The Swimmer Edition of Rockin’ Hairstyles: The Go-To Looks Of the Pool
Chlorine. It’s a chemical added to pools to kill germs that have the potential to make swimmers sick. It’s a beautiful thing. But every rose has its thorn, my friend. This chemical is, although a warrior for keeping us swimmers healthy, notorious for terrible things. It is a thief, stealing healthy hair from girls everywhere. Shortest tragic story ever, I know.
There’s a million different ways victims to this thief choose to cope with the damage inflicted upon them: Deep-conditioning hair treatments. Shampoo designed specifically for chlorine damage. You name it! Some lose all hope (God bless their souls) and resort to the inevitable: the dreaded hair chop.
It’s bound to happen to anyone who devotes their life to jumping into a chlorinated pool every day. For those of you who have done more damage than you can repair, do not fret. The best way to handle chlorine-damaged hair is at your fingertips!
Swimmers have to get creative with how they present themselves, especially because chlorine-damaged hair makes this seem to be an impossible mission. Here’s a list of swimmer-certified hairstyles that are bound to make your damaged hair look as good as new.
The Classic Messy Bun
This one is such a classic. An original. Passed down through many generations of swimmer girls, this hairstyle deserves to be in the hall of fame. You don’t even have to brush your hair for this one! Just grab a hair tie (or two, or three) and throw that hair up!
It’s versatile, because you can place it anywhere on your head. A low bun for a sleek look. A top bun if you’re feeling crazy. There’s room for creative freedom here. Go wild!
The Ponytail
Another classic hairstyle that was destined to make the list is the ponytail. It serves the same purpose as the bun: get that hair out of the way! This one requires a bit more preparation, unfortunately, because you might want to brush it out first. Nonetheless, you know the drill ladies. High pony, low pony, mid pony, whatever strikes your fancy. It’s simple, it’s classy, it’s elegant. Mwah.
The Braid
Braiding your hair is a great way to go, especially if you’re heading to a more formal setting. People braid their hair for weddings, for goodness sake. You’re bound to look stellar at school with a braid. The braid is incredibly versatile, from French braids, to side braids, to dutch braids. The possibilities are absolutely endless. We face an obstacle in the road with this one, though. Braiding is hard.
There are plenty of YouTube tutorials out there, ladies. Get learning. And if you are clumsy with your fingers like me, then maybe those tutorials aren’t working for you. But something I’ve learned in my many years of swimming is this: No matter which team you swim for, you are bound to bump into a master braider. Meet her. Talk to her. Become best friends with her. Force her to braid your hair every day. You will not regret it. Thank me later.
Space Buns
THIS is where things get fun. Space buns bring a lot to the table. Section your hair into two parts with a comb, tie each section into a bun, and voila! You can wear them on the top of your head, or at the nape of your neck. Either way, it’s a super cute route to take. And creative, might I add. How many girls do you see wearing space buns every day? My point proven.
All Natural!
At the end of the day, ladies, here’s the truth: you don’t need to do anything to your hair to be beautiful. Swimmers are incredible athletes that deserve every bit of respect for what they do. And if that results in permanently damaged hair, then so be it. Your damaged hair is beautiful because YOU are beautiful. The work you put in every day is beautiful, the muscles you gain are beautiful, and the mental challenges you endure are BEAUTIFUL.
A messy bun might be more practical, but don’t let it be your definition of beautiful. Unleash that mane. Don’t even run a brush through it. If anyone tells you any differently, they are dead wrong. Stay strong, ladies.
All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.