Around Memorial Day, pools across Georgia fill with the sound of cannonballs and the smell of sunscreen. A long afternoon in the water is one of summer’s great pleasures, but sun, pool water and hours of getting wet and drying off can leave skin feeling tight and hair feeling like straw. A few simple habits before and after a swim keep the experience comfortable.
What that pool smell really is
The strong chlorine smell many of us associate with pools is not actually the smell of clean water. According to the CDC, the nation’s public health agency, it comes mostly from chloramines, compounds that form when the chlorine in the water combines with sweat, body oils and other things swimmers bring in. A well-maintained pool with good circulation usually smells much less. That is one reason pools ask swimmers to shower before getting in: rinsing off keeps the water cleaner and the air more pleasant for everyone.
Before you swim
- Rinse off first. A quick shower is courteous, and hair that is already saturated with clean water tends to soak up less pool water.
- Apply sunscreen ahead of time. Use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant formula and put it on before you head out so it has time to settle on the skin.
- Consider a swim cap for long swims or laps, especially if your hair is colored or tends to be dry.
- Smooth a little conditioner through the lengths of your hair before swimming, a common habit among regular swimmers.
After you swim
Rinse your skin and hair with fresh water as soon as you can, then wash with a mild cleanser and shampoo. Pat dry and apply moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp. Follow shampoo with conditioner, and if you swim several times a week, a clarifying shampoo used now and then can help hair feel less coated.
You may have heard that chlorine turns light hair green. The tint usually comes from copper compounds in the water, which can come from pipes or some pool products, rather than from chlorine itself. Rinsing promptly and wearing a cap both help, and a pool professional can check copper levels if it keeps happening.
Sun care at the pool
Water reflects sunlight back toward you, and long hours outdoors add up quickly. Water-resistant sunscreen is not waterproof. Follow the label, which will tell you to reapply after a set number of minutes of swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying and at least every two hours. Claim a shady spot for breaks, wear a hat and sunglasses out of the water and keep a water bottle within reach.
Keeping pool time restful and safe
A pool can be a wonderfully calming place: floating on your back with your ears just under the water, swimming slow laps and counting strokes or simply sitting on the steps with your feet in. Safety makes that calm possible. Never swim alone, keep young children within arm’s reach and choose a grown-up water watcher who stays off the phone. If your skin or eyes react to pool water in a way that concerns you, talk to your doctor.