Swimming often includes long periods in the water, particularly in the case of children who often train in chlorinated pools. Chlorinated water can make the hair dehydrated, brittle and even break off exposing the ends to seven, hence hair has to be taken care of.
For Olympic swimmers, training in these conditions and keeping healthy hair seems luxurious but is necessary for hair health and management.
In this article, we'll be getting just how the members of the Olympic swim team manage to keep their hair good.
Chlorine’s Effect on Swimmers’ Hair
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Chlorine is used for the maintenance of the pool but it can also damage the hair of the swimmers who stay in the pool for a long time. It removes the natural hair oil and makes the hair rough and frizzy.
In the long run, it can also cause split ends, frizzes, and color fading, especially for those with light-colored or dyed hair, which only gets enhanced by exposure to the sun.
For Olympic swimmers, this needs no saying, the concern of chlorine is at the forefront. Carelessness leads to structural weakness of the hair strands and makes healthy-looking hair difficult to achieve.
Aside from oil washing completely from the hair, the skin does get harmed as well by chlorine leading to a dry scalp which just adds to the irritation. This is why swimmers should further protect their hair from pools.
How Olympic Swimmers Protect Their Hair During Training?
There are several measures that Olympic swimmers take in order to minimize the effect of chlorine on the hair during hot training moments in the pool. This will help them withstand hair damage from the chlorinated water, which almost always induces pool poise despite endless hours in the pool.
Swim Caps
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A swim cap is the most important in swimming it prevent the water from the hair. Some swimmers even wear two caps, one to tie their hair and another to wear on top of the first cap. This not only keeps the hair dry but also protect them from chlorine.
Pre-Swim Protective Layers
When going to the pool, to further prevent hair damage, a number of swimmers put some oil or even leave-in conditioner on their hair, especially in the ends.
For example, coconut oil or some leave-in serums provide a coating to the hair, preserving moisture and keeping chlorine out of the hair cortex.
This before-swimming procedure is very important in fighting against uneven and brittle hair, thus making it possible to keep the hair healthy even if daily chlorination is done.
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Hydration From the Inside
Olympic swimmers appreciate and know how important hydration is for the general health of the hair. They understand that staying well hydrated is critical in keeping the hair and scalp from getting too dry and making it easier to deal with the effects of chlorinated water. With enough fluid intake, the hair retain the correct moisture content, eliminating the need to overwash.
How To Take Care of the Hair For Olympic Swimmers?
Olympic swimmers endure a consecutive post-swim hair care practice to prevent further damage and promote hair health after spending several hours in chlorinated water. This part of the routine aims to remove the accumulated chlorine and rehydrate the lost water from swimming.
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A Rinse Right After Swimming
After coming from the pool most Olympic swimmers wash their head from the water to remove the chlorine and other material from the head. Some also use vitamin C because it very beneficial to maintain the natural oil and to remove the cholrine.
Deep Conditioning Treatments
Considering that exposing people to chlorine can cause drying effects more so in swimmers than all other people, deep conditioning treatments are very common among these Olympically trained swimmers.
These treatments add back water, feed the hair, and treat any damage brought on by the swimming pool. A majority of these swimmers will redistribute deep conditioning masks or treatments at least once every 7 days to keep their tresses well-lubricated and healthy.
Leave In conditioners and serums
Moreover, after washing and conditioning, many Olympic swimmers apply leave-in conditioners or serums to their hair to retain moisture, protect it, and shield it during the day. These products provide additional moisture and smoothen frizzy hair.
Best Practices Olympic Swimmers Follow for Healthy Hair
Apart from their pre-swim and post-swim routines, Olympic swimmers also engage in some best practices to shield their hair from the overwhelming demands of their sport. These practices minimize hair damage, improve its strength, and help maintain the appearance of the hair.
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Regular Trims
Olympic swimmers get regular cuts and trims to remove split ends while keeping the hair in good shape. Continuous exposure to water and chlorine may fray hair ends, leading to breakage. For this reason, hair trimming is recommended every six to eight weeks to minimize damage and keep the hair looking smooth and neat.
Diet and Supplements
Everything about hair, including the silkiness and volume, emanates from the nutrition of an individual, and even Olympic swimmers understand that athletes have to consider hair-supportive diets. These include vitamins and minerals such as biotin and omega-3 fat, which are known to increase hair growth.
Other swimmers still go ahead and add some supplements so that they can have well-nourished hair, even in exposure to chemicals appropriate for swimming but bulky to the hair, especially chlorine.
