Swimmer Hair and Skin Care

Why do our skin and hairhave to get messed up just because we love to swim? Can’t we tone our muscles and keep our epidermis healthy and comfortable at the same time? The answer is YES!

marin photo via Freedigitalphotos.net

These awesome swimmer hair and skin care tips are key to preventing damage wreaked by the pool:

1. Screen Machine

Get ready for this interesting factoid: salt in the ocean and chlorine in pool water are both major factors contributing to your sunburn.

Reapply sunscreen every half hour during your swim. It’s a twenty minute break-not too much of a sacrifice when your life is at stake. As for brands, I like to use Aveeno Hydrosport.
Cuz it’s my fav!
I cannot be more emphatic about this: if you swim in an outdoor pool, SUNSCREEN YOURSELF TO DEATH! It’s better than the alternative (skin cancering yourself to death).

2. Shower Power

Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee via Freedigitalphotos.net

Rinse your hair and body before and after swimming. Taking even a super speedy shower prior to hopping in the pool helps protect the hair and skin from drying out.Just wet the hair and skin fully before and rinse off after.
How does it work?
Think of each hair shaft and skin cell as an empty sponge. If you drop a dry sponge in a pool, it will fill up with pool water (full of harsh chemicals that damage and dry out hair).
But, if you soak a dry sponge in the shower first, it absorbs water from the facet instead!
This prevents hair and skin from soaking up as many chemicals in the pool because they’re already drenched with facet water! And the post swim rinse washes off whatever chemicals do hit your body.
Plus, you’ll smell better. And it’s more sanitary. Which respects the other swimmers in the pool, too.
 

3. Get Rid of Green

If your hair is blonde or colored, you probably fear that green, “swimmer hair” look. Don’t you?
I get it. It’s a real concern! The green tinge is due to copper oxidationby chlorine. Try coconut oil or olive oil.
Application to the hair during your pre-swim shower acts as a sealant. Which creates a barrier between the chlorine and your hair. Like body armor!
This moisturizing layer also hydrates the hair and makes it strong and soft.

4. Free From Flaky Skin and Damaged Hair

Is your skin way wimpy in comparison to your swimming stamina? It’s okay to admit it. We won’t hold it against you. Here are four words that will change your life:
CHLORINE     NEUTRALIZING     BODY     LOTION 

Apply it pre-swim. It will protect your skin. And use the chlorine neutralizing body soap in your post-swim shower. No more itchy, scratchy, rashy flakes of dry skin. No sir-ee!
How about your hair? Don’t forget to rinse! After your swim, use a clarifying shampoo. Choose a sulfate-free shampoo with EDTA to remove all the chemical residue (or apple cider vinegarfor an all natural alternative).
And always, always, always condition. Choose a conditioner with Moroccan argan oilto replenish, nourish, and strengthen your hair. If you’re in a rush, leave-in conditioner is also a good option.
 

5. Pat Dry

Stockimages via Freedigitalphotos.net

If you scrub yourself dry with a towel constantly, you will over exfoliate your skin.
Try to hold your towel steady and patiently against the skin to really let the water absorb. Pat yourself
dry instead of rubbing yourself dry with the towel.
Same goes with the hair. Don’t scrub it with the towel. Wrap the towel around your hair and let the water slowly soak in.
If you’re in a hurry, wrap-up your hair and prop the towel on your head. Turban style!
 

6. Lotion Up!

Apply lotion after swimming to re-hydrate your skin. For optimal moisturizing, choose a lotion with at least one of the following amazing ingredients. You can’t go wrong with either:

CACAO BUTTER
or
ALOE VERA
or
SHEA BUTTER!

Now, if you’re like me, you’ve probably wondered…
What’s the big difference between face moisturizers and body lotion? Are they interchangeable? Because it’s nice to keep the number of containers
in my gym bag to a minimum.
It’s reasonable question.
Turns out, from a health perspective, it’s fine to use a face moisturizer on the body (though expensive & impractical). But you shouldn’t use body lotion on your face!
The skin on your face is thinner, more delicate and has a different pH level than the skin on your body. They require different degrees of moisture to maintain a healthy balance. Body lotion can be drying and irritating the skin on your face (due to cheaper ingredients and added fragrance).

artur84 photo via Freedigitalphotos.net

Your Swimmer Skin Care / Hair Care For Swimmers Tips

As a fellow swimmer:
How do you keep a healthy and happy epidermis?
Any products, methods, tricks or techniques we should know about?
Tell us all about it in the comments section!