For many of us, the warm season means swimming in the pool. Indeed, when the heat is on, swimming in a cool pool quickly becomes a favorite weekend pastime. While this activity is good for both physical and mental health, it’s worth remembering that pool water contains chlorine!
This product can be particularly aggressive and tends to dry out skin and hair. So, we say yes to swimming, but don’t forget to take care of yourself before and after!
How can I protect my skin and hair from chlorine?
Here’s our advice.
What are the effects of chlorine on skin and hair?
Chlorine is essential for maintaining pool hygiene. Without it, the water would be totally unfit for bathing. Nevertheless, chlorine is harsh on skin and hair.
Chlorine on the skin:
- Dries out the epidermis;
- Irritates sensitive skin, especially when too concentrated;
- Causes a feeling of tightness.
Whereas on hair, this product:
- Dries out hair and makes it brittle;
- Bleaches dyed hair and lightens dark hair.
To avoid these inconveniences, it is important to protect your hair and skin and give them after-swimming care.
How to protect skin and hair from chlorine?
If you want to avoid irritating your skin and hair as much as possible after swimming, the best thing to do is to protect them BEFORE you go in.
To protect the skin, we recommend coating the skin and fingers with nourishing jojoba oil, which is particularly gentle, hypoallergenic and has the same hydrolipidic profile as the skin. It’s ideal for insulating the skin from aggression, and has the added advantage of being non-greasy.
Hair should be protected with a silicone bathing cap. This will prevent them from getting wet, but also from polluting the pool water with your hair care products. To avoid any accidents, remember to nourish your lengths with a little shea oil before covering them with the cap.
Caution! It’s important to remember that chlorine is also harmful to your eyes. That’s why you should always wear goggles, especially if you’re going to be in the pool for a long time.
After-swim skin and hair care
After swimming, it’s essential to shower and shampoo. To care for your skin, opt for an invigorating shower gel that soothes and moisturizes the skin at the same time. This cleanses product residues from the epidermis and quickly restores the skin’s hydrolipidic film. After a shower, moisturize your skin with a cream rich in moisturizing active ingredients such as shea butter or coconut.
Your hair also needs nourishing care after shampooing. Don’t skip out on conditioner, as it will come in very handy for repairing chlorine damage, should your hair get wet in the pool. Next, apply a nourishing mask and leave on for several minutes. Finally, rinse with clean water and leave your hair to air-dry.
If you’re used to using a hair dryer, it’s not advisable to do so after swimming in a pool. The hot air will tend to dry lengths even more. Finally, to make styling easier, apply a little serum or nourishing oil to the hair while it’s drying.
Finally, since color-treated hair is more fragile, it’s best to take an oil bath at least once a week, preferably after your swimming session at the pool. Apply your usual conditioning oils throughout your hair, massage in well and wrap in a warm towel or satin cap for an hour. Then wash your hair with your usual shampoo and rinse with lukewarm water to remove the oil.
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