Skin/Hair care for after swimming in chlorinated pool?

[celestialdreamer]

Let me start by saying I absolutely hate chlorinated pools. My dd has severe Sensory Integration Disorder and we have the opportunity to start her in therapy, one-on-one with a great OT/PT in a workout pool. Her regular Occupational therapist seems to think that this will be a really great thing for her, but as much as I'm excited for her, I'm worried about the chlorine! Normally I wouldn't dream of taking her in a chlorinated pool.

She already has super dry, extremely sensitive skin. What natural things can I do to make sure that we get all the chlorine off of her after she is in the pool? What can we do to make sure her hair and skin aren't going to dry out? Her hair is light brown so I was worried about it turning colors also, since she will be in the pool every week for 30-45 minutes. I was planning on using her regular shampoo (Jason Kids shampoo- normally only used 1-2x weekly), Tom's of Maine unscented soap (don't normally use soap on her, but I want to get the chlorine off her), and then some coconut oil or maybe a homemade body butter. Should I find some sort of natural hair conditioner for her? Or is there some things I can make at home? We've done no-poo before, so we are up for unusual suggestions

She starts her first therapy session on Tuesday. Any ideas would be much appreciated!

[jocelyndale]

Oooh, would a swim cap not work? I wet my hair in the shower, then put on a swim cap, which keeps the bulk of the chemical damage away from my hair.

Hair normally turns colors from the algicide in pools. If it's a copper compound, it can turn blonde hair green.

After swimming, I shower and then condition my hair. I slather on a soothing balm for my skin (homemade). It works for me. My conditioner is made from the cellulose powder and conditioner pellets from SoapCrafters.

I can't wear a cap during my prenatal water exercise classes (we don't get our heads in the water, so I overheat if I wear a cap). I've noticed that my henna is fading or being stripped out, but my hair is otherwise in great shape.

I got a GREAT tip yesterday for prologning swimsuit life: aquarium dechlorination tablets/solution! Just soak the suit the same way you'd treat water for fish!

[celestialdreamer]

I highly doubt she would wear a swimcap and the therapist probably would not want her to anyway. She's going for sensory issues and she tends to be a bit sensory avoiding on her head so she'd probably hate the cap and the therapist wants to work on getting her to put her head in the water. Good idea otherwise!

I'll check out the ideas for conditioners, thanks!

[Ann-Marita]

I know this sounds strange, but sunscreen - the waterproof kind - is great for protecting hair from chlorine pools. If you don't object to the ingredients.

I've tried putting conditioner on before going in to the pool, but that seems to just rinse away rather quickly. Then I tried sunscreen, and it really seems to work. I apply before getting in the pool. Olive oil also worked and didn't rinse away in the pool.

I've actually had a major home and body products manufacturer suggest using a dissolved solution of baking soda instead of (or before) using shampoo (after swimming) to help make sure the chlorine gets out. I called their 800 number and asked some questions, and rather than recommend a competitor's product, they suggested a baking soda solution. Ha! I love it that, when cornered, they recommended a natural solution rather than send business to the other guys.

I'd try applying olive oil or crisco (think of it as soy butter) to her skin before she gets in to form a barrier.

A dilute (1:10 or so) vinegar rinse (don't rinse out) will help restore her skin and hair to their natural pH after washing. If that's seems too drying, try 1:12.

[velcromom]

I've been thinking about this myself for this summer - my hair got so dry from pool water last year, yuck.

Using a baking soda solution might take the chlorine out but it's an alkaline solution just like pool water, and that would leave the hair rough and dry feeling, so you'd need to use the vinegar rinse afterward anyhow, exactly like when you no-poo with baking soda.

I'm thinking of trying some barrier like an oil, then braiding my hair (if it's long enough by then, lol) but I don't want to use something so heavy I have to use my hubby's shampoo just to get it out again. Hmm. Wonder if I can come up with a heavy conditioning blend that doesn't wash out from an hour in the pool water but does come out with a shampoo bar. There's a challenge! I don't care for the idea of putting all the stuff in sunscreen on my hair, but that's really a just a lotion so that's something to try - regular lotion without the sunscreen chemicals.

The skin part is easier. I find I have to rinse immediately upon leaving the pool, clear water seems to get the chlorine off just fine, then dry and use a lotion. If I wait to do this til I get home, I'm already itchy. I make my own lotion, so I can tailor it heavier or lighter as I need. I also like a body butter with shea/cocoa butter/coconut oil.

[celestialdreamer]

Originally Posted by velcromom

Hmm. Wonder if I can come up with a heavy conditioning blend that doesn't wash out from an hour in the pool water but does come out with a shampoo bar. There's a challenge!

If you think of something that might work, please let me know! I think I may try coating her hair and skin with olive oil or coconut oil before hand and then have her use some natural kids shampoo w/ baking soda mixed in, followed by a super diluted ACV rinse. I'd obviously have to have everything ready to go in bottles ahead of time as I can't see myself mixing stuff in the locker room

[provocativa]

Moms of autism kids have often found that the kids have a reaction to chlorinated pools, but that an epsom salts bath afterwards ameliorated the symptoms. Epsom salts are magnesium sulfate, and most Americans are deficient in mg anyway. Be aware also that toxic chlorine displaces necessary iodine- maybe that's one of the ways it gets kids out of whack. I can't remember where I read all that or I'd throw you a link. I hate chlorinated pools, but dd loves to swim. It's a conundrum I haven't solved yet.

[loree]

Unfortunately you'll be up against a highly chlorinated pool if it is a warm water therapy pool.

Conditioner in the hair works very well as a barrier. Wet the hair first, then put the conditioner in. I really like the Aubrey Organics swimmer's shampoo. IME, baking soda washes/ACV rinses don't do too well when you are in the pool a lot.

Also, any oils, etc. on the skin beforehand will most likely be washed away as they will like you to shower before getting in the pool. I'd just wash really well in the shower after and apply whatever moisterizer you usually use.

[mgilleran@earth-co]

I've read that saturating the hair with diluted vinegar beforehand helps.