for gently removing chlorine, salt, and other pool elements that can damage your hair. The shampoo is ideal for all hair types, including dyed or color-treated hair, since it won’t strip the coloring. From the best swim shampoos and conditioners to common questions and concerns you might have– I even walk you through the process of choosing the perfect option for you. A swim cap will not keep you hair dry, but it will help prevent chlorine absorption and sun damage. Latex and silicone caps work equally well when it comes to blocking chlorine, but soft LYCRA™ caps are too porous and let water flow through your hair as you swim. Silicone caps are softer and stretchier, and will pull out less hair.
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