Before swimming
• Copper oxidation by chlorine often gives the hair a greenish tinge. Coconut or olive oil will be valuable. They hydrate the hair cuticle with a protective layer of moisture that seals the cuticle, thus preventing it from turning greenish, especially for bright coloured hair.
• Remember to always shower before you enter the pool. As you do this, wet your hair, too. Dry hair is more susceptible to chemical damage; but when you wet it, it doesn’t soak up the chemicals found in the water.
During swimming
• Wear a well-fitting swimming cap so that your hair and scalp does not come into contact with chlorinated water.
After swimming
• Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo that contains an EDTA. The shampoo will ensure no chemical residue is left in your hair after swimming.
• Adding apple cider vinegar to the last rinse for your hair will remove any product residue in your hair that would otherwise, make it look flat.
• Applying conditioner to your hair is also important to maintain your hair health. If you don’t have the luxury of time to condition then rinse again, a hair mousse or leave-in conditioner will do.
• Even at the end of swimming, there are still things you need to do to ensure healthy hair. Your diet matters a lot. Supplement it by taking multivitamin and omega-3 tablets.
• Swimmers suffer a lot from frizzy hair. When styling your hair, use volumising shampoo and silicone-based styling products. If you can, a hot oil hair treatment every night is also a good option.
• Once a week, apply mayonnaise evenly on your hair. Ensure it covers every bit of your hair including the ends to provide sufficient hydration.