Get your hair wet before you jump into the pool

Chakolate's "swimmer's hair" tip:

If you or your kids swim a lot, be sure to get your hair wet *before* you go in the pool. Dry hair is like a sponge: it soaks up the first thing it touches. Much better if that's fresh water than if it's chlorine. Your hair will thank you.

Not a big deal, because most public pools ask you to shower before getting in. (Here's a little motivation to actually do it.) There's also the tried-and-true swim cap, especially for long-haired girls.

Related: Have kids soap up at the pool shower

Comments

[Doll Clothes Gal]

My daughter is an avid swimmer - this would be just the ticket.

[Tara]

As a blonde growing up with a pool in the backyard, I know all about what it takes to avoid the dreaded green hair. My stylist told my mom and me to get my hair wet then slather it with conditioner to keep it from soaking up any of the pool chemicals. We'd do that then braid it before I got in the pool for the day. It worked and my hair was always in great shape for the first day of school.

[MeL]

I spent a spring season on the Diving Team at my high school. I sucked at diving, but all that time in the pool was great. The trick we used to keep our hair from frying in the chlorine was to wet it in the shower first, then comb through a heavy conditioner (like Pantene Pro-V).

For kids, if you don't want to use a heavy grown-up shampoo, a little olive oil combed through the hair works just as well.

[Annette]

The reason they ask you to shower before swimming is to remove all of the excess tanning lotion/sunscreen/etc so it doesn't gunk up the pool water. Putting tons of conditioner in your hair before diving in seems inconsiderate to me, especially if it's not your pool.

[adrienne]

This is such a good idea, and it wouldn't have struck me in a thousand years.

Thanks for another great tip!

[Chakolate]

I second Annette's point about not using conditioner if it's not your own pool.

[kara lynn]

I was a competative swimmer for 10 years and am now a lifeguard and swim instructor. Not only does showering protect your hair it also helps your swim suit last longer. It's because of the same concept with absorbing non-chlorine water first.

I recomend wetting the hair down befor putting on a swim cap too, water still sneaks in there sometimes.

I agree with Annette too. Please, do not use conditioner in your hair before using a pool. It's not very considerate gunking up a pool, private or public.

Something else to ponder. Did you know that the chlorine smell is only emmitted when it is working? In other words, a dirty pool = strong smelling chlorine. Think about that the next time your at a hotel pool. Yuck! Our city's health inspector told our aquatics staff that.

[kara lynn]

I forgot to say, Ultra Swim shampoo and conditioner works great at keeping your hair free of green streaks!

[Heather]

Something else to ponder. Did you know that the chlorine smell is only emmitted when it is working? In other words, a dirty pool = strong smelling chlorine.
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ICK! I did NOT know that! Thanks for passing that on!!!

[--]

Really? I thought the whole point of showering before entering a pool was to keep out "crotch germs"!

[Sheryl]

A word of caution about swim caps--if the child is playing in an outdoor pool, watch to make sure they aren't getting overheated. The cap should come off whenever they are out of the water. And have them wear a light colored cap, not a dark, heat absorbing one.

Also, the less expensive caps are latex, which a lot of people are allergic or sensitive to. If you are going to use a cap, spend a couple of extra bucks to get a silicone one; it will last longer than the latex and it won't pull hair as much either.

There are also caps with two layers--lycra (swim suit material) that goes against the scalp, and silicone on the outside. These are great for "tenderheaded" kids.

[cabbey]

@kara lynn

"Did you know that the chlorine smell is only emmitted when it is working? In other words, a dirty pool = strong smelling chlorine."

I think you're missing a contradiction in that.... I'm pretty sure the strong chlorine smell is a sign that the chemistry has broken down and is no longer working.

Thankfully our gym has moved to a non-cholrine system for the pools... it's so much nicer on hair/suits/eyes.