Swimmers - face and hair - advice on what to apply before

[TantricTwist]

Swimmers - I've started swimming again and I made sure I wet my hair before going in. I applied a tiny bit of conditioner to my hair before hand to prevent dryness and my dyed hair to go possibly green. I do have Philip kingsleys swimcap but not entirely sure it's necessary. I did moisturise my face before hand but it did sting my eyes somewhat in the pool. Afterwards I just used a face wash and applied my usual serum etc.

What do you do before hand for your face and hair? Any great products you swear by? I'd be grateful for all advice.

You must leave a slick of oil behind you as you swim. Not the loveliest of thoughts for those after you. Wear your swim cap and shower off all creams. Afterwards apply moisturiser as you would after a bath.

Hello,
Defo wear a swimcap. Wet your hair before if you want to but do make friends with a swimcap. Conditioner and moisturiser will wash off and causes problems for the water quality.
For funky swimcap designs go to Funkita. If you have long hair or a big head (or both, like me) go to Speedo for long hair swimcaps (easier to get on).
For skin: I use my usual moisturiser in the morning but nothing extra before a swim. Instead I use a high potency Vitamin C serum after my shower. I always take a scrubby sponge and wash well. I like to think that I'm neutralising the chlorine salts/ free radicals etc with Vit C. I use Sunday Riley or DCM (expensive but this is the only time I use it).
For hair just wash well and condition with whatever works for you. I use a tiny bit of Argan oil when I get home.
Keep swimming!

I don't do anything in particular. It will all get washed off anyway (and be yuk in the pool). Afterwards I wash and condition hair as usual, and use my usual moisturiser.

I'm convinced that swimming 8 hours a week as a teenager gave me lovely spot-free skin at that time.

Thanks everyone I have a swim cap which I'll wear.

@Pieceofpurplesky and @smallgreyelephant that oil slick is exactly what I was concerned about actually and the main reason I started this thread.

I'll stick to wetting my hair in the showers beforehand and sticking on my speedo swimcap and mosturise etc afterwards as per normal.

I don't do anything before (swim first thing in the morning) except have a shower at the poolside. Then tons of cheap moisturiser afterwards (I use E45 on my face and body and flexitol on my feet).

Boots do a swim/gym shampoo and conditioner which stops hair drying out

https://www.boots.com/boots-sun-swim-and-gym-shampoo-for-dry-damaged-hair-250ml-10140066?cmmmc=bmm-buk-google-ppccPLAsAs--(GB:Whoop!)+Boots---(GB:Whoop!)+Boots+Shopping+-+Category+-+Beauty+-+Mobile&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIn4Le8qn5AIVUUlRCh0SVwSiEAUYASABEgKmPDDBwE

I swim every day. I don’t moisturise beforehand as you are supposed to shower before going into the pool.

I do wet my hair and spray it with the boots swim and gym spray conditioner and tie it into a tight bun. I’ve got bleached hair and so far I’ve not had any issues with it. I use chlorine removing shampoo along with an intensive conditioner after my swim

Apart from that I moisturise using whatever is on offer 😊

why are you supposed to wet your hair before you get in? I never heard of that before?

To create a barrier to stop the chlorine soaking straight into your hair and drying it out or turning it green if bleached like mine StillWeRise

Thanks @tommyshaircut and @Hitmonlee I'll check out the boots swim and gym items

ah, thank you

Little bit of facial moisturiser beforehand (I don't stick my head under the water). Sometimes a little Vaseline on fingernails if they are splitting badly - I swim most days. I always varnish my toenails to minimise the risk of picking up fungus in the changing rooms.

Afterwards, moisturiser anwhere dry, wash and condition hair. Chlorine remover shampoo makes me itch furiously. One of my fellow swimmers is a hairdresser - she says the green hair thing is a myth and doesn't cover her own coloured hair.

The gren thing isn't a myth, I've known children with naturally blond hair go green if they swim a lot.

I swim regularly, I agree wet hair to make it less absorbent and definitely wear a swim cap, I use Sanex to shower, E45 cream to moisturise. I use usual shampoo and conditioner and a detox shampoo once a week.

I hate swimming in someone else’s face cream and perfume, it sits on the water. Why do people do this?

I've just started swimming so thanks for the wetting hair tip. I'm toying with buying a swim cap but really not sure.

I swim three times a week . I shower before I get in the pool - as everyone should .
I couldn’t wear a Jonny on my head though .

I swim x3 a week and don’t put anything on body or hair before I go in the pool; for oil slick reasons. Afterwards I use a lot of conditioner and moisturisers and the chlorine really dried my skin out.

@Fidgety31 😂

Always wet your hair because the water stops chlorine being absorbed. I have long hair so use a protection cream, usually Philip Kingsley, on wet hair then wear a cap. It's a faff but my hair is in gorgeous condition.

My hair dresser advises to keep newly bleached hair out of the pool for 7 days, after that you are fine. I accidentally only waited 3 days before it holiday and my hair was fine so I'm sure it's just precautionary

I jumped straight into the pool once on holiday with dry hair as soon as I arrived and my hair started breaking off so I am very cautious and would never in a million years step into a pool with dry hair again.

That's good to know @icecreamsundae32 because I'm due to have my roots done next week so i'll avoid for a week after or at least wear a cap if I can't last more than 3 days.

It's weird that we don't tend to wear swimming caps here whereas in the rest of europe you're not allowed in the pool without a swimming cap or shower.