Preparing your hair for a swim

I’ve always loved to swim. It was the perfect hobby for our humid and hot climate and it gave me a full body workout without much possible injury to joints. I first learnt to swim when I was a baby. Parents signed me up for baby swimming classes and I could swim half way around the pool before I could even walk.

But somehow I stopped swimming for a very long time. The chorine water was just too damaging for my fine and fragile hair. And I believe I’m not the only girl around who gave up the sport in favor of nicer hair.

But nowadays I’m back swimming again. I realize now that I’m older… in the matter of swimming versus non dried out hair… I could have the cake and eat it too.

Here’s my routine before getting into the pool.

1. Change into swimwear.

2. Rinse with water under shower. To rid myself of any dirt I might bring to the pool as well as to make sure my hair is completely wet and soaked through. When the hair is fully wet it is less likely to allow the chlorine water from the pool to be absorbed.

3. Protect hair with a hair guard and conditioner. I’m currently using Philip Kingsley Swim Cap, which helps repel chlorine and has UV protection. On top of that it also delivers conditioning to my hair.

4. I’ll tie my hair into a bun and put on the swimming cap to keep everything in place before I swim. I’m using a Speedo silicon one.

5. Lastly, throw on my goggles and get into the pool!

6. After swimming I’ll wash my hair with a clarifying shampoo meant to rid my hair of any chlorine or impurities. Currently I’m using Paul Mitchell Clarifying Shampoo 3. Or you can just add a table spoon of baking soda to your normal shampoo.

7. Do a deep conditioning for my roots. Bumble and Bumble Alojoba Conditioner works well for me.

7. If you find this all a little hassle, an alternative to what I normally do is to wear double swimming caps on my dry hair. This tends to make sure that the swimming caps are completely air tight and none of the chlorine water will get in. You don’t have to shower your hair or put anything on before wearing. It is also best when you need to leave the pool in a jiffy as it makes it easier to rinse and head home without having to shampoo or condition my hair.

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Comments

  1. October 16, 2008 / 6:18 pm

    i know…i know..age is a secret for women..but i am very curious to know how old are u..i’m 14 anyway..

    u look very very beautiful

  2. October 16, 2008 / 6:18 pm

    i know…i know..age is a secret for women..but i am very curious to know how old are u..i’m 14 anyway..

    u look very very beautiful

  3. glenis
    October 17, 2008 / 8:50 am

    do u wear very heavy make up? u look kina diff in each picture. But your make up is good though. where do u get it from? I like the fake eyelashes and eye shadow.

  4. glenis
    October 17, 2008 / 8:50 am

    do u wear very heavy make up? u look kina diff in each picture. But your make up is good though. where do u get it from? I like the fake eyelashes and eye shadow.

  5. jasmine
    October 17, 2008 / 8:55 am

    your husband must earn alot of money as a **** , u have so many beautiful clothes and shoes and time for shopping. i envy u!

  6. jasmine
    October 17, 2008 / 8:55 am

    your husband must earn alot of money as a **** , u have so many beautiful clothes and shoes and time for shopping. i envy u!

  7. October 17, 2008 / 10:06 am

    frogdog,

    I’m turning 27 pretty soon… 14 is a really fun age!

    glenis,

    I don’t wear heavy make up… I kinda do a 3 mins makeup… all I use is an eyeliner… falsies and blusher. Sometimes I skip the blusher. No eye shadows or foundation unless I’m attending a dinner function or wedding. In my picture in this post you can see me with totally no MU cause I was heading to the pool.

    jasmine,

    I censored my hubs occupation for his privacy. Actually he doesn’t sponsor nor endorses my clothes and shoes shopping thats why I have to work really hard! But it feels really good to be able to get things for yourself and I haven’t felt the need to really ask for anything. These days with the economic downturn I need to cut back on spending and save for a rainy day!

  8. October 17, 2008 / 10:06 am

    frogdog,

    I’m turning 27 pretty soon… 14 is a really fun age!

    glenis,

    I don’t wear heavy make up… I kinda do a 3 mins makeup… all I use is an eyeliner… falsies and blusher. Sometimes I skip the blusher. No eye shadows or foundation unless I’m attending a dinner function or wedding. In my picture in this post you can see me with totally no MU cause I was heading to the pool.

    jasmine,

    I censored my hubs occupation for his privacy. Actually he doesn’t sponsor nor endorses my clothes and shoes shopping thats why I have to work really hard! But it feels really good to be able to get things for yourself and I haven’t felt the need to really ask for anything. These days with the economic downturn I need to cut back on spending and save for a rainy day!

  9. October 17, 2008 / 11:16 am

    too bad i am too young…u are the prettiest woman i’ve seen in my life…

    u look so fair and feminine

  10. October 17, 2008 / 11:16 am

    too bad i am too young…u are the prettiest woman i’ve seen in my life…

    u look so fair and feminine

  11. charmlim
    October 18, 2008 / 11:32 am

    hi,

    May i know where to get the Bumble and Bumble Alojoba Conditioner from? thanks

  12. charmlim
    October 18, 2008 / 11:32 am

    hi,

    May i know where to get the Bumble and Bumble Alojoba Conditioner from? thanks

  13. October 19, 2008 / 1:11 pm

    jacque,

    That is very sweet of you. But there are many prettier ones out there and you’ll find a very lucky woman for yourself in time.

    charmlim,

    They are generally more commonly found in US… but I bought mine in a salon called windle in London, Shorts Gardens Covent Garden. You can check out http://www.bumbleandbumble.com for more details.

  14. October 19, 2008 / 1:11 pm

    jacque,

    That is very sweet of you. But there are many prettier ones out there and you’ll find a very lucky woman for yourself in time.

    charmlim,

    They are generally more commonly found in US… but I bought mine in a salon called windle in London, Shorts Gardens Covent Garden. You can check out http://www.bumbleandbumble.com for more details.

  15. Chantelle
    November 11, 2008 / 1:52 pm

    where can i get Philip Kingsley Swim Cap in Sg?

  16. Chantelle
    November 11, 2008 / 1:52 pm

    where can i get Philip Kingsley Swim Cap in Sg?

  17. November 12, 2008 / 12:02 am

    Chantelle,

    I’m not sure where you can get it in singapore.

  18. November 12, 2008 / 12:02 am

    Chantelle,

    I’m not sure where you can get it in singapore.

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