How do swimmers get the chlorine off?

You may have noticed that after swimming you smell like chlorine. No matter how hard you try the chlorine just sticks to you. You may have tried different types of soap, body wash and shampoo, but the chlorine just sticks. Many swimmers have tried D.I.Y. home remedies such as tomato juice, vinegar and even ketchup. But these methods don’t seem to work either. Help! Do you just want to get the chlorine off? Keep reading.

How do swimmers deal with chlorine?

Well,  some swimmers do put up with dry itchy skin and even the chlorine smell.  But if you would rather leave the chlorine in the pool and have hair that looks normal, then keep on reading.

Chlorine smells.

No doubt about it, chlorine smells. You can smell a swimming pool from a block away. Going to a swim meet? As you walk around looking for the pool, sometimes your nose is better than a GPS. Yup, that’s the pool, smells like chlorine.

Chlorine sticks.

Chlorine creates a strong bond with your skin and hair. As you swim, it tries to sterilize everything organic, and you are the largest chlorine magnet in the pool. Quite simply, chlorine loves swimmers and it creates a strong bond with them. After swimming, swimmer’s hair and skin are very clean, however, they also have lots of chlorine on them.

Chlorine is toxic.

Did you know the first chemical agent used in warfare was chlorine gas? Yes, it is a very toxic substance and can kill you. Itis deemed safe if used at levels prescribed for use in pools, but like any chemical, accumulation can raise these levels far above what health experts would like. Have you noticed how your eyes burn after exposure to the swimming pool, or how your skin gets dry and itchy. This is the effect of accumulation.

When chlorine accumulates on your hair, it will cause it to be dry, brittle and unmanageable. This is commonly called “swimmer’s hair” or “chlorine hair”.

What do you need to get chlorine off?

The key to getting chlorine off is to use products that break the chlorine bond and gently wash it away. You don’t need a strong soap, but you need a gentle soap designed to get the chlorine off.

Use these swimming-specific products to get the chlorine off after swimming:

1. Soap or shower gel for your skin.
2. Shampoo and conditioner for your hair.
3. Chlorine neutralizing spray for your hair and skin if the chlorine is exceptionally bad.
4. Styling products.