Swimmers, need Hair help

Ah yes...the issue of green hair...which was a giant threat for me having very expensive highlights in my hair already.

As mentioned above, wet your hair first, then condition it as hair is like a sponge, so once its wet, it has consumed its max moisture.  Post swim, use a special swim shampoo.  You can get them at sporting goods stores...not typically in drug stores.  I use ultra swim shampoo and conditioner.  They are about $7 each. 

Yes, like everyone else said, wet your hair before you get in the pool.  Um, MOST pools require a shower before you get in ANYWAY so this is hard to avoid!

FWIW, I never use leave in conditioner before OR after and I swim 400,000+ yards a year and my stylists are always saying they can't believe I swim that much because it never seems like my hair is getting ruined by chlorine.  So I think it's the wetting it down that is the trick.

Oh, and I have always used Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three which says it's good at getting chlorine out.  Can find at MOST hair salons that carry Paul Mitchell....

Good luck!
 

I have been swimming an awful lot and have always used TRI SWIM products to get the chlorine out of my hair and the chlorine STANK off my skin. Here's a link....

http://www.tri-swim.com/

You can order them at any online tri store... Team Estrogen, etc...

Thanks for the tips everyone. 

Whizzzzz - 2006-09-30 4:22 PM
I have been swimming an awful lot and have always used TRI SWIM products to get the chlorine out of my hair and the chlorine STANK off my skin. Here's a link....
http://www.tri-swim.com/
You can order them at any online tri store... Team Estrogen, etc...

I kind of like sporting Eau de Chlorine apres-swim.  Reminds me of my recently completed workout and the pool.  Am I weird?

www.headblade.com

It isn't necessary to put conditioner in your hair.  It is just going to rinse out when you get in the pool.  However the process of getting your hair wet is what is keeping your hair from getting messed up by the chlorine.  My good friend and hair dresser went into a long dissertation (she is a master stylist and an expert on chemical treatments on hair) into it with me one day.  Basically our hair absorbs water and when you don't get your hair wet with clean water before you swim in a pool, the chlorine gets absorbed into your hair.  In addition, after you swim, you should definately rinse it out with clean water as well.  She told me that if you don't, the clorine makes your hair plasticy (is that a word?) like doll hair.  She also said that what causes your hair to turn green is not the chlorine, but the water flowing through copper pipes.  She said that the special shampoos are fine, but they can be harsh on your hair as well.  That is why some pools don't turn your hair green and some do.  I think jacuzzis are worse because there is a lower water to copper ratio. 

I have followed her advice (usually) and can really tell a difference when I don't get my hair wet before getting into the pool. 

 Just thought I would share.

 Kelly

You can always do what I did.

Shave your head.

No hair = no worries