Chlorine, sand and sun can be extremely hard on your skin and hair especially since summer is practically here! These are just some small tips that I’ve figured out growing up and working in a pool over the years. Lets get started…

1. Swim Cap. Now I know you wouldn’t want to wear a swim cap at the beach or a lake but if you are going into a pool at a recreation centre you’re better off to wear one of these, they put a lot of chlorine in the water compared to a pool in someones backyard because of the amount of people going into the pool.

2. Shower. At some lakes and beaches they have showers to rinse your body off of the sand but this can also help your hair out a little bit too. The sun will take the moisture out of your hair so giving it a good rinse with clean water will help it out a bit. If you’re swimming in chlorine water, showering right after getting out helps a great deal! Rinsing right away will get the chlorine off a little bit more, now if you were in the water for three hours straight like I have to be, you will have a harder time getting it off but only an hour you should be fine. Waiting to shower when you get home allows the chlorine to be dried into your skin, trust me even a rinse after being in chlorine water makes you feel ten times better then if you were not to shower.

3. Conditioner. There are two ways you can use conditioner when swimming. The first way is the most common way – leave in conditioner – after swimming and a good rinse just put some leave in conditioner in your hair to put some of the moisture back in. Your hair won’t be as dry when you get home to have a shower. The second way is to put normal conditioner in your hair before you go swimming and put it in a bun. The chlorine, sand and salt water will eat away at the conditioner rather then your hair and leaving it in a bun makes it harder for the water to wash it away. We do this at the recreation centre when we don’t feel like wearing our swim caps.

4. Sunscreen. The most common one, I know, but this is an important one! Protecting your skin from the sun is extremely important since the sun is getting stronger and summers are getting hotter. We don’t want bad sun burns, wrinkly skin or worse cancer. Please do not skip this step.

5. Stay Hydrated. Water is great for your health but it’s also great for your skin and hair! It’s pretty self explanatory, water adds moisture to your skin and hair making it look fabulous! This is also an important step because not drinking water can lead to health problems especially in the heat. Please do not skip this step.

6. Lotion. After swimming in chlorine for long amounts of time your skin can get pretty dried out, that goes for the beach and the sun. I know for me putting lotion on after I shower is a must or else I get extremely itchy, but that’s what chlorine does to you. After being in the sun your body may be burnt, have a nice tan or feel tight, putting lotion on will help that out. Now if you have a sun burn I would suggest putting aloe or lidocaine spray on. If you have tight skin or a nice tan put lotion on when you wake up and before you go to bed, this will help with the tightness and will keep your tan turn into peeling!

That’s it! Let me know if this was helpful or if you want to add anymore tips!