Swimmers.

Anysunrise · May 2012

Do you use any kind of special stuff on your hair to help with the chlorine damage? We're thinking about getting a gym membership for the lap times (among other things), and my hair's so crappy as is I'm a little worried about it. Any suggestions?

runpipparun · May 2012

Yes, there are chlorine removal shampoos/conditioners. I use Ultra Swim. However, somebody just told me that you should only use them once a week because they are very stripping? I don't know. I feel awful if I don't use it when I get out. I also use it to rinse my suit.

I know it's weird, but I love the smell of my chlorine shampoo!

Anysunrise · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_swimmers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9fcd44dd-ba1c-4e2b-a3b4-3f3a1e0d2c0cPost:44876135-bd68-4024-88db-03edac3f65de">Re: Swimmers.</a>:
[QUOTE]Yes, there are chlorine removal shampoos/conditioners. I use Ultra Swim. However, somebody just told me that you should only use them once a week because they are very stripping? I don't know. I feel awful if I don't use it when I get out. I also use it to rinse my suit. I know it's weird, but I love the smell of my chlorine shampoo!
Posted by runpipparun[/QUOTE]

<div>Do you order it online or can you find that kind of stuff in a store?</div>

AdeleDazeem · May 2012

I used UltraSwim for 10 years. I haven't swam competitively for a long time, though - I don't know if they still make it!

Duds - swim caps don't keep your hair dry if you put your head underwater. They're used by competitive swimmers to reduce drag.

Anysunrise · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_swimmers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9fcd44dd-ba1c-4e2b-a3b4-3f3a1e0d2c0cPost:7596b7fa-c42b-4664-87e5-d59b35ec22aa">Re: Swimmers.</a>:
[QUOTE]I used UltraSwim for 10 years. I haven't swam competitively for a long time, though - I don't know if they still make it! Duds - swim caps don't keep your hair dry if you put your head underwater. They're used by competitive swimmers to reduce drag.
Posted by Joy2611[/QUOTE]

<div>Is this the stuff? </div><div>
</div><div><a href="http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ultraswim-chlorine-removal-shampoo/ID=prod9072-product" rel="nofollow">http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ultraswim-chlorine-removal-shampoo/ID=prod9072-product</a></div><div>
</div><div>If so, then awesome, because there's a Walgreens right down the road, lol.</div>

AdeleDazeem · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_swimmers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9fcd44dd-ba1c-4e2b-a3b4-3f3a1e0d2c0cPost:d4b2bf1e-db7a-4da6-b27b-bb11646af4db">Re: Swimmers.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Swimmers. : Is this the stuff? <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ultraswim-chlorine-removal-shampoo/ID=prod9072-product">http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ultraswim-chlorine-removal-shampoo/ID=prod9072-product</a> If so, then awesome, because there's a Walgreens right down the road, lol.
Posted by Anysunrise[/QUOTE]

New bottle, but yes! That looks right!

Pippa beat me to it - I can't believe UltraSwim is stil around. Must be good stuff to last so long! My hair is great after ten years of competitive swimming year round.

J&K10910 · May 2012

UltraSwim is the bomb.com. Malibu isn't bad either, and doubles as a body wash.

BUT, there are other options as well.

1. Soak your hair with tap water, and wear a swim cap. If your hair is already soaking wet (let it hang out for about 15 minutes before getting in the pool) full of non-chlorinated water, it won't absorb as much chlorinated water, because, you know, it can't. Physics and stuff.

2. Coat your dry hair with conditioner, let it sit for about 15, put on a swim cap. Same idea, plus you get a deep conditioning treatment while you work out. I did this about twice a week when I swam, and used the tap water the rest of the time.

AdeleDazeem · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_swimmers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9fcd44dd-ba1c-4e2b-a3b4-3f3a1e0d2c0cPost:dfd16964-fdc5-47ab-8c5e-3a4d1bd80c76">Re: Swimmers.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Swimmers. : Learn something new every day!
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

They also shave their whole bodies - arm, legs, every. thing. Michael Phelps is a hairless beast on race day.

J&K10910 · May 2012

I do not miss shaving my arms. Those suckers are hard to shave.

Anysunrise · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_swimmers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9fcd44dd-ba1c-4e2b-a3b4-3f3a1e0d2c0cPost:83c93164-055f-4419-afd0-75175cc6e26d">Re: Swimmers.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Swimmers. : They also shave their whole bodies - arm, legs, every. thing. Michael Phelps is a hairless beast on race day.
Posted by Joy2611[/QUOTE]

<div>Hah, H swam in high school, and I always laugh when he tells me about this.</div><div>
</div><div>And awesome guys, thanks for the tips! I'm really looking forward to this membership, I think it'll be good for me since H can't run for the time being and being able to go with him will help with the motivation.</div>

Loopyseven · May 2012

J&K gave the best hair prep advice for chlorine.

I used to shave my brother's head for him before big swim meets. He took care of the rest.

Beachy730 · May 2012

When I had to do all my swim courses for teaching I would just immediately wash my hair after getting out of the pool with regular shampoo and conditioner in the locker room showers and never had problems. The chlorine destroyed my bathing suit but not my hair.

kimandjosh22 · May 2012

I wet my hair then put in a good amount of leave in conditioner, then I wear a swim cap. I color my hair, and so far haven't had any issues.

Anysunrise · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_swimmers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9fcd44dd-ba1c-4e2b-a3b4-3f3a1e0d2c0cPost:e607cb65-e4dd-42e2-8521-4f9ef5590d14">Re: Swimmers.</a>:
[QUOTE]More and more pools, especially in gyms and health clubs, are going with salt water instead of chlorine. Ask what they use.
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

<div>Well, it definitely smells like a pool, not like the way the ocean smells, so I'm going to assume chlorine for now, but I'll ask. </div>

mica178 · May 2012

I was going to recommend conditioner under the swimming cap.

Also, I used to use an Aveda shampoo that was supposed to repair hair damaged from chlorine.

Stormz · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_swimmers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:9fcd44dd-ba1c-4e2b-a3b4-3f3a1e0d2c0cPost:99f8c7d4-0d6e-4305-a3b8-fa0d2106b192">Re: Swimmers.</a>:
[QUOTE]I wet my hair then put in a good amount of leave in conditioner, then I wear a swim cap. I color my hair, and so far haven't had any issues.
Posted by kimandjosh22[/QUOTE]

^^^THIS. I color my hair as well, brillant red and black, and swim everyday. No problems and I have been swimming everyday for several years.

eirwyn · May 2012

I use coconut oil on my hair (just the ends), and that helps a lot too since my hair is curly and dries out easily. I second the recommendations for Ultra Swim and leave-in conditioner.

HuckSC · May 2012

I've used Triswim and really like it. You can order it off some of the big swim websites.

Also, about the whole pools aren't using chlorine they are going to saltwater pools. This is both correct and incorrect. Yes, these pools aren't directly injecting chlorine into their system, but they are using a brine solution. Heads up I'm about to go all chemistry geek on you guys. The pools get salt delivered into a large bin. From here it will get injected at a consistent rate. Salt with disassociate in water i.e. the sodium molecule and chlorine molecule with come apart once in water. This free chlorine now acts as like typical pool chlorine with all of it's sideaffects.

CN: There is still chlorine in the water at "saltwater" pools but it just gets in the water a different way.

kipnus · May 2012

Hairdressers are always surprised when I tell them that I'm a swimmer, because my hair is really healthy. I tried the special shampoos and conditioners, but it got too expensive. Now I just make sure I wash and condition well right after practice. I also don't use any heat on my hair (no blow-drying or styling) and I think that helps. I've tried conditioner under my cap, but found it was too slippery.

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