If you swim a lot, be it in the pool or ocean, you might have experienced dry skin and brittle hair due to the chlorine and salt in the water. There are several things you can do to avoid this, here is what works best for me – if you have any other techniques that work for you, let me know as well 🙂
How to prevent dry hair and skin despite swimming in chlorine and salt water
To avoid this, you simply have to rinse your hair with fresh water, or a leave-in conditioner or coconut oil before hopping in for a swim.
Why coconut oil? It is the most natural product for your hair and will also not pollute the ocean as much as a regular conditioner would.
Coconut oil is also great for your skin – a tiny amount will suffice to coat your body with a protective layer to keep your skin smooth and nicely moisturized.
How to treat your hair and skin AFTER swimming in chlorinated water or salt water:
Have a good rinse and use a body wash or shampoo with vinegar to remove any chlorine odour. This recipe works really well – the smell of vinegar disappears after rinsing, but the fine scent of essential oils will stay:
Green hair from swimming in chlorinated water?
– 1/2 cup tomato juice or vinegar
Dissolve 6-8 tablets of aspirin in a cup of warm water.
Massage into scalp, let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse.
Notes:
C = cup, 240 ml
1/2 C = half a cup, 120 ml or / TBSP
1/4 C = quarter of a cup, 60 ml or 4 TBSP
TBSP = table spoon, 15 ml or 3 tsp
tsp = tea spoon, 5 ml
“soft dates” = medjool are usually best. If necessary, soak briefly and drain. The soaking water is super sweet by the way!