SWIMMING LAPS IS GREAT FOR YOUR body but not for your hair. The chlorine used to sanitize pools breaks down the natural sebum (or oil) found on your hair, and without it, your hair becomes drier and lighter and loses its sheen.
“Swimming in chlorine is like dunking your head in a bucket of bleach,” says Allen Edwards, owner of Allen Edwards Salon and Serenity Spa in Woodland Hills, Calif. To reverse the effects of chlorine, condition daily and use twice-weekly intensive treatments, suggests Edwards. One such treatment is to warm 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, massage the oil into your scalp and hair, cover with a plastic bag, and wrap with a damp hot towel. After 30 minutes, shampoo your hair as usual.
You can also buy hair products specially formulated to remove some chlorine buildup and restore body. Try Aubrey Organics Swimmers Shampoo ($7.25 for 8 ounces; 800-282-7394; www.aubreyorganics.com) or Jason swimmer’s & sports Shampoo ($7.50 for 17.5 ounces) and Jason Swimmer’s & Sports Conditioner ($7 for 8 ounces; 877-527-6601; www.jason-natural.com).
To prevent future damage to your hair, follow this advice: Always coat your hair with a deep conditioner before you hit the pool, says Edwards, and then cover your hair with a plastic bag and a swim cap. After your swim, shampoo and condition your hair as usual.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group