Published on June 3rd, 2008 | by Stephanie Evans

Organic Hair Care for Swimmers

Summer is a great time to head outdoors and embrace an active lifestyle with things like swimming, hiking, and kayaking. While these activities are great for our bodies, exposure to the outdoor elements often wreak havoc on our hair.

Restore your hair to its naturally luxurious state with a few organic products and moisture-retention strategies…

Hair Care for Swimmers

Pollution, chlorine, dirt, salt, and wind damage hair, leaving it
brittle and dull. Many shampoos and conditioners out there are designed to remove chlorine and repair hair, but these
products often contain harsh chemicals that do more damage than good. These chemicals then get washed away into our water supply—water
that gets dumped into oceans.

Since the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate what is put into hair care products, potentially damaging chemicals can be added that may make our hair shiny, but could damage our bodies in the long run.

One example is methylisothiazoline (a chemical used in many drugstore shampoos), which can damage the nervous system, according to the National Institute of Health. Other standard shampoo chemicals designed to remove chlorine build-up—such as sodium laureth sulfate and EDTA—can irritate the skin and eyes.

Fortunately, there are many organic options for swimmers and those who lead active lifestyles:

Aubrey Organics swimmer’s shampoo and conditioner do not contain parabens, which mimics estrogen. The main ingredients are all-natural, derived from coconuts, aloe vera, and jojoba.

Tri-Swim Shampoo uses organic aloe vera, vitamins E and A, and pro-vitamin B5 to remove copper deposits and chlorine from hair.

Jason, a company known for its use of natural ingredients, offers an all-natural swimmers shampoo and conditioner that do not contain sodium laureth sulfate. The products instead use panthenol (a plant-derived form of vitamin B), aloe vera, vitamins A, C, and E, and sea kelp to repair damaged hair.

California Baby, an organization with eco-friendly and cruelty-free policies, features a Swimmer’s Defense Shampoo that uses organic oils to repair chlorine damage.

Abba Pure Detox Shampoo is 100% vegan and pH balanced.

Beyond applying natural products…

Always wear a swim cap if you’re venturing into chlorinated pools or salt water. Before putting on your swim cap, try wrapping an absorbent cloth around your head (following your hairline) to boost the waterproofing power of your cap.
Rinse your hair before you swim so fresh water is absorbed before chlorine or salt water. Wash and condition after you swim to remove chlorine build-up and restore moisture.