My Go-To Hair Protection for Pool Training
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you. However, I personally use every single item listed here in my pool training sessions. If I didn’t love it, it wouldn’t be on this list. Enjoy!
If you’ve ever trained in a chlorinated pool for days on end like I do (at least 4 days a week), you know the toll it takes, not just on your body, but on your gear, skin, and especially your hair.
Let me tell you a quick story.
I finally went back to see my hairdresser, Jessica, after a long stretch of intense training. I’d been swimming without a cap and hadn’t been doing anything to protect my hair. The moment she ran her fingers through it, she gasped.
"What did you do to it!? I haven’t seen anything like this."
Yikes.
Safe to say I’ve since changed my ways. Below are the products I now use religiously to keep my hair happy and healthy (ok, maybe not completely healthy, but Jessica is not horrified anymore).
Malibu C Swimmers Collection
This stuff is a game changer. It’s designed specifically for swimmers and actually removes chlorine buildup. I use the shampoo and conditioner after every training session, and use the chlorine removal treatment packets once a week for a deeper detox. My hair is a lot more manageable now, so I highly recommend it if you train in a heavily chlorinated pool like I do.
AquaGuard Pre-Swim Hair Defense
This is like sunscreen for your hair. I apply a small amount before putting on my cap. It acts as a barrier against chlorine. You can also apply any conditioner, or at the very least, soak your hair in fresh water before jumping in the pool. This will keep the hair cuticles already “full” of water and/or products, which leaves less room for chlorine to enter.
Silicone Long Hair Swim Cap
I know, I know, it took chlorine damage for me to start using one of these regularly. Lesson learned. A silicone cap is nicer to your hair than latex. The water still gets in because I’m submerged most of the time, but it protects the hair from mechanical damage, like rubbing on my wetsuit or neck weight. In that faithful visit to Jessica, we discovered that ALL of the hair at the nape of my neck was completely broken off from rubbing on the neck weight.
Dermaswim Pre-Swim Lotion
Every now and then, if I’m in an especially intense training period, my skin also starts to complain from too much chlorine. This can manifest as dry patches or an itchy rash (I know! Fun!) That’s when I reach for the Dermaswim pre-swim lotion and apply to the affected areas. It adds an extra step to the preparation, but the stuff really does work to protect the skin from chlorine exposure.
Happy hair and happy training!
Anastasia
