My 7 year old has really thin, fine hair. She swims every day with her daycare and uses clarifying shampoo and conditioner at home. Her hair is constantly crunchy, even if I put in a leave in conditioner while it's wet. I've got her combing it with a wide toothed comb while the conditioner is in it, because it tangles really badly. But I'm not sure what to do about the crunchiness. I don't really like to swim so I've never had this problem myself.
They don't give the kids enough time to shower before they come home, just a quick rinse, so she doesn't wash it right away.
If anyone has any tips, I would really appreciate it.
By crunchy I mean hard and it makes the crunchy noise when you squeeze it. If that makes any sense at all.
I have fine, blond hair and was a swimmer growing up, so I understand the crunchiness problem. The trick is to have her rinse her hair in clear water BEFORE she gets into the pool. I know this seems too easy to work, but I promise it does. This will keep her hair from absorbing the chlorine.
The other thing I'd suggest is a shampoo and conditioner specifically for swimmers, such as Ultra Swim.
I completely agree with Heels. If her hair is soaked before she gets in, it won't absorb the chlorine as much. Works like a charm.
I would try just conditioner, no shampoo, for at least a week. The shampoo is just stripping away even more of the natural oils, on top of the pool chemicals.
I soak my hair in coconut oil about once a week and it works wonders. I also like the CHI serum for hair.
I agree with having her hair wet with conditioner in it BEFORE she goes into the water. AUSSIE (purple container) has a very reasonably priced 3 minute conditioner that I use as well, less than $4.
Depending on how mature she is, it may be time for her to learn to use a swim cap. It really does help if a kid has hair that's badly affected by the pool chemicals. Many, many kids swim very frequently (daily in summer) around here, and many are on swim teams, and by age seven the frequent swimmers often are using caps on their own without an adult having to put it on them. Look into her using caps that don't need a strap under the chin, which can be annoying. Doing things like wetting her hair and using pre-swim conditioner can help too! But ultimately, keeping the water off the hair as much as possible is a longer-term solution.
To repair the damage already done, I'd suggest asking someone at your salon or at any salon if you don't have a regular one. Let them look at and feel her hair and recommend something to repair the hair. Yes, they will recommend the pricier salon products, but honestly, you get what you pay for with things like hair products, and you may only need a small amount to get you through the summer swimming months (assuming her day care is only swimming daily because it's summer).
I agree not washing it so often and leave the condition in longer. What about putting her hair up or braiding it before going? What about swimming cap, I know kids don't like those or even cutting her hair short? Still will need conditioner and less washing the hair. You might want to call your beautician.
I would tell her to make sure she gets her hair sopping wet and use a little conditioner before going in. That way, the pores in the hair are filled up with clean water/conditioner, and doesn't absorb as many chemicals. (Instead of just quickly rinsing off her body before getting in the pool.) I would also have her rinse it as well as she can afterward, then apply a leave-in conditioner. She could apply that in the car, so not too much of a time issue.
I've noticed this with my girls' hair too and I don't get it. I guess chemicals have changed since I was a kid. It's slimeywhen wet and I can really wash it but it stays slimey. I don't condition at all bc it's so moist already. Then when it dries the ends are crunchy or like you could break them in half. Anyway, no solution for you except it doesn't seem to make a difference how it looks after a while. Once it's dry and brushed out, seems pretty normal again. One of mine has hair like your daughter's too. Been doing more ponytails... Curious if anyone has a better solution or explanation.
I think there are several pre-swim conditioners and after swimming shampoos out now. Our neighbors daughter uses a pre-swim spray on, I want to say it's the same name as one of the Jenner girls, so either kylie or kendall's? She really likes it.
Why are you using a shampoo to dry out her hair.
Isn't clarifying to dry up oily hair? Seems that is what my hubby used to use.
Goodness, find a shampoo for dry hair and a conditioner that is super conditioning.
The clarifying shampoo might be stripping the oils from her hair. My daughter has fine hair with a wave/frizz to it. Inn the summer, the chlorine kills it. So after a shower with regular shampoo and conditioner, I use an Argan oil in it. Just a little goes a long way. It really helps to add moisture to her hair. You can find them very cheap. Even spray ins.
Also, be sure to cut the ends if her hair is on the longish side. It will also help keep her hair looking healthy.
Tons of suggestions. All of them good.
Yes, soak hair with water before swimming, a swimming cap, conditioner only on hair and braiding hair will all go a long way towards keeping her hair safe from the chemicals found in the pool.
Shampoo strips the hair of it's natural oils and dirt and other contaminants. It can be very damaging to already dry hair. It would probably be better to co-wash her hair (clean it using only conditioner instead of shampoo). Either two simple braids or four or one single braid with conditioner will also help alot with her hair.
What do you mean "crunchy"?
I agree with everything said below as far as wetting hair completely before going in, putting it in a braid and/or wearing a swim cap. I would also suggest looking at www.malibuc.com products (Malibu C, formerly Malibu 2000). I used to have well water and used their well water solutions for my hair, which helped a lot. I think trying some treatments to fix the current damage while wetting her hair or putting it in a cap to avoid further damage would be the best bet. Good luck!
I don't use leave-in conditioners like a regular conditioner. Use that as an extra defense. Use regular moisturizing conditioner and only rinse partially. Use it liberally, and make sure that you can still feel it a little after you rinse. THAT will be your leave-in conditioner. Then, you can apply actual "leave-in" conditioner, as well. Or jus tapply the leave-in before swimming. Pull her hair up into a ball on top of her head or braid it for swimming. Don't leave it "free" in the pool on a daily basis.
My hair is very sensitive to the elements. In summer, I keep it covered in the sun, or it will literally fry. When I know that I'll need to expose it, I apply conditioner and coconut oil. I might as well let that localized sauna-fire work FOR me. (When I'll have it covered while still in the sun, I might include almond or castor oil for extra conditioning. I alternate to shake it up a bit.)
With your daughter, maybe a good daily rinse would work better for her hair, and then shampooing twice a week.
Well there is this new detangling brush maybe you should get her that so every timeshe goes swimming she can brush her hair in the shower
