Hair care for swimmers
After chilly winter comes the warmth of summer. This is also the ideal time to indulge in some outdoor activities. Swimming is always a welcome idea to beat the heat of summers. Swimming in hot summer may be soothing to your skin but swimming in a pool of chlorine and other chemicals is bound to have some effect not just on your skin but also on your hair. Discoloration and hair damage are some of the common problems faced by the regular swimmers. Chlorine and other chemicals which are used in the pool to kill harmful bacteria and keep the water clean can make your hair dry, pale and can even turn your hair greenish in color ( especially visible in blondes). Chlorine the major chemical used in the pool water breaks down the hair oils and makes the hair dry, brittle and dull. The condition becomes worse for those swimmers who perm and color their hair too often. Hairs which have been subjected to some chemical treatments can react adversely with the chemicals of the pool water. So, if you love to keep your hair permed then the only solution to keep the chlorine’s bleaching effect away from your hair strands is to wear a swim caps.
To get rid of the green layer deposited on the hair you can use shampoo and conditioner meant exclusively for swimmer’s hair. Some home remedies like washing the hair with lemon juice or vinegar are also helpful. Keep your hair moisturized. Apply moisturizer generously on your hair before you take a dip into the swimming pool. Use a swimming cap also plunging into the pool water. But if you are not comfortable about wearing a swimming cap then keep your hair away from chlorinated water contact as far as possible and make moisturizing a part of your daily hair acre routine.
Some herbal treatments can also counter the effect of the chlorine mixed with pool water. Use non sticky hair oil before diving in the pool. Massage your hair thoroughly so that the hair oil gets deep into your hair and the chlorinated water does minimal damage to your hair. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo after you come out of the water. Yogurt is a good vitalizer for damaged hair. It not only treats the lifeless hair but also cools your head while the yeast in the yogurt does the repair work.