Skin, hair issues

I've finally given in and started using the Aussie 3 minute miracle deep conditioning treatment every time I swim. I have long curly hair and live in a dry climate, so I need all the help I can get! I also keep a bottle of the Infusium leave-in conditioner stuff in my swim bag just in case I need a little extra something. As for my skin.... moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I probably put moisturizer on my face three times a day. (Again, dry climate.) Once in the morning, once immediately after getting out of my post-swim shower (which is when I moisturize the rest of me), and then again at night. I also use Clinique's 7-day exfoliating facial scrub in the shower after my swim. It really helps to keep any dry patches on my face to a minimum. I really can tell the difference when I don't use it. It's gentle enough to use every day and doesn't have the big chunks of stuff in it like the St. Ives apricot scrubs do.

I appreciate the exchange of biological theories! :P If it's more water than chlorine that would be hyperosmotic. You see? You see why I never passed that darn class?

I do the lunchtime thing too. I forgot about the cap and wet hair thing I gave that up over the summer cause it got too hot. Some one even told me about putting conditioner on your wet hair in the cap, but I would think that would get in the pool. I really can't not wash my hair at least coming out of the pool. I ususually end up taking another shower at home in the evening because I still stink, I condition then. I also just put lotion on places that show like my face and hands. Everybody knows I swim at lunch, They're all jealouse cause I get half naked. tuck

Hi tuck, I've tried the hair conditioner before you put your swim cap on thing, but it makes the cap slide off. I guess if you have a cloth cap then it probably will stay on, but I don't know if the cloth cap is protecting your hair though, but it also is cooler than a silicone based or lycra cap, as you can feel the water run through your hair. I guess I will do a quick, "run some shampoo through my hair", and skip the massage my scalp, while I'm shampooing routing. I was thinking about getting one of those 2-in-1 shampoo / conditioners, then do an intensive conditioner once a week. One time my hair got really messed up from swimming, and I used to put some thick (cheap, kinda greasy) hair conditioner on before I went to bed, and put some old cotton underwear on my head, so it wouldn't ruin my pillow cases. When I woke up in the morning I would get in the shower and do a quick shampoo, then rinse to get most of the excess, unabsorbed greasy stuff out of my hair. I did this for about 2 months and eventually my hair was soft again. I hope not to let it get this bad though. Adios! /ys:banana:

I am now an open water swimmer only because I live on an island. So moisturizing is not necessary because the humidity is so high. But when I was in the States and swimming in chlorine, I always put a small amount of conditioner on my hair before I swam and it did not come off in the pool that I know of. And, my cap always stayed on. Maybe it is the amount of conditioner people are using; use less? The Olay shower gel/soap is a wonder, as is Curel. But my favorite for moisturizing without feeling slightly greasy is Cetaphil---and it's dermatologist recommended. Slightly off of this thread: there is a product called Avon Skin So Soft and it, too, is a great moisturizer, but is a little oily for awhile. We use it down here instead of bug spray which contains so much deet. Donna

Wear your chlorine-damaged straw-textured, white-bleached broken hair and that scaly itchy skin with pride -- you earned it! :) Then you can also not worry about getting your hair all dried and fixed pretty because it will look just as good drippy wet. Some of the kids at our pool smear gobs of conditioner in their hair before putting on their swim cap and it is kind of disgusting when you are swimming through that flavored water from somebody else. I hear that drinking lots of water helps keep your skin moisturized. The stuff out of the tap is cheap and plentiful. Can't vouch, I am a diet coke/coffee girl.

In winter my skin gets dry. Taking a shower first hydrates my skin. I like the St. Ives lotions also. My hair care routine is very simple. I wear a home made "swim band " made from a Speedo silicon cap. Then I wear a bubble strap cap over it. I put the outer cap on so its right even in the front with the inner silicon cap so no red marks on the forehead. I like the Barracuda Standard goggles. Foamy large covers all the eye area and no raccon eyes. My hair stays anywhere from almost completely dry 99% to very dry 95% depending on exactly how I get the caps on day to day but its the dryest way I have found after lots of experimenting. The swim band can also be worn outside of a regular cap or bubble cap.. See the page www.geocities.com/.../swimband.html for details and links to the swim cap guide for more info on swim hair care.

Hi, I am trying to squeeze in a swim during my hour lunch break. I am female, wear eye makeup and have medium length, thick brown hair, which I color about once per month. I need to know how to prioritize, and speed-up the time it takes me after I get out of the pool. I do the "wet your hair thing" before I put on my swimming cap, to help with the damage to my hair. What I need to know, is how really important is it to wash your hair after you swim? Can I just rinse it with water from the shower? Or do I have to both 1) wash it using shampoo (that I will soon add Baking Soda to) and 2) condition it? Will my hair suffer worse damage if I don't shampoo it immediately after getting out of the pool? I don't have time to put lotion on immediately after my lunchtime shower, but maybe I should use a moisturizing soap, like Dove. BTW: I found these great Speedo goggles that helps keep my eye makeup on during my swim. Any comments, tips, etc. will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! .ys :frustrated:

I never shampoo after swimming. I figure soaking my hair for an hour in a mild bleach solution means its clean. I found that if I shampoo after swimming, my hair ended up stiff and sticking out. However, I use a lot of conditioner and I think the key is to let it sit on your hair for a couple minutes, so that it has a chance to work. So the shower routine is pretty complicated. To get done quickly, I have to be efficient. - soak hair - apply conditioner - rinse suit - clean goggles - rinse out conditioner - apply more conditioner - wash the rest of my body - rinse out conditioner This seems to work well for me. The conditioner is the cheapest stuff I can find and formulated for dry hair.