The ultimate summer day is lounging by the pool, feeling the sun on your skin and reading a good book, or for the digital savvy, getting those instagrams.
But, until now, the UK hasn’t seen much sun so far, which means that many of us are jet-setting off to somewhere a lot more sunny and a little less dreary.
It turns out though, while you’re spending all that time in the pool (trying to get those Instagrams!) it’s not just leaving you with pruned fingers and toes.
Chlorine: it doesn’t only protect you from harmful bacteria, but also strips your hair and skin of natural oils, leaving your skin dry, itchy, flakey and sensitive, while it also makes your hair and nails brittle.
Now in all seriousness, nobody is going to swear off the pool on a hot sunny day. So, what do you do?
Before swimming:
The majority of the battle against chlorine is fought after you get out the pool, but there are a few things you can do before you get in.
Before getting in the water, rinse your hair with fresh water and apply an oil-based deep conditioning treatment.
Like a sponge your hair can only absorb so much moisture, therefore soaking your hair beforehand will eliminate space for chlorine pool water.
For your skin, stick with a waterproof SPF and apply 15 minutes before swimming.
Although you can buy pre-swim lotions, this is not always recommended as they can sometimes react with the chlorine and make your SPF less effective.
After swimming:
Rinse your hair and body with fresh water and use a mild cleanser.
Wash your hair with a colour safe shampoo and conditioner.
It is important to moisturise after showering, taking care around thinner areas of skin that are more prone to damage such as your cuticles, elbows, chest, back of your hands, and under your eyes.
But, what we want to know most here at Fashion North is: where are you jet-setting off to this summer? Tweet us @fashion_north and tell us all about your summer holiday!
Everything is very open with a very clear explanation of the issues.
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Thank you for sharing!