I switched to a gym that uses salt water pools, and have never had rattier, matted down hair after swimming, and even after showering, and into the next day. Anyone notice this, or have suggested solutions? I used to wear a cap, but don’t anymore. Is that the solution?
Its not specific to salt water pools, but my friend who is a hairdresser told me to put a lot of heavy conditioner in my hair before I swim and then cover it with a latex swim cap. Supposedly keeps the pool water from penetrating the hair follicle.
I never had that problem when surfing every day when I was unemployed. Maybe cut your hair shorter? Use the cap?
Yes, my experience with salt water pools is the same. My solution? I went back to a fresh water pool. (sorry)
I up my use of conditioner. I use it before I swim and then after. Seems to keep things even. And I don’t use a shower cap.
Take the shower you are supposed to take before getting into the pool, including getting the hair wet. If you fill the hair follicles with shower water, you won’t get the pool water in there doing the damage. Wear a swim cap.
Probably the reason people have skin/hair/eye/suit/lung damage is CHLORAMINES in the pool. These are by-products of chlorine combining with nitrogen compounds in sweat, oils, saliva, etc. You’ll notice the “chlorine” smell of a pool, which actually means that there is a high amount of damaging chloramine in the pool, no matter what sanitizer is used (salt, which breaks down to chlorine; chlorine, etc). Industry specialists and pool managers know that the two best practices that reduce chloramines are required showers of all swimmers before getting in, and stopping swimmers from urinating in the pool. The requirement of showers for all swimmers can cut chloramines by 50%. Generally, pools in health clubs are poorly run, and too warm, causing swimmers to sweat more and create more chloramines. Also, members tend to get into the health club pool after lifting or running on the treadmills or going to spin class, sweaty and un-showered. If your pool has no smell at all, chances are the chloramines are effectively oxidized and/or removed from the area.
Do your part, take a shower before, and talk to the manager to get lifeguards and pool staff enforcing the shower rule. Then, get the management to do a better job of venting the nasty air out of the building and doing a better job with the pool chemistry.
Its not specific to salt water pools, but my friend who is a hairdresser told me to put a lot of heavy conditioner in my hair before I swim and then cover it with a latex swim cap. Supposedly keeps the pool water from penetrating the hair follicle.
I suspect that the only thing that will do is make the cap slide off your head, leaving a greasy mess in the pool.
Also, any type of conditioner containing mineral oil will eventually melt latex.
I’d just rinse the hair and then put the cap on.
Use this under a PU-coated lycra cap (won’t slide off).
Another advantage to being bald!