Swimming + Hair & Body?

Question

I am going to be doing a lot of swimming with a friend this summer (probably 2 hours a day 5-6 times a week) and I have very long very thick hair so I can't wear a little swim cap. Obviously I shower afterwards and have to wash my hair (and condition it) to get all the chemicals out of my hair from the water. I was wondering if washing my hair so much will cause any problems because someone mentioned to me that if you wash your hair too much you wash away natural oils that are good for the hair. I never blow dry my hair after washing it either I just put it in a plat and let it dry naturally.

I was also wondering if I should be using any special moisturiser on my face or body after I swim because I kind of feel really dry after I come out of the water. I am just a soap and water kind of girl so I know nothing about what type would be right for my face and body so I am just looking for some advice lol.

Thanks! Xx

Answer 1

good for you swimming so much!  in my younger years i had a world ranking and i've been to the olympic training center in colorado numerous times, so this answer is coming from an experienced water goer who used to spend 20+ hours in a pool each week.  you'll want to get a real swim cap, not those silly meshie things, one that feels more like rubber.  you always want to wet your hais before putting it on (a lot of people wet in shower and then apply some conditioner before putting it on to protesct hair too)  start by putting cap on from front to back and then twist your hair and stuff it in the back.  another trick people do to put a cap like this on is dip it in the pool inside out so it collects water, and then hold it over your head and let the weight of the water cascade over you turing it rightside out and positioning it on your head.  at first, the cap may feel tight, but you'll get used to it.  most people put the tips of their ears or all of their ears inside, some people leave them out, but that kinda looks funny (and creates more drag).  a local swim shop (yes, they exist) or internet will have a shampoo called ultraswim, which is especially good at removing chlorine.  regular use will prevent your hair from turning green.  (though it may eventually become a little lighter in color - this is unpreventable)  you will definitely find that your skin gets really dry.  shower right after you swim and apply lubriderm when you are still slightly damp...otherwise you could get really itchy.  lastly, try to make sure all the water gets out of your ears, most swimmers do this funky head bob to the side thing to get it out.  nothing messes up a good summer of swimming more than swimmers ear!  enjoy your time in teh water....always happy to answer more questions on swimming (i am emailable)!  don't find them around here to often!

Answer 2

There are some shampoos out there specifically for swimmers, so you could try those. You can also use a clarifying shampoo to get out the chlorine, but you shouldn't use it every day. Also, use a deep conditioner at least once a week (the kind that tells you to let it sit for about 5 minutes). For dry skin, I would just say that pretty much any lotion would work. Cetaphil works really nice for your face. And, it kind of sucks, but swimming that often pretty much leaves you smelling like chlorine all of the time. So get used to it!

Answer 3

If you are concerned about drying out your hair by washing it everyday, try the co-washing technique.  Shampoos contain harsh chemicals that strip your hair of its natural oils.  By co-washing, you use only conditioner to wash your hair everyday and only on every 4th wash do you use shampoo.  Your hair will still be clean because, like shampoo, conditioners contain detergents/sulfates that clean your hair. However, the ones in conditioner are less harsh than the ones in shampoo.  The result will be clean, ultra moisturized hair despite your swimming routine.

Good luck :D

Answer 4

Try a leave in conditioner and for your face don't forget sunscreen!