Cheap protectors for skin and hair for swimming?

[MapMyMum]

I wasnt sure if this should be here or in the exercise thread... am retaking up swimming in the mornings before the school run to help me be healthier overall but I remember my kin and hair getting very dry before. I have slightly dry frizzy curly hair as it is and dont normally wash it more than twice a week else it breaks and gets in awful condition - is there something I can do to prevent needing to wash out the chlorine smell each time? Also for my skin which is a bit dry naturally too. I've read that applying coconut oil before you go is good as a barrier, but would that not be messy and leave me sliding around in the car on the way there?!

Ive always been a "do the bare minimum" kind of a girl but I want to start taking care of myself a bit better, still with tight purse strings!

I swim a lot, and use the Boots 3 in 1 Swim and Gym shampoo/bodywash and it is brilliant for getting rid of the chlorine smell. My hair is twisted up under a cap while I swim which also protects it.

I use a spray moisturiser on my skin, which is great as it goes straight in and doesn't make your clothes stick

Swimming cap, either leave in conditioner or any old serum all over first, this sinks into the hair shaft and stops chlorine going in. Cap on, then wash out after as normal.

Not sure about skin but coconut oil floating round the pool doesn’t sound the best, not sure if there is a preventative for this or just some good moisturisation after?

Thanks Dibbler and Horse., I'll see what I can find. Do you both use fabric or rubber swim hats? I have quite a big head and big hair so worry about finding one to fit

Rubber best to protect. My hairdresser said to put oil through hair beforehand.

Please don't go swimming with leave in conditioner, oil or other products in your hair. They react with the chlorine and make the water quality worse for everyone.

Aveda do a good one that doubles as a body wash to get the chlorine off. It also gets rid of product build up. Then use a normal conditioner. Please don't use a product in your hair when swimming even with a cap on.

Definitely don't put anything on BEFORE swimming! Swimming caps don't actually stop your hair getting wet ime.

My favoured swim hats (I have approx eleventy billion of the things) are PU coated and for long hair (I have both Poqswim and TYR), or silicone/long hair (TYR and Speedo). They don't keep your hair dry, but it does reduce the damage and keep it less tangled.

As far as your skin goes just buy a cheap emollient and slather on tons afterwards. I use E45 but not everyone gets on with that. And flexitol heel balm for my feet.

I struggle more with my hair but keep it short and use minimum product or heat on it which helps.

Please don't go swimming with leave in conditioner, oil or other products in your hair. They react with the chlorine and make the water quality worse for everyone.

Have you tried it? I wouldn’t go for oil, but the right amount of leave in conditioner does not cause a problem IME.

You wouldn't notice if it's just you doing it but if everyone did it, it would be awful! It's really antisocial.

You shouldn't use any products on your skin or hair before you go in the pool, that's partly why you're supposed to rinse off in the shower before you get in the pool.

Boots sun swim and gym is good

Ok so nothing beforehand and a nice something after!! Also read that a few mins in the sauna after is good for the skin to get the chlorine out so might try that too. Thanks everyone!

The Boots Sun, Swim, Gym stuff is awful on my hair!

Yeah same with the boots one, I have dry curly hair and it also stinks. I use the Aveda one.