What are the dangers of pool water on natural hair?

[SparklingFlame]

I was stalking some albums and folks were talking about protecting thier natural hair from chlorinated water. I went swimming last week and just dived in with nothing on my hair. Whats the harm? Dry hair or something? I didnt notice anything different about my hair. I was just curious to see whats the 411. TIA!

 

[Lucia]

Some load up the hair with conditioner 1st let it dry in the hair, or half dry before going in the water, or you could load it up with oil.hth

 

[SparklingFlame]

Some load up the hair with conditioner 1st let it dry in the hair, or half dry before going in the water, or you could load it up with oil.hth

Thanks for the reply. What does the water do to the hair if you dont do the preventative measures you spoke of?

 

[jazzy2]

Both of my younger daughters have naturally curly hair. We have an inground swimming pool so they swim all the time. I keep a big bottle of nexus humectress I leave one in the pool box and one on my counter before they go in a load there hair up with it before and then after they have been in for awhile a spray salerm leave in on there heads. When they get out I wash there hair with a little of nexus clarifying shampoo and a little of cream of nature. I then condition it with a good conditioner that I have mixed with a bottle of kemy oil when I opened it let it set while they are bathing and then after I towel dry there hair I put more humectress on it. Then once a week they get a deep conditioner. I know it seems like alot but they know the routine if they want to swim then this is what they do. My ten year old is getting the hang of it herself and takes her smaller sized versions with her when she goes to the pool or beach with friends. I had beautiful cury mid back hair when I was young. We had a pool and the more I swam the more my hair dried out. There is a pic I have that really looks that my hair could have caught on fire at anytime that's how dry it was. I ended up having to get it cut to my chin cause it was so fried. I will not let that happen to my girls hair. I would not worry if you just swam once but I would make sure you deep condition it as soon as you can.

 

[Lucia]

Esp with a pool, the chlorine they have to put in to keep it clean will dry out your hair fast it can even lighten your hair in a bad way.

 

[SparklingFlame]

Oh, ok. Thats alot ladies! Maybe thats why my hair is acting up lately! Its not really dry, just not right, ya know? Thanks again!

 

[morehairplease]

Some load up the hair with conditioner 1st let it dry in the hair, or half dry before going in the water, or you could load it up with oil.hth

this is what I do.....so far so good

 

[rai]

Question, if you load it up with conditioner, do you also cover your hair? I like to swim without a cap on, and I imagine that if I load it up with conditioner, then the their will be a cloudy trail in the water behind me as I swim.

 

[Lucia]

Question, if you load it up with conditioner, do you also cover your hair? I like to swim without a cap on, and I imagine that if I load it up with conditioner, then the their will be a cloudy trail in the water behind me as I swim.

you just put enough so your hair drinks it up that's why it works better if you do it a little before, so cap or no cap it will work.

 

[rai]

you just put enough so your hair drinks it up that's why it works better if you do it a little before, so cap or no cap it will work.

Thanks! .

 

[Peachtree]

I've read where the chlorine can dry out the hair.

I've never given it a chance to happen...
I *ALWAYS* let conditioner dry into my hair before getting into a pool

 

[PaperClip]

Ok... I understand what to do before getting into the pool (lots of conditioner and I do plan on wearing a swim cap), but what happens when I get out of the pool?

I just decided today that I'm going to take swimming lessons next month (I need to learn how to swim for both exercise and safety). I'm newly natural and my hair is fine so I don't want to overdo or overstress my hair with too much manipulation. I've been wearing a half wig during the day and my hair is in twists underneath. But who knows? I might find the courage to wear my hair out by then!

Thanks for the guidance.

 

[Syrah]

Me? I'm lazy, so I tend not to do what I should be doing...

But I live in So.Cali and have been in the pool on average about once a week... What I do?

Nothing before I get in the pool.

As soon as I get out and realize I'm getting out for good, I'll go rinse in the showers that they have at the poo and then I shlack some Abba Nourishing Leave-In Moisturizer in my hair, to last me until I go home and wash properly.

Sometimes I skip the rinse-at-the-pool step, but I do find that when I do this, my hair cooperates in the shower and comes out feeling great...not dry or anything.

 

[Syrah]

I've read where the chlorine can dry out the hair.

I've never given it a chance to happen...
I *ALWAYS* let conditioner dry into my hair before getting into a pool

...and I'm not asking this to be hardheaded or smart, I'm being honest...

Is that really doing anything? Because although it's dried into your hair BEFORE you get into the pool, isn't it being rinsed out by the water/chlorine once you get in?!

Or does the conditioner not get released until you use something with a detergent in it (i.e. shampoo)?

 

[SparklingFlame]

Is that really do anything? Because although it's dried into your hair BEFORE you get into the pool, isn't it being rinsed out by the water/chlorine once you get in?!

Or does the conditioner not get released until you use something with a detergent in it (i.e. shampoo)?

Thats kinda what I was thinking.

 

[Syrah]

I dunno - I Look at it like putting lotion on before you take a shower. By the time you get in and that water hits your body, the lotion is null and void. Not to mention chlorine is a mighty powerful stripping agent - I'd assume it would strip that conditioner right off the hair shaft.

But maybe the fact that it's dried in does something for the hair... :shrug:

 

[PaperClip]

I dunno - I Look at it like putting lotion on before you take a shower. By the time you get in and that water hits your body, the lotion is null and void. Not to mention chlorine is a mighty powerful stripping agent - I'd assume it would strip that conditioner right off the hair shaft.

But maybe the fact that it's dried in does something for the hair... :shrug:

Maybe the process is similar to waterproof sunblock? It coats/protects from the sunrays but then when you get into the water it still protects but of course, some of it is washed off and so when you get out of the water, you have to either reapply or if you're done for the day, you shower and get clean and then treat your body re. replenishing the moisture and sealing the moisture in....

 

[morehairplease]

Ok... I understand what to do before getting into the pool (lots of conditioner and I do plan on wearing a swim cap), but what happens when I get out of the pool?

I just decided today that I'm going to take swimming lessons next month (I need to learn how to swim for both exercise and safety). I'm newly natural and my hair is fine so I don't want to overdo or overstress my hair with too much manipulation. I've been wearing a half wig during the day and my hair is in twists underneath. But who knows? I might find the courage to wear my hair out by then!

Thanks for the guidance.

My last lesson was yesterday so I completely understand. What I did was put co on my hair followed by a swim cap before every lesson. Once my lesson was over I showered and condition wash my hair, applied a leave in, scurl, and oil to my ends and that was it. At first I deep conditioned twice a week w/o heat for an hour. But I got lazy and started to only deep co once a week. I actually think I should have stuck with the twice a week routine. My lessons were on Tuesday's & Thursday and on the weekends I would practice w/my DH and DS. All it all I would have to say that applying conditioner to my hair before my lessons/practicing really helped. While my hair was dry it bounced right back after my cw and deep conditioner treatments.

hths,
tishee