Top tips to keep hair and skin healthy when swimming

Whether you’re a competitive swimmer, take regular lessons or simply have fun in the pool with your kids, hair and skin care for swimmers is essential.

Chlorinated water can leave you with dry, damaged hair and skin but it doesn’t have to be this way! By following a few simple steps, you can protect yourself, ensuring your hair and skin stay healthy while you’re in and out of the water.

Riverside SwimMagic co-ordinator Alisha Hall shares her top hair and skin care tips for swimmers. 

Shower

Your hair is absorbent like a sponge. So when it’s dry it absorbs any liquid around it - if you’re swimming, that means it will become full of chlorinated water. This can strip away the natural oils that coat and protect your hair, leaving it dry and brittle. One of the best ways to make your hair less absorbent is to rinse it with clean water for a few minutes before getting into the pool. 

The same applies to your skin. By taking a shower before you get in the pool, it will take longer for the pool chemicals to get through your skin and do damage. 

Create a barrier

Put leave-in conditioner or even coconut oil through your hair to hydrate and protect it before swimming. This moisturises your hair and scalp while creating a barrier that makes it harder for chlorine to penetrate the follicles.

Again, the same applies to your skin - adding another layer of protection is especially beneficial for people with sensitive skin conditions such as eczema, but is also a good idea for every swimmer. After showering and drying off, apply a small amount of moisturiser or a barrier cream to exposed areas.

Put a cap on it 

If you’re serious about swimming and your hair, it’s best to keep chlorinated water away from your hair as much as possible. Swim caps can help to prevent hair from getting wet and therefore stop any chemicals from getting through to your luscious locks. Invest in a good quality water-proof cap that covers all of your hair. Braiding or tying up your hair is also a good idea as this will make it easier to keep it under your cap.

Rinse again

If chlorinated water gets into your hair and isn’t washed out thoroughly, it can sit in your hair all day, causing it to dry out. As soon as you’re out of the pool, wash your hair thoroughly with a small amount of shampoo and conditioner. This will rinse out the chemicals and rehydrate your hair. Make sure you rinse your body with fresh water too, to get rid of any chlorine from your skin.

Don’t forget to rehydrate!

Just like with any other physical activity, swimming can leave your body dehydrated. Drinking water before and after you swim, will prevent you from getting thirsty and keep your hair, skin and the rest of your body hydrated - inside and out. Using a combination of all of the tips we’ve covered will give your hair and skin the best protection while you’re enjoying your swim.