new thread
So I was recently invited to attend an indoor swimming session. I didn't go, for I had more important things to do. All the while, however I couldn't help thinking that perhaps it was better I didn't go, having saved my hair from exposure to (presumably) harsh chlorine.
I would like to know if any of you swim frequently (in pools or at beaches) and, if so, do you take any precautions? I thought of purchasing a swim cap, but I've never had to look for anything like that before, and I can't help but imagine how strange I'd look, being the only one walking around with one of those things on. I'm also suspicious as to whether a cap could contain all the hair I have (It reaches shoulder length at the back).
I've never thought about that, but I see plenty of long-haired women swimming in pools and it doesn't seem to bother them. Of course taking a shower afterwards to rinse of the chlorine and everything is always a good idea.
No doubt, but most women I know have grown up with long hair, so they take it for granted since they were too young to remember suffering through awkward stages (What's more, if you've never had short hair in your life, its hard to imagine how difficult growing out long hair can be since you've no memorable experience which you might use to assess difficulty by comparison). Well, they may not take hair COMPLETELY for granted, but certainly a lot more than I do. I make a conscious effort not to subject my hair to the same treatment that many of them do (Subjection to shampoo, conditioner, and extended usage hair dryers, all on a daily basis, 24/7/360).
Last year in school I had to swim for gym everyday for about 2 months and now my hair is very frizzy and damaged.
Heh: Sue the school!
Seriously though, I think subjecting your hair to any unnatural (well, perhaps chemical is a better word) substances on a daily basis for that duration of time is going to affect the condition of your locks.
Chlorine will bind to and damage your hair by breaking down the core. Then the hair becomes dull dry and lifeless. The best thing to do before swimming in chlorine water is to work some conditioner into your hair to protect it. Leave it in. After you get out of the pool rinse everything out thoroughly.
I met a girl with knee-length hair who said her secret was that she swam daily in a chlorinated pool. I kid you not -- she thought the chlorine was responsible for the good shape her hair was in.
I swim quite often, and use a swimmer's shampoo and conditioner afterwards. Doesn't seem to affect my hair.
With regard to caps, I use a silicone cap, which keeps most of the pool water out of my hair (it's usually almost dry when I go take a shower), and I have no trouble getting my shoulder-blade-length hair into it.
Hmm.. Thanks for the post. I'm just wondering about the so-called "Swimmer's shampoo & conditioner" you mentioned... Are these products specifically marketed toward swimmers, or are you speaking of conventional shampoo products that just happen to include some information about swimming on their label? In any case, I was totally oblivious of their existance.
The shampoo and conditioner I use is made by "Jason", and is labeled "Swimmer's and Sports Shampoo". I've been swimming three times a week for quite a number of years, and my hair's in good shape.
I go swimming almost every week, and swim with my head in the water much of the time. Our local pool is strongly chlorinated and I don't take any precautions other than washing my hair afterwards, just like I did when I had short hair.
Barry
I visited a longhair site the other day (it may have been one of the links on Victor's site) that said that Marty Mart (the guy with the knee-length hair on Victor's 'Samson' page) had cut his hair because he was a swimmer. Does anyone know if
(a) this is true and
(b) he cut because of chlorine or some other reason ? Also 'cut' is relative with hair like that - he could've lost the last foot or two and still been a longhair !
I don't swim often and don't take any chlorine precautions. My daughter (she's seven and never had a haircut) swims all the time and her hair's perfect. But I'm 40 and going grey which isn't really a comparison !!
I received an email directly from Marty stating that since he was a swimmer, his hair was wet a lot. The problem was that with hair that long, keeping it all tied up like he did, it never had a chance to dry completely. He cut his hair in order to let it dry out sometimes by allowing it to hang loose.
Of course my solution would be to let it hang loose anyway, but to each his own.
I know it's best if you wear a swimming cap. But to me, unless you're all buffed out, wear a speedo and look like a swimmer...you don't exactly look cool with a cap on!
I swim a lot in the summer. I never wear a cap. What I do is wash my hair as soon as I can after swimming. First I condition, to get my hair untangled, then shampoo, then condition again.
That's really all you need to do. I don't think a special shampoo is needed.