Chlorine acts as a disinfectant in swimming pool water, killing the bacteria responsible for a host of diseases, such as Legionnaires disease and gastroenteritis. According to the American Chemistry Council, the chlorine in pool water requires daily testing to ensure that the water to chemical ratio is in check. Despite its benefits, chlorine can be very drying to the hair and skin. For this reason, showering to remove the chlorine from your hair and body after swimming is a good idea.
Step 1
Remove your swimsuit immediately after you have finished swimming and step into the shower. Mix ½ cup of distilled white vinegar and ½ cup of water in a disposable cup. Put the cup in the shower for later use as a hair rinse.
Step 2
Rinse your hair and body with the warm water from the shower. Apply a quarter-sized amount of protein-based shampoo into the palm of your hand.
Step 3
Massage the shampoo into your hair and scalp. Rinse the shampoo from your hair with water from the shower.
Step 4
Pour the vinegar and water that is in the disposable cup onto your hair ends. Allow the vinegar to sit on your ends for five minutes. Rinse the vinegar and water solution from your hair after the five-minute waiting period.
Step 5
Lather-up your skin with your favorite bar of soap or liquid body wash to remove the chlorine from your skin. Rinse the soap and chlorine residue away with water from the shower.
Tips and Warnings
- Apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair after washing if you find that your hair is dry after swimming in chlorine. You may also want to apply a deep conditioner to your hair once a week to add moisture.
- Wear a swimming cap if you have light colored hair and swim in a chlorinated pool regularly. Blonde hair that lacks protection from chlorine can turn green. If this happens, you will need to use a chlorine removal shampoo to remove the green.
Things You'll Need
- Distilled white vinegar
- Disposable cup
- Protein-based shampoo
- Bar of soap or liquid body wash
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