Over the past few months I've added swimming twice a week to my cardio routine as the apartment I moved to has an indoor pool! I had forgotten how much I absolutely love being in the water but unfortunately not the effect it has on my hair and skin! While I will always prefer swimming outdoors I live in Canada and for most months out of the year that just isn't possible!
Chlorine is often added to water to reduce the growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. While this is great for keeping a pool clean it can start to eat away at the natural oils covering and protecting our skin and hair thus making them susceptible to dryness and damage. The chlorine can eventually break the bonds of our hair making it brittle and even react with the pigments in our hair, essentially bleaching it down to the "natural" colour of keratin itself. In addition it can cause irritation and redness to our eyes.
Now this is no reason to give up on swimming! In my opinion swimming is one of the best forms of cardio there is, giving you a full body workout without strain on the joints and burning mega calories!
Here are 5 simple ways I protect myself while swimming!
1. Rinse off with a cool shower before entering the pool - We want to remove any sweat, deodorant, soap etc... that is on our skin as the chlorine can react with the proteins found in these organic compounds and create gases that can cause a rash, this will also help to keep the pool clean meaning less chemicals used in the first place. Another reason is that our skin and hair will act like a sponge and absorb this "clean" water and saturate it before it has the chance to absorb the chlorinated pool water. Remember that cold water closes hair cuticles and hot water opens them so keep your shower cool!
2. Put coconut oil on your hair and skin - This will act as a barrier to keep the natural oils protecting our skin and hair from being eaten away by the chlorine thus keeping our skin hydrated and hair strong.
3. Wear swimming goggles - If I'm swimming laps I have these bad boys on to protect my eyes, it saves me from having red, itchy eyes and from rubbing them non-stop in the pool!
4. Wear a swimming cap - Again, if I'm swimming laps not only does this improve my time ;) but it makes a huge difference in the damage done to my hair. While water does still seep into my cap it is not nearly as saturated and still protected by my shower and coconut oil. With these three things I have successfully kept my hair pink and healthy!
5. Have a shower after your swim - This is a no brainer! Rinse away all the chlorine before it has a chance to (further) soak into your skin and hair.
Is there anything else you do to keep your hair and skin looking and feeling nice while swimming regularly? If so, let me know in the comments below!
Peace and Happiness,
Jules
