Protecting my hair when swimming

[SkeletonSkins]

Hi all, I have recently started swimming regularly (3+ times a week) and I’m loving it, but I’m a bit worried about the damage the chlorine might be doing to my hair. I’ve tried a swimming hat but I have quite a lot of hair and found it quite uncomfortable. Are there any other tips from regular swimmers which might help my hair cope with the chlorine in the water?

I think your options are really only a swimming cap and washing your hair straight after. I apply a hair oil afterwards as well.

You can get XL size hats, even XXXL ones for people with Dreads. Look online.

Boots do a range of swim shampoo and conditioners

Wetting your hair prior to swimming reduces the amount of chlorine your hair absorbs

Please wear a hat, don’t swim without one.

I’m a swimmer and it’s really grim to have other people’s hair find themselves wrapped around my hands or face.

My hair is (as my hairdresser says) fabulous!

.... now....

It wasn’t, it was like straw. Didn’t matter what I put on it, it got worse and worse.

I tried everything! My hairdresser made a recommendation and the rest is history

I use Paul Mitchell number 3 clarifying shampoo after I swim (3hrs x 2 times a week) and some decent conditioner. The clarifying shampoo breaks the bond that has formed between the chlorine and the hair shaft. If that chlorine is allowed to remain on the hair (and ordinary shampoos won’t remove it) it creates a barrier around the hair which prevents any moisture getting into the shaft, conditioner, oil, all for nothing.

For info, don’t touch tresemme it coats the hair and eventually you’re in the same boat as you would be with chlorine.

I buy a big 1L bottle of PM Number 3 and decant into travel bottles that live in my swim bag. It’s cheaper I think doing it that way as I get it from Allbeauty.com and it lasts a long time.

If you need to wash between swims, you can use normal shampoo too, it’s just pm3 will remove the chlorine immediately after swimming so until you’re back in the pool, you’ll be fine.

I also use Mane and Tail clarifying shampoo, they have conditioner too and are amazing! they remove Chlorine too and you can order online from Superdrug

If someone has more Afro Caribbean hair you can still use the pm3, but then use regular leave in conditioner as you would normally- my son has mixed race hair and It’s all about the conditioner and getting moisture back in

Does that help?

Do keep swimming!

Decathlon sell hats for those with lots of hair

Thanks for the PM recommendation MzHz. I will try it for my DCs' hair. I used to use a clarifying shampoo myself after swimming years ago, and had totally forgotten about it. They are also mixed race and their hair dries out easily. I try to avoid shampooing at all, but a good clarifying shampoo would be an excellent solution for holidays when they don't (won't!) wear a hat.

OP I have had success with my DCs by running coconut oil through their hair and then using a swimming hat. Very little water gets into the hat, and the oil seems to stop it soaking in. This may not be a solution if you have fine hair like mine though! My hair would look terrible and greasy if I tried the same trick.
Hats are a PITA, but they do work.

You can get more cloth-y caps that let water through and are less condom-head than the traditional ones

My swim cap is swimsuit material, made by zoggs

absolutely wear a cap.
and brush your hair and tie it up before swimming.
wash it straight after swimming, if you are strapped for time just rinse well and use conditioner instead of shampoo.

Thanks for all the suggestions, going to experiment by buying some different hats and using some of the products people have recommended! And I’ll definitely keep swimming!

If you’re swimming more than a couple of times a week, removing the chlorine becomes more important

I think putting coconut oil on mixed race hair then cap is a good idea too!

I know you’re not even really supposed to use shampoo on mixed race hair, but once a week or so is probably ok. As long as you feed it with moisturiser

I used to use the swimsuit hat, but then the hair gets soaked through and more chlorine gets at it - tbh, my rubber hat doesn’t keep my hair from getting wet either

I just want the hair to stay off my face etc tbh

I also use the foam off the shampoo on my hair to wash my body, can’t hurt eh?

I have Nivea in shower moisturiser and also a neutrogena spray moisturiser

Palmers at home if I need a top up.

I bloody love swimming.... clearly no way I’d go through all this product and palaver otherwise

... and don’t get me started on the chlorine allergy and the decongestants 😂😊

The cloth caps I tried just come straight off my head! Don't stick at all. Not if I do front crawl, anyway. Useless.

Op there are hats for big hair

DD has one from a sports shop

I’ll see if I can find the brand

Here