does chlorine damage your hair?

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 11:36:27 GMT

Yep, my turns are not exactly lickety split, but I haven't lost my cap yet with just regular water on my hair under my cap when I flip. Only lost it when I tried the conditioner tip. I tried those chlorine removing shampoos as well. Did not like them. Felt like they coated my hair. YKKK. Mostly, wearing a cap and wetting the hair first with the shower, washing and conditioning after every pool time seems to do the trick. Even my hairdresser comments on how soft my hair feels. And my hair is in the chlorine a lot. Kiwi

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 05:08:07 GMT

Originally posted by 2go+h20 I tried that tip of conditioner under the cap. Cap slipped on really quickly. Swam the first length, flipped and pushed off. Cap stayed on the wall, body jetted forward. And I am not known for great turns. So works if you don't put your head under and push off. To avoid looking like tinsel, I wet my hair first before putting on my cap. After each session, wash then apply conditioner. Let it do it's thing while you yarn with team mates in the sauna. Then rinse off conditioner after the sauna ot hot tub. Now that is true VO2 (2in one) Max stuff. :p :D Kiwi That's probably more of a function of your turn than the conditioner. :) But your suggestion about wetting your hair first (with clean water, not chlirinated water from the pool) has merit. If your hair is dry under your cap, pool water will wick in during your swim, and in essence you end up soaking your hair in pool water anyway. But if you wet it in the shower and put your cap on before getting into the pool, the pool water won't have room to wick (or be absorbed) in.

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 16:21:18 GMT

I have a buzz haircut, so I don't concern myself with the effects of chlorine. But I've heard that you'll get good results if you put conditioner (not shampoo) in your hair, don't rinse it out, put your cap on and do your workout. Then wash it out when you shower afterwards.

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 15:18:47 GMT

I tried that tip of conditioner under the cap. Cap slipped on really quickly. Swam the first length, flipped and pushed off. Cap stayed on the wall, body jetted forward. And I am not known for great turns. So works if you don't put your head under and push off. To avoid looking like tinsel, I wet my hair first before putting on my cap. After each session, wash then apply conditioner. Let it do it's thing while you yarn with team mates in the sauna. Then rinse off conditioner after the sauna ot hot tub. Now that is true VO2 (2in one) Max stuff. :p :D Kiwi

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 14:58:30 GMT

Naaaa....what I have left is a result of pure luck....and the loss of what I had is having to put up with Mr. Moose and Ralph all the time...

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 14:44:57 GMT

Originally posted by Tom Ellison I had hair once...... That does not sound good...Think chlorine "helped" you with that?

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 13:01:59 GMT

I had hair once......

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

pmbchill — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 10:55:19 GMT

Originally posted by SWinkleblech I have to say that I am a blonde and have never had green hair. Even as a child. I never could understand why people say that blonde hair will turn green in chlorine. My daughter has blonde hair and her never turns green either. My hair DID have a green tint to it and I was really blond then and light brown now but I haven't had that "Kermit" tint since swimming in college. Also, the kids with darker hair had some silver tint goin' on! I like the copper explanation.

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 10:35:38 GMT

EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW....

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

aquageek — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 09:36:52 GMT

I've always wondered if chlorine/pool chemicals get a bad rep undeservedly. Seems that even without chemicals, dipping yourself in water for 1-2 hours 5-7X weekly is gonna do some strange things to skin and hair.

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 07:55:04 GMT

Tom, that would only produce green racing stripes......:D

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 06:43:53 GMT

Tracy: Here I am thinking it was because they had a cold.........

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 06:16:16 GMT

Chlorine is actually a bleach...hence the white spots on clothes when you spill some on them. The reason peoples hair turns green has to do with the amount of copper residue in the water. High concentrations of copper will bind with hair and turn it green.:D

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

swimshark — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 02:00:38 GMT

Last time I was getting my hair cut, my hairdresser told me my hair was splitting due to chlorine. I'm sure that has been happening all my life, she was just the first to notice. Now I put a leave-in conditioner in my hair before getting in. I hope it helps. Guess I'll find out at my next hair cut.

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 14:44:46 GMT

Originally posted by pmbchill Why did we all have shiny green or silver hair when we were younger? I swim a lot now and my hair doesn't seem to do that. Are chemicals better? Shampoo products better? I have to say that I am a blonde and have never had green hair. Even as a child. I never could understand why people say that blonde hair will turn green in chlorine. My daughter has blonde hair and her never turns green either.

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 13:48:07 GMT

No. Only my sinus and ears.

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

Former Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 13:35:40 GMT

Maybe your hair was more on the blonde side as a child? And now you're a brunette? I wear a cap all the time BUT I do like the free color that is provided by the interaction of the water and my natural color. I like my summer color better than my winter--sun + chlorine = natural looking streaks and highlights! Also--as an adult you know you should wash your hair after swimming and as a kid--well--you were a kid!!!

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

pmbchill — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 08:17:27 GMT

Why did we all have shiny green or silver hair when we were younger? I swim a lot now and my hair doesn't seem to do that. Are chemicals better? Shampoo products better?

RE: does chlorine damage your hair?

thinkersw1 — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 07:33:20 GMT

I have been swimming for eleven years now and I think chlorine actually helps my hair. I have really long thick hair and chlorine gives me nice highlights. I have always heard that chlorine strips everything out of your hair which is why a lot of swimmers have very dry hair. My advice is to always wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner after swimming. This removes the chlorine so the chlorine won't dry your hair out. A cap will protect your hair, a lot of women put conditioner in their hair and then put a cap on because the conditioner makes it harder for the chlorine to bond to the hair. Most men don't wear caps and those that do, I have never asked about conditioner. Another technique when using a cap is to get your hair wet with "fresh" water first and then put on a cap. I usually use this method. Even with a tight fitting cap, there are always going to be places that will get wet with chlorinated water. Good luck and I am serious that I like chlorine in my hair. I usually warmdown without a cap because the chlorine strips any leftover shampoo and conditioner out of my hair. I have brown hair that has red and blond highlights from being in the water six to seven hours a day. It is a cheap way to get highlights.