Regarding Swimming/Chlorine page

[Docter]

This isn't an absolute fitness question, sort of a tangent.

I've been soap-free for 3 months until today, where I went to swim laps in a chlorinated pool.

My question is, how do you primal folk deal with washing the chemicals off you? Is water enough or should I concoct a baking soda type soap. (shampoo as well).

Using fresh water is not an option. (Edit: SWIMMING in fresh water is not an option. I have access to a shower ;]).

Also, are there any long-term studies of chlorine on human health? I'd be curious to read them

[sghulett]

it will dry your skin and your hair can turn green if you don't at least rinse it off

[Suzan]

I had to quit swimming in a chlorinated pool because it was affecting my breathing. I've heard that Citric Acid (i.e. vitamin C) works well for removing chlorine from the body. I haven't tried it.

[Bacchanal]

A couple tips I found over at Beyond Shampoo:

-Try 'oiling' your hair with olive oil or something similar before swimming
-Rinsing hair with club soda after swimming
-Rinsing hair and skin with diluted citric acid or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) after swimming
-Rinsing with lemon juice after swimming

For more in-depth explanations or descriptions of the methods, you can read the original page over at How do I get the cholorinated pool water buildup out of my hair without shampoo? - Beyond Shampoo

I don't know if that'll help any but I guess you could try some of these if no other options present themselves. I don't know how easy it is to rinse out chlorine with just water, or if it's even really feasible at all. Sorry.

[Swimmer]

I have studied this topic quite a bit. Chlorine sticks to hair and skin, making it difficult to remove. So, you smell like the pool for hours or even days after swimming.
Rinsing with vitamin C (ascorbic acid, NOT citric acid) gets the chlorine off of your hair and skin. The best and easiest way to apply vitamin C is SwimSpray. See www.SwimSpray.com

[dado]

do you smell bad, without soap for so long?

[adamm]

May I ask why you went soap free?

--Me

[Uncephalized]

do you smell bad, without soap for so long?

Going without soap doesn't cause any undue smells as long as you don't have a crappy diet (in which case the soap doesn't usually help that much anyway) and you wash in clean water regularly.

May I ask why you went soap free?

I'm not the OP but I went soap free as an experiment originally, and never found a reason to go back. I just wash off in cool or warm water depending on my preference. I don't smell any ore or less than I used to and it makes my showers quicker and easier. Also soap often left my skin with an odd dry feeling, or itchiness, which I rarely if ever experience now. And my keratosis pilaris has improved too. I do shower every morning and I use a Thai deodorant stone afterward.

[phatgirl18]

I have studied this topic quite a bit. Chlorine sticks to hair and skin, making it difficult to remove. So, you smell like the pool for hours or even days after swimming.
Rinsing with vitamin C (ascorbic acid, NOT citric acid) gets the chlorine off of your hair and skin. The best and easiest way to apply vitamin C is SwimSpray. See www.SwimSpray.com

This is also my choice!

[troylee]

This isn't an absolute fitness question, sort of a tangent.