Swimming

[Melissa]

So I've recently taken up swimming laps. I hate most exercise, but find that I enjoy swimming laps. I realized soon after I started that chlorine ruins my hair though. I bought Aveda shampoo specifically made to remove chlorine, but that stuff is $26 for a small bottle. I want to get exercise, but I don't want to go broke trying to not go bald. I have purchased a swimming cap (my mother told me I look like a penis when I put it on), but it came from Walmart, and all it does is seal the chlorine in, instead of keeping the water out. Also, I get a ton of water in my ears and have tried a few different ear plugs, none of which seem to work. Would love some advice if any of you swim!

[Brenda]

I have purchased a swimming cap (my mother told me I look like a penis when I put it on),

That's funny.

Swimming is such great excercise!
What I do for myself and the kiddos is wet my hair and theirs at home or in the shower wherever we may be so that the hair has already absorbed a lot of liquid. The chlorinated water won't have as much of a chance ruining your hair. We then use the Aveda, alternating with a cheaper version from the store, like a sports kind, I think Suave for the kids.

[Regina]

I read that you wet your hair before hand and put a conditioner in it. I am not sure what kind of swim cap you have, but it doesn't seem like a very good one, if all that water is getting in your cap. Have you looked at tyr's site or speedo's site?

When I was younger, I was on a swim team year-round. I had very blonde hair in the summers and would use ultraswim to help make sure it did not turn green or too dried out (but, not on a daily basis). I had swim caps that could keep my hair totally dry (although I wet my hair most of the time before putting it on), so I am not sure how your hair gets so wet, unless it is just a cheap cap or made out of different material????

Also, you could rinse after with vinegar or lemon juice.

Good luck! I would love to swim all the time, especially now. The water feels so good when I am pregnant!

[AnnaRose]

Growing up my brother would always get earaches from swimming and I remember my mom using silly putty to keep the water out. I have also done this and it has worked for me so you may want to try. My BF was an avid swimmer and he said to try a Speedo cap. Good luck!

[spotty4]

Yup, go for the ultraswim shampoo. Then I follow it up w/ my favorite conditioner, not ultraswim's. I usually wet my hair before putting on my swim cap. It makes it easier to get the swim cap on. Also, make sure your cap is rubber, not swim suit material. As for water in the ears, I get it. I just deal w/ it and then when I get out, I take some time to let it drain out of the ear canal ... lean your head onto the side that is water-logged.

Keep up the good work. Swimming is great exercise. Just be sure to get some exercise for your bones, too. Swimming is non-impact which will have effects down the road, post-menopause, when osteoporosis can set in.

[Regina]

There are swim drops you can buy at the store to dry up the water. or you can use a mixture of white vinegar and alcohol to dry up the extra water without making your ears too itchy. I would do a search for the mixture amount....it's been a long time, so I am not quite sure. The key is to make sure the water doesn't sit in your ear because it has the opportunity to cause ear infections if it sits. Good luck.

Oh, and they do make ear buds that shape to your ear (you can buy them at walmart, cvs, etc.) If you get really serious about it, a ent (ear, nose, throat doc) will actually make molds for your ear. I had these when I was younger, and as long as I wore mine, it helped. My ears are scarred on the inside from so many infections that I have experienced.

They also make a radio that you can swim with.....it is probably an ipod type thing now. About 10 or so years ago, it was just a radio.

[Melissa]

Good ideas. I will go get that shampoo for sure. I can't afford the Aveda for long! I went to Speedo.com to look at good exercise bathing suits, and they had one on there for $550.
I also think I'll try the wax ear plugs and mold them myself. Thanks!!

[Regina]

Try Marshalls, Tj max, or even Sam's club for suits....they typically have tyr, speedo, and nike suits for 19.99 or less.

[Erin]

Finally... something I actually know a LOT about!

I swam competetively through college and then for a long time with the Masters. I know swimmers hair!

Ultraswim is great, but you need to protect your hair while you're swimming. So, get some of their conditioner, and paste up your hair with it before you get in the pool. While you are showering off prior to swimming, turn your Speedo (latex or whatever rubber they make them from now) inside out, fill it up with water, and put it on top of your head, then pull down... the weight of the water will get it on your head pretty easily, and should keep most of the conditioner in. You don't need to use a ton of the stuff, just enough to protect your hair.

That's it!