Is there a way to naturally remove chlorine from your skin and hair?

January 13, 2006 2:10 AM

Is there a way to naturally remove chlorine from your skin and hair?

I have been showering without shampoo for a while and my skin and hair have got into their natural balance and look and feel good.

I'm thinking about getting into swimming again, but I don't want to go back to stripping away all the natural oils with shampoo. Is there a way I can get the chlorine off without doing this?

posted by lunkfish to health & fitness (8 comments total)

Not specifically an answer to your question, but have you considered a swimming cap?
posted by antifuse at 2:57 AM on January 13, 2006

One trick is to be prepared. Shower before you swim, so your hair is so full of fresh water already it won't pick up much of the chlorine.
posted by ijsbrand at 3:01 AM on January 13, 2006

Doesn't chlorine itself strip away all of your hair's natural oils? I can't imagine any shampoo would be worse for your hair and skin than chlorine. Try Ultra Swim products to remove the chlorine from your hair and skin.
posted by JJ86 at 5:52 AM on January 13, 2006

Sorry, wrong link pasted. Try this one.
posted by JJ86 at 5:54 AM on January 13, 2006

I swim all the time and I haven't used shampoo on my hair for a year or two. I do put some conditoner on about once a week, but my hair is fine. I wear a cap and wet my hair before I get in. As caps go, I really reccommend the silicone kind; they pull at your hair less that the latex versions and last longer.

As regards skin, I use oatmeal in place of soap, because my eczema reacts to soap. Either grind it up in a blender or just use the quick-cooking kind. It keeps my skin nice and I think it gets the smell out, though I can't really notice chlorine smell anymore.
posted by dame at 8:31 AM on January 13, 2006

Maybe sulfur dioxide? I use it in the form of crushed Campden tablets (available from a winemaking/homebrewing supplier) to remove chloramine from municipal water. You could try dissolving a tiny portion of a crushed tablet in some water to use as a rinse.
Linky
Warning - I've heard that some people have adverse reactions to sulfur dioxide in wine. Use at your own risk. The above link describes sulfur dioxide as an irritant.
posted by exogenous at 8:37 AM on January 13, 2006

I (or rather, my wife) seconds the advice about wetting your hair first.
posted by Elpoca at 8:57 AM on January 13, 2006

Vinegar cuts chlorene instantly and rinses clean.
posted by kc0dxh at 10:33 AM on January 13, 2006