Hair and skin care for mers?

[Damica]

Again, if this isn't in the right spot, please feel free to move it :)

So I was wondering if anyone had tips or tricks with hair and skin that is exposed to water often? I feel most of my swimming will be done in chlorinated pools, so even after two days, my hair reeks of pool and is kinda stiff. I do basics like use swimmers shampoo, soak my hair before getting in the water, wear it in a braid while swimming ect. Does anyone have any other tips or products that help with being in the water so much?

Thanks in advance.

[Mermaid Miel]

I have the same Hair-problem. I love heavy Moisturizing conditioners and the Pantene 3-minute Miracle Treatment. It also helps to wash out your hair and shampoo and condition Immediately afterwards while at the pool change-rooms.

Skin-wise, I use a moisturizing suncream with SPF30+ and 4hours water resistance. I try to cover as much of myself as possible, as the sun is harsh and aging.

[taom]

This stuff: http://www.beautyneeds.com/10_leavein10.html?zmam=6843742&zmas=2&zmac=72&zmap=10_leavein10&gclid=CKXgm6PYv6wCFQen7QodHElZsA

It's amazing. My hair touches my butt but I don't have to condition anymore because i just spray this stuff in. Doesn't matter what is wrong with your hair. This fixes it.

Plus, and I think this is in a thread somewhere else, you can put a little olive oil on you hair. It really helps. I like to put mine in my shampoo so it isn't as greasy, but you don't get the full effect that way. You can treat it as a mask. You rub it through your hair, braid it, then let it sit for a while, depending on how much time you have/how long you can stand the greasy feeling on your neck. Then, wash it out (though this takes a few tries).

The are tons of home remedies, but most of them are messy/time consuming. I would go for the It's a 10.

As for skin, again, olive oil. I use it when I shave. It prevents nicks and and leaves your legs really soft. It is, basically, a lipid (that is to say, a fat). You body adores things like that when it is trying to retain water.

[AniaR]

I had blond hair, not natural. I only bleached it once, and then I'd always just get my roots done and toner all over. Well one time I spent 2.5 hours in the pool practising breath holds. I hadn't done my hair in a long time because my roots were about 2 inches. (too expensive, plus too many chemicals!) Anyway, when I got out and started washing up in the pool shower- my hair started falling out and breaking. I have always had super strong hair. When it was first changed from red to blond the hair dressers couldn't believe how it held up- but there you have it. I had to go back to red (using vegetable dye) because so much of my hair broke off it's now super short (compared to what it was) and I didnt want to risk doing the roots again. I use protein treatments now constantly. I only found out after that you can get special shampoo to protect your hair if you're a frequent pool swimmer.

On my skin I use clinique because they dont test on animals and there is no fragrance to it. I also use their makeup (except for eye shadow). It's expensive but for me it's worth it. I literally went to one of the stores and had them examine my skin and also told them I swim a lot and they came up with a combination of their products one of them being a face wash kit for red-proned skin. So whenever I swim in cholorine I use that system on my face and it keeps my skin awesome.

[Mermaid Photine]

To get rid of the pool feel, use baking soda- mix a teaspoon or two with your normal shampoo, and put it on a damp washcloth as soap. It really cleans off the chlorine smell, and it doesn't cost much at all. I really like the natural remedey things, because I can afford them and not have to make a special trip for the suppplies.

Does anyone have tips for preventing hair from getting dammaged/broke from swimming? : )

[Aradia]

My skin doesn't get too terrible with swimming but I like to put on lots of sunscreen and moisturiser to minimize the damage i'm doing to it. My hair requires a little more care: firstly I wash it with a purifying shampoo that removes all the oil (and dodgy chlorine) from my hair and follow it up with a deep conditioning. Usually I have to repeat this the day after to make sure I get the chlorine feeling out entirely. Then pre-swimming I chuck some moroccan oil in my hair as a form of defence.

[Mermaid Saphira]

Letting you hair lose to flow in the water renders your hair to damages but putting certain oils in your hair help protect it, putting your hair in a pony tail can help but it is not the most recommended thing to do, braids help lock out water from your hair they are the best choice if you want a mermaid-y look, swim caps are the best way to go but don't look as mermaid-y.

[inactive account]

before I leave to go swimming approx 1 hour before what i do is mix conditioner with a little water and put it all over my hair and leave it on like I am styling my hair with jel. then i go straight in the pool with it still on my hair and when i come out my hair is really silky :3, works for me and I swim 6 times a week, but then again i'm a boy and i can just shave my hair off and it will grow back