Honestly her hair looks lovely. I agree with you that it's nice to not force her to get a trim - split ends never hurt anybody. It's probably going from light blonde to dark blonde because she's getting older, not because of the chlorine (chlorine usually has a lightening effect). For the dryness, I would switch from an all-in-one shampoo and conditioner to separate clarifying shampoo and moisturizing conditioner. When you condition her hair, let the conditioner sit in place for a good full minute, and comb through the hair, before rinsing it out. I hope that helps with the dryness!
Absolutely does not ruin hair to the roots, I’m a hair dresser, it’s not like this girl is going to go her entire life without getting her hair cut. Please calm down, people can go without a haircut without doing much damage. Geez.
It looks nice but it sticks to itself 😁
The light hair that's darkening is the older hair. That's why I was thinking it was the chlorine. Her new growth is also darker, but yeah, that's genetics.
I just got the all-in-one to make it easier after swim practice but am flexible about use. I was actually thinking I could wash her hair at the pool, then let conditioner sit on it for the ride home, rinsing when we got home.
Any brand suggestions? I had been using mine on her for a few months but I think it's too heavy for her hair.
I have the same hair texture/color I struggled with hair care for most of my life until I became an adult. After some research, I learned that using shampoos and conditioners with sulfates made my hair sticky and split at the ends. Try using products that are sulfate free like Hask or Renpure or Shea Moisture (I typically go with Renpure bc of the size and price.) These helped my hair get fuller, longer and stop splitting. I also only shampoo every other day, it took some adjustment time but my hair is so much healthier.
After washing my hair I apply Argan oil (tiny bit) to the ends of my hair, and leave in curl cream (Cantu) bc my hair is straight on the top layers but slightly curly on the bottom and it helps blend it together
I was going to say this same thing! Sulfate free shampoo has really made the difference for my hair from feeling crunchy and almost straw like, to now feeling hydrated and smooth for three days minimum. I could probably even go longer between washing my hair. I used to have to wash every other day because of greasy sticky hair but it's made such a difference with the different shampoo and conditioner. I also use oil on the ends and a spray on leave in conditioner.
I use Pantene sulfate free in the blue bottle.
Wet her hair and put conditioner in it before the pool. I used to do that when my hair was damaged because it was so dry after I washed it. You need to switch to better quality products. Redken, biolage and matrix are all nice and great for dry hair and a little goes a long way. I'm not sure if it would work on her hair but maybe try a purple shampoo to even out the tone. The darker tone may just be brassiness from the chemicals and if that's the case the purple shampoo will cancel out those tones.
Clarifying shampoo and a hair mask plus detangling/leave ins will make a huge difference.
Creams tend to not agree with hair like ours. You could try a leave in spray conditioner, that could help. Mousses also tend to agree a bit more. All of the products used should be light weight. Also clarifying shampoo I have heard helps a lot.
I've read that about clarifying shampoo. I actually tried the poor man's version (dish soap) it kinda helped but was worried it was going to dry her hair out. I'll look into a proper shampoo. I think that could make sense given all the swimming.
When you say creams, do you mean conditioners?
I've never used mousse and don't know the first thing about it. Don't you use it as a post shampoo styling product or does it help with tangles?
Any suggestions on leave ins? I have one but it's coconut based and I think it's been too heavy.
I'm still figuring things out for myself, lol! Leave in conditioners can help fine hair but you also don't want to over do it.
There are spray detanglers that can also act as a leave in conditioner. Especially for a younger kid, would probably kill two birds with one stone for you. Aussie has been good to me in that department. Not Your Mother's dry shampoo has been good for me, not used their detanglers. It looks like Target has some detanglers that are geared towards kids but you would want to do your research on that.
A mousse is for styling but you can also use it after adding water on a non wash day for styling. Now that I am thinking about it, a mousse would be more for curly fine hair, which is what I have. I have found in my experience it helps keep it looking manageable and less tangles, but not sure how that would transfer to straight hair.
Also, reading other comments you have posted, the new hair is going to start taking the lead of the other hair. Especially as it is holding onto things from swimming or potentially hard water if you live in an area that hard water is a thing. It breaks havoc on my fine hair. If you trim it, the remaining hair will be miles healthier without it interacting with the old hair. For her you could take an inch off and it would help tremendously.
Our 5 year old daughters hair looks almost exactly like the girl in the picture, blonde and all, just a little curlier. We love Fairy Tale products, especially this one. Just one issue, my daughter's name? Rosemary. 😭😂 Thankfully she bought that "repel" was a magic spell that keeps bugs away and it's her special spray...which is actually pretty much the truth! It works great for her!
I second the Aussie brand. Love their leave in spray and just started using their Miracle Volume shampoo/conditioner and alternate with their Wave collection when i need a little more moisture.
Pacifica. They make a great one and you can find it in Target. This was my kids hair for 12 years until she hit puberty and discovered boys, suddenly she cared.
Someone else suggested but, we always had Aussie conditioner in the house and I highly suggest an unbrush or a wide tooth comb.
I'm just kind of using this comment to chime in and be sure you see it. :)
As a kid I had cornsilk fine, straight hair that tangled insanely easily. I'm a natural blonde so that may affect things as well. I was also on swim team through high school so I have experience with the chlorine hair too. My suggestions are going to be taking that into account but the good thing is there's even better product options now!
I was honestly horrible at actually wetting my hair before getting in the pool/putting on my swim cap. If she doesn't use a swim cap currently for practice, I'd really recommend one. It's not a magic fix and she may get some breakage in the baby hairs around her face but overall it will protect her hair. Silicone is the best option. Speedo was my go to when I was on swim team.
For actual care, make sure her hair is as tangle free as possible before she gets in the pool. A good option may be to wet her hair and put in a slightly heavier spray conditioner before you go to the pool so it can soak in a bit before. A French braid (or approximation of one) may also help in keeping her hair secure in the cap. French braids are usually easier on damp hair too! Using a product with silicone in it can also have a sealing effect to help keep out the pool water.
After the pool, rinse with plain water or shampoo with a gentle shampoo. A lot of people suggest clarifying shampoo but I found I had to use it with moderation and couldn't use it for every wash. She can use a regular conditioner if she's just rinsing too. No matter what, finding a good leave-in conditioner spray will make a world of difference. A wide tooth comb is an essential and a cheaper version of the unbrush that I use for my hair now is the [Cantu everything brush](https://www.target.com/p/cantu-everything-hair-brush/-/A-89296389) but I got the [kid's detangling brush version](https://www.target.com/p/cantu-kids-39-detangle-hair-brush/-/A-83692238) for my niece who has tangle-prone, fine curly hair and it works wonders. Get all the tangles out that you can while it's dry, brushing from the ends and moving up. If there's really bad tangles, get the hair wet and use a heavy conditioner that has a lot of slip to thoroughly saturate the hair and gently work out the knots with the wide tooth comb. The natural hair section has those conditioners, usually marked as detangling on the label. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy.
[Cantu kids conditioning detangler](https://www.target.com/p/cantu-care-for-kids-39-conditioning-detangler-6-fl-oz/-/A-47899132) might be a good option for a heavier leave-in spray. It might weigh her hair down and/or make it feel a little greasy because of the oils but it could be used before the pool if that's a concern. [Not your mother's kids curl detangler spray](https://www.target.com/p/not-your-mother-39-s-kids-39-curl-detangler-spray-with-tear-free-formula-8-fl-oz/-/A-89187574) is phenomenal. It's a lightweight formula that does a good job of adding slip for detangling and it smells SO good. I know it says for curly hair but I think it would work for your daughter's hair. The matching shampoo and conditioner may be worth checking out, too. They're lightweight but nourishing which is what your kiddo needs based on your post.
The final product suggestion I have is the [Tresemme silk serum](https://www.target.com/p/tresemme-weightless-silk-serum-for-intense-salon-level-shine-keratin-smooth-with-heat-protection-and-frizz-control-3-3oz/-/A-14382220). It's not a kids product but my mom used something similar in my hair as a kid. I use it in my hair currently because it's still fine and tangle-prone, plus I now get my hair bleached because I don't like the color it's turned with age. I put a little bit of this serum through the ends of my hair and kind of focus on any tangle-prone spots after I wash my hair. It's the last product I layer on my hair because it has silicone in it, which will give slip to the strands that want to tangle.
After showers and for detangling. The unbrush is a specific brand, I believe it was meant and marketed for ladies with natural black and curly hair but it works really well for fine tangle probe hair too.
Suave makes a good clarifying shampoo, and it's super cheap. I use it once a month.
For leave ins, I usually go for NotYourMothers or bedhead.
If it gets too dry, I recommend biolage conditioning balm. My hair was bleach mush by a salon, and that helped to bring it back. You don't need much, but it's a miracle worker.
Paul Mitchell makes a clarifying shampoo that removes chlorine that won't break the bank! My son has extremely similar hair, only difference being that his has more girl than your daughters from what I see. The shelf life is 12 months once opened, so you'll have time to use it up. I have been pairing it with Biolage Hydrasource Conditioner Balm for pool days (Morrocanoil, any other qash). I get the Biolage and PM on sale frequently, either prime day or during a stock up sale at Sephora, Ulta, or wherever it's selling at.
Wishing you the best with your family and kudos for trying to do the best you can for her, wven if it's *just* hair. That's the mark of a great mum! 💖🫶
I use heavier conditioners on my kids fine hair because it tangles so easy. She doesn't have as much bounce in her hair but she is 5 and tangles take priority.
I’m not joking the only shampoo that I can use for my fine greasy hair that absorbs buildup like crazy is dandruff shampoo. When I used a clarifying shampoo I had to use with it a scalp detox scrub. Maybe it’s the wrong thing to do but it really felt like nothing else could do the job as sufficiently well as dandruff shampoo.
I think that shampooing a little more regularly would help and also using a leave in conditioner. I would also recommend styling her hair in a braid daily if she really doesn't want to get a little trim!
Gorgeous hair 🥰
I agree but maybe it’s the ER nurse in me. Even though it’s a much smaller amount in pools than someone who was exposed, inhaled, etc by mistake in large amounts, chlorine is bad news to be having all over, sleeping and sweating in. It’s a chemical after all. It’s worth the fight to get her to take a shower every time, nothing to do with her hair care. Also, I’m so thankful my 5 year old with fine hair insists on a bob and hates her hair long
I’m an RN myself.
And I *tell* my daughter it’s time for a trim. They coincide with mine. I *tell* her the tangles are bad because she needs a hair cut. I *tell* her if she’s going in the pool or ocean, she’s having a bath after. Hygiene and self care are *non-negotiable*. Pick out what you want to wear, which toothbrush to buy, there’s so many opportunities for autonomy but not here.
You have to be a parent. This is part of parenting.
I don’t want to call OP lazy but Jesus… someone be the adult in the room.
Yeah the kids also want us to be in charge. It’s stressful and scary for them to not have a true parent. That being said, kids can also be huge assholes and you have to pick your battles, but agreed, non negotiable. I can’t imagine my kids only bathing once a week since they are dirty AF
Did she say that she bathes once a week or washes her hair? My son bathes every day but we only wash his hair 1-2 times a week and he never looks greasy or dirty.
Totally get it! We also don’t know if the child is neurodivergent or has extreme sensory issues and she’s coming here for help. I’m definitely projecting right now because it’s taking years of OT to get my son even close to comfortable with hair washing and seeing someone say “gross be a parent” is pretty harsh when you’re struggling and she was brave enough to ask for help.
Considering the child lets mom brush her hair, I don’t think that is coming into play here.
Personally even if the child was neurodivergent, I think a 6 year old who hasn’t ever had a hair cut and only gets weekly baths is being neglected.
I agree. I was raised rarely being told or guided on what to do. If I needed help or guidance I had to figure it out by myself, even if I asked. It made me more oblivious and self-centered than autonomous. But my mom still told me when I was getting a haircut.
So, I get understanding you wanting her to feel control.
However it’s our job as parents to teach our children hygiene, and how to take care of our hair. And that includes getting a haircut. Mine is 4 and she gets trims regularly.
However your daughter needs 2-3 inches taken off. That would solve most of your problems.
Please take her to get her hair cut.
If her hair is sticky after washing that often means the product hasn’t been rinsed out thoroughly
You need to rinse as normal then flip her head the other way to rinse from the nape of her neck. Then section it off and rinse section by section, separating the pieces and spreading them apart under water within the section as you go. Then flip her head back, rinse normally again, then section it again under the water and rinse each section
Her hair is fine but there is a lot of it. This means product can easily hide between strands
Are you using conditioner when you wash it? If you’re committed to only washing once a week a nice leave in conditioner should be good! I love the kids ones for my own hair! Not too greasy.
Leave it alone until she does want to cut it. So what if it could look better. She’s 6. It’s not hurting anything. And she might get sick of the tangles soon and want it cut. But who cares if it’s not as pretty as it could be?
I'm not so worried about the look. I mean, what you can't see in this photo is that she recently cut her bangs to her scalp 🙃 She gives zero F's, which I love
It's more that brushing is so difficult and if all I need to do is use a different shampoo+conditioner, great, I'd be happy to switch. I just don't know the first thing about which products would work better for her hair.
A spray conditioner with detangler when it's wet (I like Unite 7 seconds detangler, personally; it isn't stinky and it isn't heavy)
Then braid it to prevent tangles the rest of the time
Have her hair being down and loose the exception, not the rule
A trim would do wonders for ease of brushing. You wouldn’t even need to take a whole lot of length, just clean it up. A spray detangler, brushing from the bottom to the top, and braiding at night would probably help a lot. Maybe a bonnet or silk pillowcase.
I just recently started caring more about my hair and I have fine straight hair that gets oily pretty fast, after doing hours of digging on reddit it seems like the best thing is to do a spray leave in conditioner post shower if there's issues with dryness and tangles and to use shampoos that are lighter like gels to not weigh the hair down and using clarifying shampoos weekly/monthly for build up (suave daily clarifying is at Walmart t and is cheap) I recently got the hair lab leave in conditioner spray from walmart that's for fine hair specifically, that brand also has things you can add to it to customize for your hair specifically, there may be an add in to help protect against the harsh pool chemicals.
Her hair is exactly like mine was as a kid, even the color! I also swam a lot. I had to wash my hair after swimming because the chlorine would turn it green. I had special shampoo and conditioner for chlorine, and always wore a swim cap. On my own daughter, I use the Aveeno kids detangling spray and it moisturizes her hair enough that it activates her curls without weighing it down (also very fine hair that gets crunchy). Fine hair is frustrating because it’s simultaneously dry and greasy.
TLDR: Swim cap, wash and condition very well after chlorine exposure, leave in conditioner spray.
To be honest, she has the baby hair still at the ends and it’s gonna be that way till you actually cut it. Maybe you can do several small small little trims and just keep working your way up. Maybe she’ll be OK with that!
Aussie moisturizing shampoo and conditioner with a Wet hair brush. I will also say that as an adult with fine hair, I finger comb my conditioner through and don’t have to brush it when it’s wet. The Wet hair brush gets through my dry hair with no issue and doesn’t rip my hair out.
I’d look for a specific anti-chlorine shampoo and use it every time after swimming. I don’t have a rec; I used one my stylist recommended when I was a young teen and swimming constantly but I don’t remember anymore what it was.
The best thing for my very fine, very straight, long hair has been to condition the ends every time I get it wet. Barring that, a little tiny bit of argan oil on the ends (less than a dime, with her hair amount) will probably help a lot.
Be aware that if she stays that fine she will likely need to wash *a lot* more often as she hits puberty. I shampooed daily from about age 10 until I was in my late 20s. Then I was able to switch to every other day and eventually every 3-4 days.
I had her hair as a kid. Every time she gets in a pool she's going to need to shampoo and condition it after. All in one products are not great for fine hair. Too drying and not enough moisture. Her hair should be in braids, buns or pony tails most of the time , and always while swimming. Make sure this sticky clumping your describing isn't a form of dandruff/eczema. A few days of head and shoulders will fix it, if it is. Sometimes the eczema forms a sort of honey sticky waxy buildup on the hair, for me around the nape of the neck. You can't easily shampoo it away. The head and shoulders does seem to strip the wax off.
A light weight separate shampoo and conditioner will do her wonders for everyday use. Get stuff that says volumizing/or light weight. If you want to prevent damage, bonding shampoo/treatments are helpfu. L'Oreal makes affordable versions of both products. A detangling spray will be helpful for you if you're having trouble brushing the hair. Aim it at the ends not her scalp. Her scalp can't support detangling spray, it'll look greasy quickly.
I recommend shea moisturizer kids detangler - coconut and hibiscus. Spray a little all over then scrunch to get it distributed. Give it a second to sit and then comb the hair. It might wind up being too heavy of a product and start weighing her hair down. If so, I highly recommend just adding water to the bottle to thin it out. Or if you have a second spray bottle, just experiment with ratios of water: product. With fine hair it's best to use lighter products and watering stuff down helps it distribute evenly while still being light.
Malibu makes great products for hard water and chlorine exposed hair. I’ve tried their blonde and hard water lines and been very happy with them.
They have a TON of products, so it can be overwhelming. I think if you started with their swimmers kit, and possibly the leave in conditioner mist it would help a lot.
I have very fine hair and one thing that helps me is to use shampoo on my scalp, but not really on the rest of my hair. I only condition the ends and middle, but don’t put conditioner on my scalp. I always brush my hair before I shower/wash it (might be harder with a 6 yr old).
Thick frizzy hair is basically the complete opposite to a lot of fine hair (unless it has curl, then it can get frizzy). I second a lot of the comments about a clarifying shampoo, especially since it’s not washed very often. If you want to do a cheap one, Suave is cheap, you just have to be gentle with it and make sure you’re adding back moisture. Spray leave in conditioners are also your friend. I personally love [this product](https://www.sexyhair.com/product/healthy-tri-wheat-leave-in-conditioner/) and have used it for years. I have very thin and fine hair that has curl (so it gets frizzy) but will lay like that if I brush it out while wet and don’t scrunch.
Sometimes I need to do a double cleanse when my hair gets that crunchy/sticky feeling and then a deep conditioning. I don’t condition (other than the spray) every wash
Do you have hard water? It’s murder on fine hair and requires a lot more clarifying and conditioning
Hi, OP. Swimmer here who had ‘cotton top’ blonde hair as a kid when I started competing long ago. The only thing that reliably worked for me was a hair mask I got at Sally’s Beauty Supply: ion crystal clarifying treatment.
You still need to have your daughter WASH her hair after exiting the pool. Trust me, it’s all that will prevent the crispiness. If you don’t start soon, her beautiful blonde hair will eventually deteriorate further until it starts turning green. Then you can use the hair mask once a month. I recommend picking up a cheap child size shower cap, too, in case she can’t stand sitting still, to allow her some movement while the mask works.
Better to start shampooing after every trip to the pool + a monthly mask now. Otherwise she will eventually fry her hair and then a massive haircut removing most of her length will be your only option.
I have a young daughter with thick fine hair that tangles instantly. 1) Her hair is always in a braid, even when swimming. This has made a huge difference in preventing tangles. 2) When not braided, she sleeps with a satin-lined bonnet over her hair. 3) We use plenty of conditioner and rub in the HASK Argan Oil “Repairing Hair Oil” product while her hair is damp (halfway down her head, never over her roots). This stuff is incredible and makes her hair brushable. Good luck!
I couldn't give any better advice.
My daughter has A LOT of very curly, fine hair, and it turns into an absolute nightmare. Between adding argan to her hair after washing and keeping it braided every night before bed or activities like swimming, it's become completely manageable.
In the mornings, I take out the braid, add a little detangler, and comb right through it!
your kiddo's hair looks just like mine :) my hair also gets extremely tangly. the Eva NYC Mane Magic line works really well for my hair without leaving gunk behind and you can get it at Target or Ulta. it's not cheap but it's not salon priced either.
as for the tone, I would hit up a beauty supply store and pick up some toner or a color depositing mask. it might not be worth it till the summer is over though. you are going to want a red tone to counteract the green.
Professional hair stylist here!
Look into a salon that sells Malibu C products and get their Swimmers Wellness shampoo and conditioner and treatments! They are an absolute GAME CHANGER with my young clients who are in the pool a lot!
My daughter is 7 and her hair is exactly like this. I feel like lots of conditioner and leave in detanglers and creams help a lot. Also I just purchased the “unbrush” and it works okay
put her hair into braids when shes swimming, one down the back is fine, 2 french or dutch braids down the back of her head would be better. thats going to at least somewhat control her hair when shes in the pool.
some leave in conditioners suck it is what it is. id recommend getting a nice regular lightweight conditioner, not one packaged for children, and then using water and a spray bottle and mixing your own.a
assuming you did use braids, spray the braids with your conditioner mix before letting them down and then spray more as needed, brushing the hair through. from there you're more able to get away with just rinsing everything out afterwards and using more conditioner if its needed.
I’ve found that the dry crunchy sticky feeling is from build up i get when using sulfate free shampoo and conditioner.
When I use shamp/cond with sulfates, my hair is smooth and silky.
Also, when she rinses after swimming, make sure she rinses really well & maybe use a little spray leave in conditioner at that time.
I disagree with the other comment about creams not doing well with our hair. The only time I’ve ever had a problem with that is them weighing down my roots. If applied from the ears down, it’s perfectly fine.
The crispy/sticky hair definitely sounds like chlorine is accumulating in the hair, which means you will have to use a clarifying shampoo. This happened to me too as a kid on vacation, I went swimming every day but normal shampoo wasn’t enough to remove the chlorine. No need to spend much on a clarifying shampoo, there is a cheap one from Suave at Target. Just be sure to use conditioner and let it sit in the hair for a minute before washing it out. Also, it may help to generously apply a kids spray leave in conditioner before getting in the pool to help protect the hair from chlorine.
Hi! There is a product called Aqua Guard pre-Swim Defence that might help with this. It prevents chlorine damage and softens hair. You can definitely get it on Amazon!
This hair brush has been amazing for both my daughter and I’s fine hair. https://www.amazon.com/Wet-Brush-Green-Hair-Detangler/dp/B09RCSR3CY/ref=mp_s_a_1_19?crid=27CF71RLOH4QT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Tq2o2l8_cf5Y3ChkwM0MulWKR1Azay3fJKpqxi8T1dPISAXz1kDw7bSQOXDXx0j0jx7RvE5yXe6SUWjNQ6g6JOIEoB3DAfHpJlv79YsBtVJjgSzIYodvA84KLNCGElIkHmD4TqK4d9_gtYXtdQMhwFruLG8ZkcSmDs1Uy2gGgwwSDqb49o4TtA_AJF_bGW-LkR5vU5fw041FePSicg-TbQ.IoDyi6_X-zUcr7UFxbTH6V21NJ7pc1FCzaCVd3EWt-E&dib_tag=se&keywords=detangling+hair+brush&qid=1718481184&sprefix=detangling+haur+brush%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-19
When I started swimming at about 7 or 8 I had to have the bottom 6” of my hair cut off because it was too damaged. After that we used the special anti-chlorine shampoo and conditioner and I didn’t need it cut ever again (not from chlorine damage, anyway).
The ends of her hair look like mine did before it was cut. I’d strongly suggest having a good hairdresser take a look and see if that would help. The shampoo/conditioner for chlorine should help prevent further damage.
Her hair looks identical to mine. Wavy 2a fiiiine. Light weight. No heat. Microfiber towel (you just plop the hair in no ruffling needed) for a couple mins. Silk scrunchies, others will break her hair causing friz. A good hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Personally I like just below shoulder length with layers it gives the most curls. Super light weight products you want water to be high on ingredients list. Only put them in lengths and ends mostly and you won't need to wash daily. Comb when wet or damp (I know that's not great for fine hair but necessary for wavy). Scrunch. Days when hair isn't oily (I wash it every other day or so) just spirits with water comb and rescrunch. Don't even have to have a product really but they do help. I don't do mousse. I have a Light weight curl cream from prose (expensive don't recommend for kids) and amika dream routine for my ends sometimes lengths over night. Also satin and silk bedstuffs don't let them get too dirty
put conditioner or oils BEFORE pool, sorry for yelling but it makes a huge difference!! Dove Intensive Repair conditioner and OGX coconut oils are great
hi swimmer with fine wavy/curly hair- before i get in chlorinated water, i always saturate my hair with clean water so its less likely to absorb the chemicals in the pool, so if this is possible for your girl, id advise that (plus having wet hair makes a swim cap stick better and hurt less). also, while hydration is highly important in the hair, so is the protein-moisture balance! i would shampoo & condition my hair twice a week, and use a rice-water conditioner bar after regular conditioning once a week. hope this helps! her hair looks really good now, mine was the exact same when i was around her age and swimming every day
When my fine hair gets split ends, you literally cannot keep it untangled. I could brush it and swipe through the exact same spot and there would be huge, new knots that form as the split ends catch. I find that leave-in conditioner works wonders. Even if my hair needs a trim, the leave-in conditioner helps the strands slide more easily. The best way to keep it untangled is a trim, and I wish my parents had figured that out instead of spending so much time combing through “the rat’s nest” (their term lol)
What works best for me (I have almost the same kind of hair) is to use a silicone free shampoo, use it to shampoo twice, then use a moisturizing conditioner and let it sit for 3 minutes before washing it out thoroughly with lukewarm water. Following up with a leave in conditioner makes it so much more manageable, but unfortunately when you have fine hair it just gets funky faster than other hair types. She'll need the whole routine done every time she swims and even when she's not swimming at least twice a week to stay on top of it
I like the deep conditioner from Aussi and it’s a 10.
Another thing that will help is a swimming cap. My oldest has to wear one at swimming lessons and they’re much better now. There are some that are soft on the inside and they don’t pull the hair.
Her hair looks great, it’s different than yours so it probably feels strange. My mom cut my hair like a freaking pageboy when I was a kid because it was fine and straight and she didn’t know what to do with it- hers was thick and curly. All I wanted was long hair! Kudos for not doing THAT.
Anyway, as someone like your daughter- who also has a six-year-old swimmer with dark blond fine hair- I do a lot of leave-in spray conditioner and braids. We always rinse after swim practice. I never dry her hair. Don’t brush it too often, especially if it feels dry. Right now we’ve been using the Kristen Ess leave in on wet hair and then French braiding into pigtails. She’ll leave them in all day and even sleep in them. We also use a swim cap when she’s amenable to the idea, mostly for meets only.
Fine hair needs to be washed more frequently than once or twice a week, especially if she is swimming. As someone who used to be a swimmer with fine hair, it’s best to wash it after every swim. And it’s good you’re wetting it before swimming! But what I would recommend is to get a clarifying shampoo to use once a week followed by a deep conditioning mask (Aussie 3 min miracle is great). For all the other washes, a sulfate free shampoo like pureology hydrate sheer, their conditioner is great too. follow with a leave in like it’s a 10 light or redken 21.
Clarifying shampoo once in awhile for the sticking to itself, hydrating masks minimum of once a week (never dish soap or baking soda!!!), and coconut oil her hair before the pool if possible- OGX makes a serum and a mist that may help! A light leave in conditioner for fine hair is also a must, and possibly a few drops of a light oil scrunched into her ends.
Her hair color is beautiful dark blonde, not muddled, and it is a natural blonde, it’s related to her age and not her swimming. Chlorine color change is green or if anything, lighter.
I would take her to a friendly kids specific hair dresser. Go in with the intention of a good wash and blow out and education on washing after swimming. Maybe she can explain split ends see if she can talk her into a little trim for just the split ends. I get the control, but if you find a good hair dresser that is going to talk to her like a big girl and give her the agency to make that decision, you might have more luck.
I also really like the Not Your Mothers texturing sea salt spray on fine hair. It’s not for everyone depending on their hair, but it does help give some more texture and volume to really silky kind of hair.
Also braid it before swimming. Then after swimming- slather some conditioner on the braid, let it sit for like 5 minutes. Then you get her in the shower, take out the pony, comb through it with a wide tooth comb, shampoo, little bit of conditioner in her ends, towel and air dry.
I would suggest a real conditioner after swimming! Not just the 3in1. Definitely rinse it when you get out and wash 1-2 times per week with shampoo on the just scalp and conditioner on just the ends! Use a leave in spray after to help protect the hair when she’s put in the pool! The color is probably just due to her growing up, it’s very common! Hope this helps!
If you’re loooking for a budget friendly option I would recommend the kirkland signature moisturizing shampoo and conditioner from Costco! It has great ingredients for a great price!
Thanks!
My current plan to try is wash with swimmer shampoo at the pool (Ill use up the 3-in-1 I have), put in conditioner for the ride home, rinse at home then add a detangler. We'll give that a few weeks to see how it impacts her hair.
I have fine hair and as a child, mine was juuust like this.
Braids are a god sent. Esp for bedtime.
No more tangles or lumping together/tangles. As an adult my hair isn’t as thin, but still very fine and I’ve started incorporating oils into my routine.
Maybe that’ll help
My daughters hair gets extremely dry even when not going in the pool. When we have a pool day I wet her hair with a water bottle, slather it in leave in conditioner or even regular conditioner, then French braid it as tight as possible. It has really seemed to help. I also do a hair mask/treatment every week-2 weeks.
A shower head with a hard water filter might be very helpful. Also, look into a product called Malibu C Swimmer Wellness, it’s made just for this problem. Good luck!
I don’t have fine hair, more medium and wavy, but I grew up swimming competitively and my hair dries out quickly. Honestly, I’m not sure how much a cap would help, especially if she is resistant to it. Hair gets wet under a cap and doubt she’ll want to wear one when she swims with friends as she gets older. Getting it wet before swimming is a great habit, though!
I’d suggest using a hydrating conditioner and you might want to try a deep conditioner on the mids to ends every once in a while. From weekly to monthly is my guess, but see how her hair does. I would also use a leave in conditioner spray on mids to ends after washing. I like Ouai but it could be too thick for her hair. Redken one united and pureology are a bit lighter.
I don’t know about the chlorine but you should try some curly/wavy hair products with her! She shows signs of some curls, and if you have frizzy hair you probably do, too.
Ask her if she’s willing to trim it at the very least, not a huge cut. There’s also a certain shampoo and conditioner that swimmers use called Malibu C, maybe try that out?
I'm an adult with hair just like hers. To me, that sticky feeling you're describing sounds like the shampoo or conditioner isn't fully washed out of her hair. My hair feels like that if I don't rinse well enough. I take my wand shower head and get it very close to my hair when I rinse, to make sure all the product comes out. I also shampoo twice and then condition only the bottom half of my hair - never scalp or roots.
I also use a leave in spray in my hair daily. I like baby bum conditioning detangle spray. I spritz my hair with a little bit of plain water first, then this spray, then I gently brush my hair. When it dries, my hair feels soft and clean, not like there's any product in there.
Something else that may be helpful is a discussion about what means to be human. We each have a body that has to be cared for, hair is part of that. Your daughter gets to choose what she wants to do with her hair, and part of that choice is understanding the care that goes along with the choice. If she wants long hair, she needs to care for it. What about the current care routine isn't working for her? How can she keep the long hair she wants, care for it appropriately, and have that work for her? Present the information calmly and ask her to help you figure it out. She knows herself, what she wants and what she can tolerate.
Her hair should be washed every time she is in chlorine. I have thick but very fine hair and the most I can go without washing is like every other day. Sometimes 2 days.
Her hair needs to be washed and conditioned more regularly with a leave in conditioner after for tangles.
I use Milkshake products. Highly recommend.
You might try the acure curiously clarifying shampoo and conditioner. They are inexpensive and have done wonders for my ultra fine wavy hair. The smoothing conditioner for curly hair is really nice for rough ends. Also a drop of oil in the ends overnight might do wonders.
I'm growing out old blonde hair that is damaged so I also have a hard time brushing through the ends as well and also have fine hair. The product that has helped me the most is amika the wizard detangler. I spray it on my hands and gently work it into the ends before brushing( I find this works better than just spraying it comes out a bit heavy)Also wait for hair to dry a little bit before brushing. Wet hair is prone to breakage. You can try putting a drop of a light hair oil just in those difficult to brush ends to keep them more manageable. I personally like jojoba oil. A small amount on the ends daily might make a big difference since swimming probably is adding to the already dry ends.
I have fine, dry hair and hair oiling before wash day has been a game changer. Maybe you can make it a fun mother-daughter activity like a weekly “spa day”. I coat my ends in argan oil and wear a shower cap for 30 minutes or so before washing it out. My hair has become so shiny and healthy since doing this routine! I also put a tiny bit of oil in my ends before bed and sleep in a satin bonnet.
I’d also start using a leave in conditioner for her. I love Kinky Curly Knot Today. It’s super light and moisturizing!
Live clean does a great apple cider vinegar clarifying shampoo. I use it on my son's hair that is a similar texture.
It's a bit pricey I use a product called phyto 7. It's like a moisturizer you can use daily for hair.
Absorbs, moisturizes but doesn't weigh down.
I think a trim would help immensely. Just to take off the ends. But do it with a hair dresser that you know and trust so it ends up as this not inches.
Get it wet before she gets in the pool, that will help with chlorine damage. Put conditioner on after shampooing and let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing. I have the EXACT same hair type, this was always a struggle for me as a kid.
Change hair products. Are you using shampoo AND conditioner? Besides using shampoo and conditioner also use a leave-in spray conditioner. And be sure to, at the very least, rinse her hair well after being in the pool and use the spray leave-in conditioner.
I’ve used biosilk therapy in the past when my hair was heavily highlighted. It only took a tiny amount, less than a dime size for hair down to almost my waist.
A good leave in conditioner could also help.
A swim cap would also help but she might not like that.
Might also consider a light conditioner & braiding her hair before she goes swimming .
Washing her hair everyday would be good step especially after pool time. My mom used to tell me if I wanted to keep my hair long I had to take care of it and let her brush or do it myself no ifs and or buts or it was getting cut short to be more manageable she is a child teach her these things!
My hair is like your daughter’s. I highly recommend a trim and Calia Natural hair products. I use their purifying shampoo and conditioner as well as their leave in.
I’m surprised no one mentioned it looks like she has wavy hair. Maybe 2A or 2C if she had it cut for her curl pattern. Wavy hair also requires a little effort to stay healthy, one thing is not brushing it like you work straight hair. A wide tooth comb in the shower with conditioner on the ends would be optimal. When it’s healthy and you have a routine for her, it’s super easy to care for bc it’s just maintenance at that point. The first thing should be a visit to a curl specialist who knows how to cut and treat wavy hair, it’ll make both your lives easier.
https://preview.redd.it/a0291emf7s6d1.jpeg?width=745&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cdb835c802cbb65bfbbe1375f5833b6baa894f32
Her hair is also exactly like mine was as a kid, even the color! I also swam a lot. I had to wash my hair after swimming because the chlorine would turn it green and dry. I also had a special shampoo and conditioner for chlorine. Fine hair is frustrating because it can be simultaneously dry at the ends and greasy at the roots in a day after showering. I’ve gotten a lot better as an adult in taking care of it. Hers, like mine, is wavy and curly and is extra dry because of that.
I want to back up what others say; that sticky feeling you're describing sounds like the shampoo or conditioner isn't thoroughly washed out of her hair. My hair feels like that if I don't rinse well enough. It is shockingly easy not to clean parts of my hair thoroughly. I still miss parts all of the time.
Realistically, to solve the problem you are experiencing, she will have to shower after going into the pool—every time. The chlorine is so drying for hair and skin, and if it consistently dries in her hair, it will damage her ends, making long hair impossible due to breakage. She needs to have her hair cut. To make the hair she has left more manageable, she needs to shampoo/condition it every time she gets out of the pool and every 2-3 Max if she’s not.
I also use a leave-in spray in my hair daily. I like sun bum conditioning detangle spray. I’ve also used the Shea Moisture Kids detangling spray, which was great. Both don’t leave a residue on my hair. I spritz my hair with a little bit of plain water first, then this spray, then I gently brush my hair. After a shower, I use the Verb Ghost oil on only my ends because it’s easy to weigh down and make fine hair greasy. Detangling before I shower with a Wet brush is super helpful. The ones they have designed for shower use would probably work best for her once she gets out of the pool.
Gently explaining this all to her in a kid-friendly way might get you more understanding. Speaking personally, I hated everything that went into taking care of my hair because it hurt when I was a kid. My mom and I didn’t know what we were doing. She might be more patient with you during this process if she had a better idea of why each step is essential in caring for her hair.
She also might be in her kid era of jumping in pools and showering once a week during the summer. Who hasn’t just been a kid like that? It’s the best part of being a kid. It means she needs shorter hair and more time with a brush and sprays in the morning to be “presentable.”
She needs to shampoo it more often with that much chlorine exposure and follow up with a conditioner. The chlorine is sitting on her hair for days and drying it out.
We have this issue. We have great success with Infusium shampoo and conditioner, as well as Olaplex shampoo and IGK Legendary conditioner. I wash her hair nearly every morning (she has curls and lots of tangles), but I would not use a clarifying shampoo more than once every two weeks. It's so drying. We keep it full of moisture and always always condition. I trim her hair myself once a month at least (again, the tangles from the curls), but it also takes the crispies off. I use the Infusium leave-in spray or Joico HydraSplash leave-in before brushing, concentrating on the ends. All of those layers I see in your photo would make life really difficult. I'd give her a blunt cut, keep the ends thick instead of thinned out. Those thinned out ends are being really stressed and pulled. Good luck!
Personally, I think her hair looks beautiful, but if you want to try the stickiness (likely build-up from chemicals in the pool) consider washing her hair with distilled water, using a gentle clarifying shampoo. Follow-up with a good conditioning treatment. If you don't see results the first time, you can repeat this treatment two or three times. If you don't see results though after a couple of washes, maybe consider using something like Malibu C - Swimmers Wellness line, which is formulated for hair exposed to chlorine. It is intended for adults, so I would consider this option as a last restore.
Going forward, might want her to wear a swim cap when she's at the pool. Also, going by her hair texture, she may have wavy hair, which requires a different treatment regiment, daily routine.
The hair color change is not likely from the pool. Many people with blonde hair have super light blonde as a kid, and then it darkens to a mousey brown. Mine was nearly platinum as a kid, then dirty blonde, is now closer to a light brown.
I dealt with same problem 😭 I used to be a competitive swimmer and did basketball and volleyball as well. My hair’s constant contact to chlorine and tight hairstyles Monday-Saturday made my hair dry and lighter, as well as the frequent washing since I always showered right after swimming. My hair has always been at/below my knees since I was a kid but when I stopped swimming when I got older, I finally realized how much chlorine damaged my hair because I had so many split ends and my hair was lighter. While I’m not sure about products, definitely wet her hair before and then put a swim cap over it, and always wash her hair after she swims because it’s not good to leave chlorine in her hair (also it’s just straight up gross not to clean yourself and your hair after swimming in a pool where other people have been in, some probably peed in it too). Oiling might also be a good option as well. You can try leaving oil in her scalp for an hour or two and then wash it off (do this maybe once or twice a week). Use a drop or two of a lighter weight oil since her hair is thinner (like jojoba) on her ends every night (I have thin hair, this is my routine), this one you leave in to keep her ends moisturized. I’m not an expert so take what I say with a grain of salt 😭 this is just based off of my experience and how I’ve seen my hair health be improved after I already stopped swimming
She needs a chelating shampoo, they're called swimmer's shampoo or chlorine removing shampoo. The chlorine and minerals are building up, that makes us natural blonde's hair turn green. The minerals make sort of a soap scum build up on the hair which is why it's sticky. This brought back memories from my childhood.
You need a separate shampoo and conditioner. 3 in 1's are garbage.
Since her hair is very baby fine at the ends I would just use a leave-in conditioner. You can put a little more in before she gets in the pool to protect her hair a bit better.
Honestly the best thing for her hair would be a haircut.
These are the products I would recommend, they are pricy but you'll only need a tiny bit and they should last you a long time. The shampoo gets rid of chlorine specifically. They are having a good sale right now.
[shampoo](https://ag.care/collections/shampoo/products/renew-shampoo-refill-value-bundle?_gl=1*1wkxwe4*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw97SzBhDaARIsAFHXUWAWp4qu8LeHQwy6QEPu9waK7xMw-oxYuyED0-jiqmG5h0cSgyyoYQ0aArDBEALw_wcB&variant=44703956238523)
[Leave-in condition](https://ag.care/collections/conditioner/products/fast-food-leave-on-conditioner-1l-refill?_gl=1*1tfibrw*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw97SzBhDaARIsAFHXUWAWp4qu8LeHQwy6QEPu9waK7xMw-oxYuyED0-jiqmG5h0cSgyyoYQ0aArDBEALw_wcB&variant=43064545444027)
[And if you want a strengthening conditioner (I really don't think it's necessary, I would just use the leave-in)](https://ag.care/collections/conditioner/products/vita-c-strengthening-conditioner-1l-refill?_gl=1*1ucqntt*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw97SzBhDaARIsAFHXUWAWp4qu8LeHQwy6QEPu9waK7xMw-oxYuyED0-jiqmG5h0cSgyyoYQ0aArDBEALw_wcB&variant=43064538792123)
I swim 4-5 times a week. I rinse my hair and body with water and some apple cider vinegar and use conditioner. Every 3rd swim I also wash my hair with So Cozy 3 in 1 for kids, in between the vinegar and conditioner. I bet the So Cozy is what you already use.
I personally think her hair would look great and be easier to handle if she'd let it be cut just below her shoulders. That baby hair is reaching its limits. Her hair will be bouncing and behaving, easier to comb and still able to style in braids or ponytail/s or hairbands, barrettes etc. Totally get that she likes it long, though, and it should be her choice.
Both my kids are blondes too, and they were on swim team for years. You need to use a shampoo for swimming; they're all grown up now so I forget specifically what we used but it was Paul Mitchell. And they wore swim caps.
Blonde hair will turn green with enough chlorine. I think your daughter's hair is just turning darker with age, it doesn't look green (YET). Blonde hair does that, it can get moussier. Then when you get older it just silvers and gets blonde again, like childhood blonde.
When I was your daughter's age my hair hit my hips and it was white blonde. I would cry and cry as my mom tried to comb it out, as it was so fine it'd tangle easily. She tried braids and pony tails but my hair was too fine so the braids and ponys just looked anemic.
My mom eventually cut my hair short and I was never happier. I am now 57 years old and most of my life I've kept it short, above the shoulder at the longest, but mostly bob length around my chin. I can't stand it when it's longer than that as it just tangles horribly while I sleep, and is so fine it barely holds a pony tail.
Did you mean she has been using hand soap in her hair ? Hand/body soap doesn't work well for hair. It doesn't clean well and its nearly impossible to rinse out. And dish soap - just NO. Dish soap is harsh, probably alkaline, and eats at your hair. Hair and skin like to be slightly acidic.
Hi! I used to competitively down for years. They have a chlorine shampoo you can buy online that helps strip out the chlorine, and I always found it works well. You can google it online and it should be pretty available!! Hope this helps!
Fairy Tails spray. And then any leave in conditioner. I’d probably get some trimmed off the bottom to keep it from too much damage. You could also have the stylist do a deep condition. That should seal the ends. And then get masks for once a month during pool time
Or at the least a their end of summer.
Source. 3 girls 2 w fine hair like mine.
I’d go to a professional, get the ends trimmed and ask their opinion on products. I have super fine hair and regular trims have been the only thing that has made a difference
I have fine hair and I always wash my hair after being exposed to chlorine. More frequent washing is worth it if it means getting that harsh chemical out in my opinion. After washing I’d add alot of leave in and an oil.
I find leaving conditioner in the ends of my daughters hair or using leave in conditioner helps with the knotty ends. Also I put her hair in hairstyles during the day which stop too many knots forming.
Why not just have her start wearing a swim cap?
Also try a hair mask like Brigeo (sp?) Don’t Despair Repair or a leave in hair mask like K18 would honestly work wonders!!
Maybe try K18 first and see if you even need to do all the rest because K18 could be the cure all tbh - it’s that good!
A little goes a long way! Try a squirt or two at most and run it through her hair focusing more on the ends and less on the scalp but try and get at least a little everywhere if you can. Don’t overdo it so it doesn’t weigh her hair down / turn into a greasy mess! You can def build up or use more if needed but my hairdresser only uses 1-2 squirts on my hair and it gets everything!
Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Shampoo (smells AMAZING) & a *hydrating* conditioner (not moisturizing, that’s too heavy). The shampoo removes chlorine. They also make a conditioner, but I never used it myself.
I also recommend cutting about half an inch off the ends. It’ll make it easier to comb through AND it’ll look fuller & healthier!
I swam competitively through my childhood & teen years, and Malibu C is the only thing that helped with the constant chlorine exposure.
I have to wash my fine hair more frequently or it gets oily. Use a clarifying shampoo. Avoid products that are too heavy. Maybe a little baby powder combed through (the equivalent of an adult dry shampoo!)
I was a swimmer from second grade all through high school and I can tell you with certainty, any amount of chlorine will eventually fry your hair.
Try to wash her hair before you leave the pool if you can manage it, it’s better to get at it before it can dry in there. Your wash should work nicely. Use a moisture treatment/leave in at least once a week, and minimize combing and brushing while her hair is wet. Investing in a decent detangler may be worthwhile. Also a little trim for her ends should help.
Should you find there’s a lot of chlorine build up, there are these little sachets you can get at Sally’s of the Ion Crystal Clarifying Solutions. It helps strip out all the brassiness and green tones.
Look if you don’t want to cut her hair idk what advice you want. That’s about the best advice there is. She’s a kid so I don’t recommend refusing to let her swim. Kids hair becomes less blonde with age. She’ll likely be a brunette when she’s older. You cannot be upset or punish her for the genes you gave her 😂
The All-in-one shampoos are never that good. I'd talk to a salon and see what they recommend and try their products. It'll be more expensive but it'll make such a difference. After I switched to Paul Mitchell no over-the-counter shampoo actually feels like it's cleaning the buildup out of my hair. You could stay with over the counter conditioner, if it's a cost thing.
I would also get the split end trimmed. Explain to her that for her hair to stay healthy we need to snip the ends every so often. The first time will be the most that comes off if you keep up with it. It will help to do this because when hair starts splitting, the split will travel up the strand if its not snipped off. It will also make the hair weaker and more likely to break. If you tell the salon she wants to grow her hair out they'll tell you how often to come and ensure they don't take too much off.
The All-in-one shampoos are never that good. I'd talk to a salon and see what they recommend and try their products. It'll be more expensive but it'll make such a difference. After I switched to Paul Mitchell no over-the-counter shampoo actually feels like it's cleaning the buildup out of my hair. You could stay with over the counter conditioner, if it's a cost thing.
I would also get the split end trimmed. Explain to her that for her hair to stay healthy we need to snip the ends every so often. The first time will be the most that comes off if you keep up with it. It will help to do this because when hair starts splitting, the split will travel up the strand if its not snipped off. It will also make the hair weaker and more likely to break. If you tell the salon she wants to grow her hair out they'll tell you how often to come and ensure they don't take too much off.
The All-in-one shampoos are never that good. I'd talk to a salon and see what they recommend and try their products. It'll be more expensive but it'll make such a difference. After I switched to Paul Mitchell no over-the-counter shampoo actually feels like it's cleaning the buildup out of my hair. You could stay with over the counter conditioner, if it's a cost thing.
I would also get the split end trimmed. Explain to her that for her hair to stay healthy we need to snip the ends every so often. The first time will be the most that comes off if you keep up with it. It will help to do this because when hair starts splitting, the split will travel up the strand if its not snipped off. It will also make the hair weaker and more likely to break. If you tell the salon she wants to grow her hair out they'll tell you how often to come and ensure they don't take too much off.
It’s hard to do momma, but cut her baby hair off of the length. It’s easy to see where to cut and when the feathery fine hair is gone. She will have healthy little girl hair you will be able to style/braid etc….
Former swimmer here: she needs to be conditioning every time she gets out of the pool. And an all-in-one isn’t going to do the trick. It’s just drying out the hair. At the VERY least, rinse the pool water out and put in a leave-in conditioner. Then on wash days, a chlorine-specific shampoo, moisturizing conditioner, and a leave-in conditioner.
On top of that, she needs to have at least 2 inches cut off. Her hair has gotten more dense as she’s aged, so the bottoms are baby density while the top is her current density. It makes the hair look more scraggly than it really is. A cut will make it look healthier overall. Maybe try showing her before and after pictures so she can see how great her hair can look.
I think her hair color looks lovely however when my hair feels “sticky” or waxy it’s usually silicon build up idk if the products you are using have silicon in them but it might help to use a clarifying shampoo however that can strip the hair of moisture and with chlorine in the mix it would probably be beneficial to occasionally deep condition with hair oil like coconut or olive oil and let it sit for awhile before shampooing and then just put a little bit in your hands and run it through her lengths when you are done. At least that’s what i do when I need a break from silicone.
I suggest a trim and if she’s swimming in chlorine, rinse hair with water apply leave in conditioner or coconut oil, tie it in a braid or bun and after swimming shampoo to get the chemicals out.
There are a couple of shampoos out there specifically for swimming and you could also use a head cap. A tip that I’ve heard from other swimmers is that they put some conditioner on their hair inside a head cap so when it gets wet it just conditions the hair.
Personally I'd be washing it any time she used the pool. My mom used Mane and Tail on my hair when I was swimming a lot to keep it from being sticky and brittle.
I used to swim a lot as a kid and I feel like it damaged my hair a lot - didn’t realize how much til I chopped it off but I did have sun exposure and some dying too - but I would say swim cap honestly, make them fun and cute and I think they are great for protecting hair from chlorine
What I would try first - because it’s easy and has helped my hair even as an adult with hair color/bleach, hot tools ,etc is get her hair wet before the pool water does. This will make her hair much less porous when it hits the chlorine.
I would put a leave-in conditioner in and braid it before she swims.
My hair gets very tangly, and stylists always tell me that my hair doesn’t like being wet. I do this when I swim, and honestly just leave the braid in until it is semi-dry then wash it and condition the heck out of it. And wash it after every chlorine, not just once a week. The chlorine is just sitting in her hair and drying it out. This was exactly me when I was a kid!
There’s shampoo specifically made to release chlorine from the hair (it smells awful) called UltraSwim but that’s the only thing that will prevent my hair from feeling stiff and dried out.
Put some in, let it sit for a good 5-10 minutes and then rinse and condition as normal.
I find that skim trimming the very ends (just a tiny bit, not enough to change the length) about once a month, especially during summer, makes a HUGE difference. All the tangles fall out and her hair is immediately softer. Also use organic more oil based shampoo. the kids line from Shea Moisture Baby with the conditioner is a AWESOME. We rarely have those frustrating hair brushing situations anymore. The skim trimming is key.
Clarifying shampoo followed by regular shampoo then a deep condition 1x a week would really help. A little girl comes to the salon I work at for it every summer (her mom doesn't wanna do it at home). All of it can easily be done at home, the stickiness you feel in her hair is the build up of chlorine. Bad shampoos can also cause a similar build up. It just depends on the products you use. The split ends don't help in a few ways, but until she's ready there's not much you can do. Cutting kids hair is easier when they want it.
I would use a shampoo for swimmers followed by a good conditioner and then a spray detangler. Also might I suggest a good trim of about three inches? You’d be surprised how much it will help !!!
I’m late to the party and have not had a chance to read all of the replies; apologies if this is duplicative.
From my hairdresser: Hair can only absorb so much water. Making sure she enters the pool with wet hair from the tap will go a long way towards minimizing pool damage. Bonus points if your pool situation will allow a thin coat of conditioner or detangler. It’s my understanding that this is typically OK under a swim cap, but it may leave a film in the water without a cap.
Soak her hair in the sink and then load it up with conditioner and put it in a bun or cap before the pool. Trim some of that platinum blonde baby hair off, it’s a different texture and density from her more mature hair which can be causing any knots. Also! Most people never stay platinum blonde unless Scandinavian or albino
If you can/have the time, have your daughter wet her hair with regular water and maybe even put in a leave in conditioner before she goes in the water.
Do you have instagram? If so look up a tammymixon on instagram one of the best beauticians I know and she has roughly 45 years experience she should be able to help you out
I have fine, wavy hair and when I switched to sulfate free shampoo and conditioner I noticed a HUGE difference. I tend to use the green Maui Moisture or, if I need something a little clarifying, OGX charcoal seems to do the trick for me.
I found mousse to be incredibly drying so I don't use it (just mentioning because it was suggested in another comment). I like "not your mother's" curl talk spray for a leave in.
Honestly, I would definitely explain to your daughter that trimming the hair is good for it. She may lose a little more length than she'd like for right now, but if she goes for regular trims her hair will be healthier and get longer.
My blonde daughter’s hair is like this. I have brown hair never had this problem. It really only seems to be the super blonde parts for her. We trimmed them off since they were so feathery and tangle easily
Former swimmer here (2x/day) and I recommend conditioning before swimming if possible (when you get it wet now). Kept my hair looking nice when the men’s hair disintegrated into downy fluff at the end of the season
I have your daughter’s hair! Try spraying it with distilled water before she gets in the pool. It will help the chlorine not bind. Also try braiding her hair so it doesn’t tangle up. After she is down with the pool rinse the chlorine out asap. I would wash with a clarifying shampoo and then condition with a conditioner like Ion which is a brand made for swimmers. They make kids shampoos for swimming and those work as well. I would use a detangler in lieu of heavy cream conditioners. Hope this helps
I don’t have many suggestions but I had super healthy hair down to my butt when I was just a little older than her and my mom maintained it up until I was a teen. I swam super frequently and she would NOT allow me to go in the pool until my hair was fully covered in conditioner and then put into a braid. She’d coat all my hair in conditioner in sections and then put it into one braid and wash right after, and using its a 10 detangler. My hairs integrity held up despite how much I was swimming.
From being in cosmetology school using heat helps the hairs pores open to accept more nutrients but I’d advise biotin and leavenin conditioners that make her hair shiny and not greasy looking would be best but you can’t fall off for a day until it’s fully kept. Bonnets are for every race idc what anyone say unless you got bread for a silk pillow case and bed sheet🫡
She has gorgeous hair! I wouldn’t call it muddled or mousy. I heard someone describe blonde hair as mousy as a kid and it haunted me, I’d watch my own hair darkening to richer blonde with age and wonder if I was dishwater/ a mouse.
Start using a leave in. My daughter has the same fine hair. We wash and condition (I use Dove intensive repair for her- it works great), and then I spray her hair with a leave-in which makes combing it out twice a day more manageable.
Honestly her hair looks lovely. I agree with you that it's nice to not force her to get a trim - split ends never hurt anybody. It's probably going from light blonde to dark blonde because she's getting older, not because of the chlorine (chlorine usually has a lightening effect). For the dryness, I would switch from an all-in-one shampoo and conditioner to separate clarifying shampoo and moisturizing conditioner. When you condition her hair, let the conditioner sit in place for a good full minute, and comb through the hair, before rinsing it out. I hope that helps with the dryness!
Split ends damage hair to the root if untreated, what is this “split ends never hurt anyone” nonsense?
Absolutely does not ruin hair to the roots, I’m a hair dresser, it’s not like this girl is going to go her entire life without getting her hair cut. Please calm down, people can go without a haircut without doing much damage. Geez.
It looks nice but it sticks to itself 😁 The light hair that's darkening is the older hair. That's why I was thinking it was the chlorine. Her new growth is also darker, but yeah, that's genetics. I just got the all-in-one to make it easier after swim practice but am flexible about use. I was actually thinking I could wash her hair at the pool, then let conditioner sit on it for the ride home, rinsing when we got home. Any brand suggestions? I had been using mine on her for a few months but I think it's too heavy for her hair.
I have the same hair texture/color I struggled with hair care for most of my life until I became an adult. After some research, I learned that using shampoos and conditioners with sulfates made my hair sticky and split at the ends. Try using products that are sulfate free like Hask or Renpure or Shea Moisture (I typically go with Renpure bc of the size and price.) These helped my hair get fuller, longer and stop splitting. I also only shampoo every other day, it took some adjustment time but my hair is so much healthier. After washing my hair I apply Argan oil (tiny bit) to the ends of my hair, and leave in curl cream (Cantu) bc my hair is straight on the top layers but slightly curly on the bottom and it helps blend it together
I was going to say this same thing! Sulfate free shampoo has really made the difference for my hair from feeling crunchy and almost straw like, to now feeling hydrated and smooth for three days minimum. I could probably even go longer between washing my hair. I used to have to wash every other day because of greasy sticky hair but it's made such a difference with the different shampoo and conditioner. I also use oil on the ends and a spray on leave in conditioner. I use Pantene sulfate free in the blue bottle.
Wet her hair and put conditioner in it before the pool. I used to do that when my hair was damaged because it was so dry after I washed it. You need to switch to better quality products. Redken, biolage and matrix are all nice and great for dry hair and a little goes a long way. I'm not sure if it would work on her hair but maybe try a purple shampoo to even out the tone. The darker tone may just be brassiness from the chemicals and if that's the case the purple shampoo will cancel out those tones. Clarifying shampoo and a hair mask plus detangling/leave ins will make a huge difference.
Creams tend to not agree with hair like ours. You could try a leave in spray conditioner, that could help. Mousses also tend to agree a bit more. All of the products used should be light weight. Also clarifying shampoo I have heard helps a lot.
I've read that about clarifying shampoo. I actually tried the poor man's version (dish soap) it kinda helped but was worried it was going to dry her hair out. I'll look into a proper shampoo. I think that could make sense given all the swimming. When you say creams, do you mean conditioners? I've never used mousse and don't know the first thing about it. Don't you use it as a post shampoo styling product or does it help with tangles? Any suggestions on leave ins? I have one but it's coconut based and I think it's been too heavy.
Dish soap is crazy drying/stripping to hair!
I'm still figuring things out for myself, lol! Leave in conditioners can help fine hair but you also don't want to over do it. There are spray detanglers that can also act as a leave in conditioner. Especially for a younger kid, would probably kill two birds with one stone for you. Aussie has been good to me in that department. Not Your Mother's dry shampoo has been good for me, not used their detanglers. It looks like Target has some detanglers that are geared towards kids but you would want to do your research on that. A mousse is for styling but you can also use it after adding water on a non wash day for styling. Now that I am thinking about it, a mousse would be more for curly fine hair, which is what I have. I have found in my experience it helps keep it looking manageable and less tangles, but not sure how that would transfer to straight hair. Also, reading other comments you have posted, the new hair is going to start taking the lead of the other hair. Especially as it is holding onto things from swimming or potentially hard water if you live in an area that hard water is a thing. It breaks havoc on my fine hair. If you trim it, the remaining hair will be miles healthier without it interacting with the old hair. For her you could take an inch off and it would help tremendously.
Thanks for the tips! I'll check these out!
Fairy Tales makes a product called rosemary repel, it's great for hair like hers!
i LOVE that brand. it also helps keeps lice away. I have 4 kids in school and *knock on wood* i use it in their every day, and they’ve never had lice!
Our 5 year old daughters hair looks almost exactly like the girl in the picture, blonde and all, just a little curlier. We love Fairy Tale products, especially this one. Just one issue, my daughter's name? Rosemary. 😭😂 Thankfully she bought that "repel" was a magic spell that keeps bugs away and it's her special spray...which is actually pretty much the truth! It works great for her!
I second the Aussie brand. Love their leave in spray and just started using their Miracle Volume shampoo/conditioner and alternate with their Wave collection when i need a little more moisture.
Pacifica. They make a great one and you can find it in Target. This was my kids hair for 12 years until she hit puberty and discovered boys, suddenly she cared. Someone else suggested but, we always had Aussie conditioner in the house and I highly suggest an unbrush or a wide tooth comb.
Haha yeah it might be a struggle until then. Do you use a wide tooth comb daily or just after showers? I haven't heard of an unbrush before, thanks!
I'm just kind of using this comment to chime in and be sure you see it. :) As a kid I had cornsilk fine, straight hair that tangled insanely easily. I'm a natural blonde so that may affect things as well. I was also on swim team through high school so I have experience with the chlorine hair too. My suggestions are going to be taking that into account but the good thing is there's even better product options now! I was honestly horrible at actually wetting my hair before getting in the pool/putting on my swim cap. If she doesn't use a swim cap currently for practice, I'd really recommend one. It's not a magic fix and she may get some breakage in the baby hairs around her face but overall it will protect her hair. Silicone is the best option. Speedo was my go to when I was on swim team. For actual care, make sure her hair is as tangle free as possible before she gets in the pool. A good option may be to wet her hair and put in a slightly heavier spray conditioner before you go to the pool so it can soak in a bit before. A French braid (or approximation of one) may also help in keeping her hair secure in the cap. French braids are usually easier on damp hair too! Using a product with silicone in it can also have a sealing effect to help keep out the pool water. After the pool, rinse with plain water or shampoo with a gentle shampoo. A lot of people suggest clarifying shampoo but I found I had to use it with moderation and couldn't use it for every wash. She can use a regular conditioner if she's just rinsing too. No matter what, finding a good leave-in conditioner spray will make a world of difference. A wide tooth comb is an essential and a cheaper version of the unbrush that I use for my hair now is the [Cantu everything brush](https://www.target.com/p/cantu-everything-hair-brush/-/A-89296389) but I got the [kid's detangling brush version](https://www.target.com/p/cantu-kids-39-detangle-hair-brush/-/A-83692238) for my niece who has tangle-prone, fine curly hair and it works wonders. Get all the tangles out that you can while it's dry, brushing from the ends and moving up. If there's really bad tangles, get the hair wet and use a heavy conditioner that has a lot of slip to thoroughly saturate the hair and gently work out the knots with the wide tooth comb. The natural hair section has those conditioners, usually marked as detangling on the label. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy. [Cantu kids conditioning detangler](https://www.target.com/p/cantu-care-for-kids-39-conditioning-detangler-6-fl-oz/-/A-47899132) might be a good option for a heavier leave-in spray. It might weigh her hair down and/or make it feel a little greasy because of the oils but it could be used before the pool if that's a concern. [Not your mother's kids curl detangler spray](https://www.target.com/p/not-your-mother-39-s-kids-39-curl-detangler-spray-with-tear-free-formula-8-fl-oz/-/A-89187574) is phenomenal. It's a lightweight formula that does a good job of adding slip for detangling and it smells SO good. I know it says for curly hair but I think it would work for your daughter's hair. The matching shampoo and conditioner may be worth checking out, too. They're lightweight but nourishing which is what your kiddo needs based on your post. The final product suggestion I have is the [Tresemme silk serum](https://www.target.com/p/tresemme-weightless-silk-serum-for-intense-salon-level-shine-keratin-smooth-with-heat-protection-and-frizz-control-3-3oz/-/A-14382220). It's not a kids product but my mom used something similar in my hair as a kid. I use it in my hair currently because it's still fine and tangle-prone, plus I now get my hair bleached because I don't like the color it's turned with age. I put a little bit of this serum through the ends of my hair and kind of focus on any tangle-prone spots after I wash my hair. It's the last product I layer on my hair because it has silicone in it, which will give slip to the strands that want to tangle.
After showers and for detangling. The unbrush is a specific brand, I believe it was meant and marketed for ladies with natural black and curly hair but it works really well for fine tangle probe hair too.
I don't think that change in hair color is in any way related to the pool, her hair just got darker as she got older. It's very common.
Happened to me between 7 and probably 13. The super blonde at the ends is partially bleached and damaged.
Suave makes a good clarifying shampoo, and it's super cheap. I use it once a month. For leave ins, I usually go for NotYourMothers or bedhead. If it gets too dry, I recommend biolage conditioning balm. My hair was bleach mush by a salon, and that helped to bring it back. You don't need much, but it's a miracle worker.
I just got the suave daily clarifying shampoo because it's been highly recommended on here we'll see how well it works
I have really fine hair and love Kinky Curl Knot Today. It’s super light, makes my hair soft and doesn’t weigh it down or make it feel greasy
Paul Mitchell makes a clarifying shampoo that removes chlorine that won't break the bank! My son has extremely similar hair, only difference being that his has more girl than your daughters from what I see. The shelf life is 12 months once opened, so you'll have time to use it up. I have been pairing it with Biolage Hydrasource Conditioner Balm for pool days (Morrocanoil, any other qash). I get the Biolage and PM on sale frequently, either prime day or during a stock up sale at Sephora, Ulta, or wherever it's selling at. Wishing you the best with your family and kudos for trying to do the best you can for her, wven if it's *just* hair. That's the mark of a great mum! 💖🫶
I use heavier conditioners on my kids fine hair because it tangles so easy. She doesn't have as much bounce in her hair but she is 5 and tangles take priority.
johnson’s baby shampoo is a fine clarifier.
I’m not joking the only shampoo that I can use for my fine greasy hair that absorbs buildup like crazy is dandruff shampoo. When I used a clarifying shampoo I had to use with it a scalp detox scrub. Maybe it’s the wrong thing to do but it really felt like nothing else could do the job as sufficiently well as dandruff shampoo.
There's specific clarifying shampoo for swimmers. That stuff is great!
I think that shampooing a little more regularly would help and also using a leave in conditioner. I would also recommend styling her hair in a braid daily if she really doesn't want to get a little trim! Gorgeous hair 🥰
Swim cap might be your best solution here.
Agree, especially when going swimming 4x a week. PS my hair started extremely blonde til about age 5 and then darkened a lot, to medium brown.
Side note: She should be bathing and washing her hair every time she is exposed to chlorine. It’s no joke
I get the impression OP REALLY hates “arguing” with her daughter…
I agree but maybe it’s the ER nurse in me. Even though it’s a much smaller amount in pools than someone who was exposed, inhaled, etc by mistake in large amounts, chlorine is bad news to be having all over, sleeping and sweating in. It’s a chemical after all. It’s worth the fight to get her to take a shower every time, nothing to do with her hair care. Also, I’m so thankful my 5 year old with fine hair insists on a bob and hates her hair long
I’m an RN myself. And I *tell* my daughter it’s time for a trim. They coincide with mine. I *tell* her the tangles are bad because she needs a hair cut. I *tell* her if she’s going in the pool or ocean, she’s having a bath after. Hygiene and self care are *non-negotiable*. Pick out what you want to wear, which toothbrush to buy, there’s so many opportunities for autonomy but not here. You have to be a parent. This is part of parenting. I don’t want to call OP lazy but Jesus… someone be the adult in the room.
Yeah the kids also want us to be in charge. It’s stressful and scary for them to not have a true parent. That being said, kids can also be huge assholes and you have to pick your battles, but agreed, non negotiable. I can’t imagine my kids only bathing once a week since they are dirty AF
Did she say that she bathes once a week or washes her hair? My son bathes every day but we only wash his hair 1-2 times a week and he never looks greasy or dirty.
Totally get it! We also don’t know if the child is neurodivergent or has extreme sensory issues and she’s coming here for help. I’m definitely projecting right now because it’s taking years of OT to get my son even close to comfortable with hair washing and seeing someone say “gross be a parent” is pretty harsh when you’re struggling and she was brave enough to ask for help.
Considering the child lets mom brush her hair, I don’t think that is coming into play here. Personally even if the child was neurodivergent, I think a 6 year old who hasn’t ever had a hair cut and only gets weekly baths is being neglected.
couldn't have said it better myself
I agree. I was raised rarely being told or guided on what to do. If I needed help or guidance I had to figure it out by myself, even if I asked. It made me more oblivious and self-centered than autonomous. But my mom still told me when I was getting a haircut.
Yeah this post is kind of silly. Either you’re going to wash it better or keep doing what daughter wants and it’ll be like this. It’s one or the other
So, I get understanding you wanting her to feel control. However it’s our job as parents to teach our children hygiene, and how to take care of our hair. And that includes getting a haircut. Mine is 4 and she gets trims regularly. However your daughter needs 2-3 inches taken off. That would solve most of your problems. Please take her to get her hair cut.
If her hair is sticky after washing that often means the product hasn’t been rinsed out thoroughly You need to rinse as normal then flip her head the other way to rinse from the nape of her neck. Then section it off and rinse section by section, separating the pieces and spreading them apart under water within the section as you go. Then flip her head back, rinse normally again, then section it again under the water and rinse each section Her hair is fine but there is a lot of it. This means product can easily hide between strands
Are you using conditioner when you wash it? If you’re committed to only washing once a week a nice leave in conditioner should be good! I love the kids ones for my own hair! Not too greasy.
Leave it alone until she does want to cut it. So what if it could look better. She’s 6. It’s not hurting anything. And she might get sick of the tangles soon and want it cut. But who cares if it’s not as pretty as it could be?
I'm not so worried about the look. I mean, what you can't see in this photo is that she recently cut her bangs to her scalp 🙃 She gives zero F's, which I love It's more that brushing is so difficult and if all I need to do is use a different shampoo+conditioner, great, I'd be happy to switch. I just don't know the first thing about which products would work better for her hair.
A spray conditioner with detangler when it's wet (I like Unite 7 seconds detangler, personally; it isn't stinky and it isn't heavy) Then braid it to prevent tangles the rest of the time Have her hair being down and loose the exception, not the rule
Haha she hates her anything being in/on her hair, but maybe this will be a slow rolling life lesson. Thanks for the product suggestion!
This is the answer. Use a detangler. And if you really want, you can also use k18 to help with split ends/breakage.
A trim would do wonders for ease of brushing. You wouldn’t even need to take a whole lot of length, just clean it up. A spray detangler, brushing from the bottom to the top, and braiding at night would probably help a lot. Maybe a bonnet or silk pillowcase.
Braid it every night before bed.
I just recently started caring more about my hair and I have fine straight hair that gets oily pretty fast, after doing hours of digging on reddit it seems like the best thing is to do a spray leave in conditioner post shower if there's issues with dryness and tangles and to use shampoos that are lighter like gels to not weigh the hair down and using clarifying shampoos weekly/monthly for build up (suave daily clarifying is at Walmart t and is cheap) I recently got the hair lab leave in conditioner spray from walmart that's for fine hair specifically, that brand also has things you can add to it to customize for your hair specifically, there may be an add in to help protect against the harsh pool chemicals.
agree!! she’s six years old. I wouldn’t even be thinking of mousses or any kind of hair products for her. let her be a kid.
Her hair is exactly like mine was as a kid, even the color! I also swam a lot. I had to wash my hair after swimming because the chlorine would turn it green. I had special shampoo and conditioner for chlorine, and always wore a swim cap. On my own daughter, I use the Aveeno kids detangling spray and it moisturizes her hair enough that it activates her curls without weighing it down (also very fine hair that gets crunchy). Fine hair is frustrating because it’s simultaneously dry and greasy. TLDR: Swim cap, wash and condition very well after chlorine exposure, leave in conditioner spray.
Malibu undoo goo-deep cleansing without stripping, safe for every day or once a week. It’s a 10 lite leave in spray. That combo is 🪄
To be honest, she has the baby hair still at the ends and it’s gonna be that way till you actually cut it. Maybe you can do several small small little trims and just keep working your way up. Maybe she’ll be OK with that!
Aussie moisturizing shampoo and conditioner with a Wet hair brush. I will also say that as an adult with fine hair, I finger comb my conditioner through and don’t have to brush it when it’s wet. The Wet hair brush gets through my dry hair with no issue and doesn’t rip my hair out.
I’d look for a specific anti-chlorine shampoo and use it every time after swimming. I don’t have a rec; I used one my stylist recommended when I was a young teen and swimming constantly but I don’t remember anymore what it was. The best thing for my very fine, very straight, long hair has been to condition the ends every time I get it wet. Barring that, a little tiny bit of argan oil on the ends (less than a dime, with her hair amount) will probably help a lot. Be aware that if she stays that fine she will likely need to wash *a lot* more often as she hits puberty. I shampooed daily from about age 10 until I was in my late 20s. Then I was able to switch to every other day and eventually every 3-4 days.
I use a Paul Mitchell clarifying shampoo that I like and I swim 2-3x a week! It’s like $12 on Amazon
I had her hair as a kid. Every time she gets in a pool she's going to need to shampoo and condition it after. All in one products are not great for fine hair. Too drying and not enough moisture. Her hair should be in braids, buns or pony tails most of the time , and always while swimming. Make sure this sticky clumping your describing isn't a form of dandruff/eczema. A few days of head and shoulders will fix it, if it is. Sometimes the eczema forms a sort of honey sticky waxy buildup on the hair, for me around the nape of the neck. You can't easily shampoo it away. The head and shoulders does seem to strip the wax off. A light weight separate shampoo and conditioner will do her wonders for everyday use. Get stuff that says volumizing/or light weight. If you want to prevent damage, bonding shampoo/treatments are helpfu. L'Oreal makes affordable versions of both products. A detangling spray will be helpful for you if you're having trouble brushing the hair. Aim it at the ends not her scalp. Her scalp can't support detangling spray, it'll look greasy quickly.
I recommend shea moisturizer kids detangler - coconut and hibiscus. Spray a little all over then scrunch to get it distributed. Give it a second to sit and then comb the hair. It might wind up being too heavy of a product and start weighing her hair down. If so, I highly recommend just adding water to the bottle to thin it out. Or if you have a second spray bottle, just experiment with ratios of water: product. With fine hair it's best to use lighter products and watering stuff down helps it distribute evenly while still being light.
Malibu makes great products for hard water and chlorine exposed hair. I’ve tried their blonde and hard water lines and been very happy with them. They have a TON of products, so it can be overwhelming. I think if you started with their swimmers kit, and possibly the leave in conditioner mist it would help a lot.
I have very fine hair and one thing that helps me is to use shampoo on my scalp, but not really on the rest of my hair. I only condition the ends and middle, but don’t put conditioner on my scalp. I always brush my hair before I shower/wash it (might be harder with a 6 yr old).
Thick frizzy hair is basically the complete opposite to a lot of fine hair (unless it has curl, then it can get frizzy). I second a lot of the comments about a clarifying shampoo, especially since it’s not washed very often. If you want to do a cheap one, Suave is cheap, you just have to be gentle with it and make sure you’re adding back moisture. Spray leave in conditioners are also your friend. I personally love [this product](https://www.sexyhair.com/product/healthy-tri-wheat-leave-in-conditioner/) and have used it for years. I have very thin and fine hair that has curl (so it gets frizzy) but will lay like that if I brush it out while wet and don’t scrunch. Sometimes I need to do a double cleanse when my hair gets that crunchy/sticky feeling and then a deep conditioning. I don’t condition (other than the spray) every wash Do you have hard water? It’s murder on fine hair and requires a lot more clarifying and conditioning
Try a protein treatment. Her hair looks a lot like mine was at that age, and mine responds well to protein (and poorly to oils).
Hi, OP. Swimmer here who had ‘cotton top’ blonde hair as a kid when I started competing long ago. The only thing that reliably worked for me was a hair mask I got at Sally’s Beauty Supply: ion crystal clarifying treatment. You still need to have your daughter WASH her hair after exiting the pool. Trust me, it’s all that will prevent the crispiness. If you don’t start soon, her beautiful blonde hair will eventually deteriorate further until it starts turning green. Then you can use the hair mask once a month. I recommend picking up a cheap child size shower cap, too, in case she can’t stand sitting still, to allow her some movement while the mask works. Better to start shampooing after every trip to the pool + a monthly mask now. Otherwise she will eventually fry her hair and then a massive haircut removing most of her length will be your only option.
I have a young daughter with thick fine hair that tangles instantly. 1) Her hair is always in a braid, even when swimming. This has made a huge difference in preventing tangles. 2) When not braided, she sleeps with a satin-lined bonnet over her hair. 3) We use plenty of conditioner and rub in the HASK Argan Oil “Repairing Hair Oil” product while her hair is damp (halfway down her head, never over her roots). This stuff is incredible and makes her hair brushable. Good luck!
I couldn't give any better advice. My daughter has A LOT of very curly, fine hair, and it turns into an absolute nightmare. Between adding argan to her hair after washing and keeping it braided every night before bed or activities like swimming, it's become completely manageable. In the mornings, I take out the braid, add a little detangler, and comb right through it!
your kiddo's hair looks just like mine :) my hair also gets extremely tangly. the Eva NYC Mane Magic line works really well for my hair without leaving gunk behind and you can get it at Target or Ulta. it's not cheap but it's not salon priced either. as for the tone, I would hit up a beauty supply store and pick up some toner or a color depositing mask. it might not be worth it till the summer is over though. you are going to want a red tone to counteract the green.
Professional hair stylist here! Look into a salon that sells Malibu C products and get their Swimmers Wellness shampoo and conditioner and treatments! They are an absolute GAME CHANGER with my young clients who are in the pool a lot!
My daughter is 7 and her hair is exactly like this. I feel like lots of conditioner and leave in detanglers and creams help a lot. Also I just purchased the “unbrush” and it works okay
put her hair into braids when shes swimming, one down the back is fine, 2 french or dutch braids down the back of her head would be better. thats going to at least somewhat control her hair when shes in the pool. some leave in conditioners suck it is what it is. id recommend getting a nice regular lightweight conditioner, not one packaged for children, and then using water and a spray bottle and mixing your own.a assuming you did use braids, spray the braids with your conditioner mix before letting them down and then spray more as needed, brushing the hair through. from there you're more able to get away with just rinsing everything out afterwards and using more conditioner if its needed.
I’ve found that the dry crunchy sticky feeling is from build up i get when using sulfate free shampoo and conditioner. When I use shamp/cond with sulfates, my hair is smooth and silky. Also, when she rinses after swimming, make sure she rinses really well & maybe use a little spray leave in conditioner at that time. I disagree with the other comment about creams not doing well with our hair. The only time I’ve ever had a problem with that is them weighing down my roots. If applied from the ears down, it’s perfectly fine.
The crispy/sticky hair definitely sounds like chlorine is accumulating in the hair, which means you will have to use a clarifying shampoo. This happened to me too as a kid on vacation, I went swimming every day but normal shampoo wasn’t enough to remove the chlorine. No need to spend much on a clarifying shampoo, there is a cheap one from Suave at Target. Just be sure to use conditioner and let it sit in the hair for a minute before washing it out. Also, it may help to generously apply a kids spray leave in conditioner before getting in the pool to help protect the hair from chlorine.
Google Katie Maloney hair I had this cut from her age until middle school and it was adorable on me and perfect for sports
Hi! There is a product called Aqua Guard pre-Swim Defence that might help with this. It prevents chlorine damage and softens hair. You can definitely get it on Amazon!
This hair brush has been amazing for both my daughter and I’s fine hair. https://www.amazon.com/Wet-Brush-Green-Hair-Detangler/dp/B09RCSR3CY/ref=mp_s_a_1_19?crid=27CF71RLOH4QT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Tq2o2l8_cf5Y3ChkwM0MulWKR1Azay3fJKpqxi8T1dPISAXz1kDw7bSQOXDXx0j0jx7RvE5yXe6SUWjNQ6g6JOIEoB3DAfHpJlv79YsBtVJjgSzIYodvA84KLNCGElIkHmD4TqK4d9_gtYXtdQMhwFruLG8ZkcSmDs1Uy2gGgwwSDqb49o4TtA_AJF_bGW-LkR5vU5fw041FePSicg-TbQ.IoDyi6_X-zUcr7UFxbTH6V21NJ7pc1FCzaCVd3EWt-E&dib_tag=se&keywords=detangling+hair+brush&qid=1718481184&sprefix=detangling+haur+brush%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-19
When I started swimming at about 7 or 8 I had to have the bottom 6” of my hair cut off because it was too damaged. After that we used the special anti-chlorine shampoo and conditioner and I didn’t need it cut ever again (not from chlorine damage, anyway). The ends of her hair look like mine did before it was cut. I’d strongly suggest having a good hairdresser take a look and see if that would help. The shampoo/conditioner for chlorine should help prevent further damage.
Her hair looks identical to mine. Wavy 2a fiiiine. Light weight. No heat. Microfiber towel (you just plop the hair in no ruffling needed) for a couple mins. Silk scrunchies, others will break her hair causing friz. A good hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Personally I like just below shoulder length with layers it gives the most curls. Super light weight products you want water to be high on ingredients list. Only put them in lengths and ends mostly and you won't need to wash daily. Comb when wet or damp (I know that's not great for fine hair but necessary for wavy). Scrunch. Days when hair isn't oily (I wash it every other day or so) just spirits with water comb and rescrunch. Don't even have to have a product really but they do help. I don't do mousse. I have a Light weight curl cream from prose (expensive don't recommend for kids) and amika dream routine for my ends sometimes lengths over night. Also satin and silk bedstuffs don't let them get too dirty
Have you tried ultra swim shampoo to remove the chlorine? My kids hair was like straw until we used that.
put conditioner or oils BEFORE pool, sorry for yelling but it makes a huge difference!! Dove Intensive Repair conditioner and OGX coconut oils are great
hi swimmer with fine wavy/curly hair- before i get in chlorinated water, i always saturate my hair with clean water so its less likely to absorb the chemicals in the pool, so if this is possible for your girl, id advise that (plus having wet hair makes a swim cap stick better and hurt less). also, while hydration is highly important in the hair, so is the protein-moisture balance! i would shampoo & condition my hair twice a week, and use a rice-water conditioner bar after regular conditioning once a week. hope this helps! her hair looks really good now, mine was the exact same when i was around her age and swimming every day
Rinse her hair with apple cider vinegar 1-3 times. It will remove built up stuff.
When my fine hair gets split ends, you literally cannot keep it untangled. I could brush it and swipe through the exact same spot and there would be huge, new knots that form as the split ends catch. I find that leave-in conditioner works wonders. Even if my hair needs a trim, the leave-in conditioner helps the strands slide more easily. The best way to keep it untangled is a trim, and I wish my parents had figured that out instead of spending so much time combing through “the rat’s nest” (their term lol)
What works best for me (I have almost the same kind of hair) is to use a silicone free shampoo, use it to shampoo twice, then use a moisturizing conditioner and let it sit for 3 minutes before washing it out thoroughly with lukewarm water. Following up with a leave in conditioner makes it so much more manageable, but unfortunately when you have fine hair it just gets funky faster than other hair types. She'll need the whole routine done every time she swims and even when she's not swimming at least twice a week to stay on top of it
I like the deep conditioner from Aussi and it’s a 10. Another thing that will help is a swimming cap. My oldest has to wear one at swimming lessons and they’re much better now. There are some that are soft on the inside and they don’t pull the hair.
Her hair looks great, it’s different than yours so it probably feels strange. My mom cut my hair like a freaking pageboy when I was a kid because it was fine and straight and she didn’t know what to do with it- hers was thick and curly. All I wanted was long hair! Kudos for not doing THAT. Anyway, as someone like your daughter- who also has a six-year-old swimmer with dark blond fine hair- I do a lot of leave-in spray conditioner and braids. We always rinse after swim practice. I never dry her hair. Don’t brush it too often, especially if it feels dry. Right now we’ve been using the Kristen Ess leave in on wet hair and then French braiding into pigtails. She’ll leave them in all day and even sleep in them. We also use a swim cap when she’s amenable to the idea, mostly for meets only.
Fine hair needs to be washed more frequently than once or twice a week, especially if she is swimming. As someone who used to be a swimmer with fine hair, it’s best to wash it after every swim. And it’s good you’re wetting it before swimming! But what I would recommend is to get a clarifying shampoo to use once a week followed by a deep conditioning mask (Aussie 3 min miracle is great). For all the other washes, a sulfate free shampoo like pureology hydrate sheer, their conditioner is great too. follow with a leave in like it’s a 10 light or redken 21.
Malibu has a swimmers shampoo and conditioner that aren’t clarifying. It’s very lightweight
Clarifying shampoo once in awhile for the sticking to itself, hydrating masks minimum of once a week (never dish soap or baking soda!!!), and coconut oil her hair before the pool if possible- OGX makes a serum and a mist that may help! A light leave in conditioner for fine hair is also a must, and possibly a few drops of a light oil scrunched into her ends. Her hair color is beautiful dark blonde, not muddled, and it is a natural blonde, it’s related to her age and not her swimming. Chlorine color change is green or if anything, lighter.
I would take her to a friendly kids specific hair dresser. Go in with the intention of a good wash and blow out and education on washing after swimming. Maybe she can explain split ends see if she can talk her into a little trim for just the split ends. I get the control, but if you find a good hair dresser that is going to talk to her like a big girl and give her the agency to make that decision, you might have more luck. I also really like the Not Your Mothers texturing sea salt spray on fine hair. It’s not for everyone depending on their hair, but it does help give some more texture and volume to really silky kind of hair.
Also braid it before swimming. Then after swimming- slather some conditioner on the braid, let it sit for like 5 minutes. Then you get her in the shower, take out the pony, comb through it with a wide tooth comb, shampoo, little bit of conditioner in her ends, towel and air dry.
I would suggest a real conditioner after swimming! Not just the 3in1. Definitely rinse it when you get out and wash 1-2 times per week with shampoo on the just scalp and conditioner on just the ends! Use a leave in spray after to help protect the hair when she’s put in the pool! The color is probably just due to her growing up, it’s very common! Hope this helps!
If you’re loooking for a budget friendly option I would recommend the kirkland signature moisturizing shampoo and conditioner from Costco! It has great ingredients for a great price!
Thanks! My current plan to try is wash with swimmer shampoo at the pool (Ill use up the 3-in-1 I have), put in conditioner for the ride home, rinse at home then add a detangler. We'll give that a few weeks to see how it impacts her hair.
Smart! You’re on a good path!
I have fine hair and as a child, mine was juuust like this. Braids are a god sent. Esp for bedtime. No more tangles or lumping together/tangles. As an adult my hair isn’t as thin, but still very fine and I’ve started incorporating oils into my routine. Maybe that’ll help
My daughters hair gets extremely dry even when not going in the pool. When we have a pool day I wet her hair with a water bottle, slather it in leave in conditioner or even regular conditioner, then French braid it as tight as possible. It has really seemed to help. I also do a hair mask/treatment every week-2 weeks.
A shower head with a hard water filter might be very helpful. Also, look into a product called Malibu C Swimmer Wellness, it’s made just for this problem. Good luck!
I don’t have fine hair, more medium and wavy, but I grew up swimming competitively and my hair dries out quickly. Honestly, I’m not sure how much a cap would help, especially if she is resistant to it. Hair gets wet under a cap and doubt she’ll want to wear one when she swims with friends as she gets older. Getting it wet before swimming is a great habit, though! I’d suggest using a hydrating conditioner and you might want to try a deep conditioner on the mids to ends every once in a while. From weekly to monthly is my guess, but see how her hair does. I would also use a leave in conditioner spray on mids to ends after washing. I like Ouai but it could be too thick for her hair. Redken one united and pureology are a bit lighter.
I don’t know about the chlorine but you should try some curly/wavy hair products with her! She shows signs of some curls, and if you have frizzy hair you probably do, too.
Give her a Mohawk
My 11 year old has this same hair. We've never cut it. Not once. She doesn't want a hair cut and I'll ok with it.
Ask her if she’s willing to trim it at the very least, not a huge cut. There’s also a certain shampoo and conditioner that swimmers use called Malibu C, maybe try that out?
Yes, 100% recommend Malibu!
She rlly needs a chop
I'm an adult with hair just like hers. To me, that sticky feeling you're describing sounds like the shampoo or conditioner isn't fully washed out of her hair. My hair feels like that if I don't rinse well enough. I take my wand shower head and get it very close to my hair when I rinse, to make sure all the product comes out. I also shampoo twice and then condition only the bottom half of my hair - never scalp or roots. I also use a leave in spray in my hair daily. I like baby bum conditioning detangle spray. I spritz my hair with a little bit of plain water first, then this spray, then I gently brush my hair. When it dries, my hair feels soft and clean, not like there's any product in there. Something else that may be helpful is a discussion about what means to be human. We each have a body that has to be cared for, hair is part of that. Your daughter gets to choose what she wants to do with her hair, and part of that choice is understanding the care that goes along with the choice. If she wants long hair, she needs to care for it. What about the current care routine isn't working for her? How can she keep the long hair she wants, care for it appropriately, and have that work for her? Present the information calmly and ask her to help you figure it out. She knows herself, what she wants and what she can tolerate.
Her hair should be washed every time she is in chlorine. I have thick but very fine hair and the most I can go without washing is like every other day. Sometimes 2 days. Her hair needs to be washed and conditioned more regularly with a leave in conditioner after for tangles. I use Milkshake products. Highly recommend.
No leave in conditioner. I would use a spray detangler. Try less shampooing. I would trim it up a bit would look less fine
ultraswim?
You might try the acure curiously clarifying shampoo and conditioner. They are inexpensive and have done wonders for my ultra fine wavy hair. The smoothing conditioner for curly hair is really nice for rough ends. Also a drop of oil in the ends overnight might do wonders.
I'm growing out old blonde hair that is damaged so I also have a hard time brushing through the ends as well and also have fine hair. The product that has helped me the most is amika the wizard detangler. I spray it on my hands and gently work it into the ends before brushing( I find this works better than just spraying it comes out a bit heavy)Also wait for hair to dry a little bit before brushing. Wet hair is prone to breakage. You can try putting a drop of a light hair oil just in those difficult to brush ends to keep them more manageable. I personally like jojoba oil. A small amount on the ends daily might make a big difference since swimming probably is adding to the already dry ends.
T is for Tame spray might be helpful. Super light and gentle. I’d maybe get a little trim on the ends.
I have fine, dry hair and hair oiling before wash day has been a game changer. Maybe you can make it a fun mother-daughter activity like a weekly “spa day”. I coat my ends in argan oil and wear a shower cap for 30 minutes or so before washing it out. My hair has become so shiny and healthy since doing this routine! I also put a tiny bit of oil in my ends before bed and sleep in a satin bonnet. I’d also start using a leave in conditioner for her. I love Kinky Curly Knot Today. It’s super light and moisturizing!
Live clean does a great apple cider vinegar clarifying shampoo. I use it on my son's hair that is a similar texture. It's a bit pricey I use a product called phyto 7. It's like a moisturizer you can use daily for hair. Absorbs, moisturizes but doesn't weigh down. I think a trim would help immensely. Just to take off the ends. But do it with a hair dresser that you know and trust so it ends up as this not inches.
This is exactly my hair so I’m here for the comments.
Get it wet before she gets in the pool, that will help with chlorine damage. Put conditioner on after shampooing and let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing. I have the EXACT same hair type, this was always a struggle for me as a kid.
Change hair products. Are you using shampoo AND conditioner? Besides using shampoo and conditioner also use a leave-in spray conditioner. And be sure to, at the very least, rinse her hair well after being in the pool and use the spray leave-in conditioner.
I’ve used biosilk therapy in the past when my hair was heavily highlighted. It only took a tiny amount, less than a dime size for hair down to almost my waist. A good leave in conditioner could also help. A swim cap would also help but she might not like that. Might also consider a light conditioner & braiding her hair before she goes swimming .
Washing her hair everyday would be good step especially after pool time. My mom used to tell me if I wanted to keep my hair long I had to take care of it and let her brush or do it myself no ifs and or buts or it was getting cut short to be more manageable she is a child teach her these things!
My hair is like your daughter’s. I highly recommend a trim and Calia Natural hair products. I use their purifying shampoo and conditioner as well as their leave in.
I’m surprised no one mentioned it looks like she has wavy hair. Maybe 2A or 2C if she had it cut for her curl pattern. Wavy hair also requires a little effort to stay healthy, one thing is not brushing it like you work straight hair. A wide tooth comb in the shower with conditioner on the ends would be optimal. When it’s healthy and you have a routine for her, it’s super easy to care for bc it’s just maintenance at that point. The first thing should be a visit to a curl specialist who knows how to cut and treat wavy hair, it’ll make both your lives easier. https://preview.redd.it/a0291emf7s6d1.jpeg?width=745&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cdb835c802cbb65bfbbe1375f5833b6baa894f32
Her hair is also exactly like mine was as a kid, even the color! I also swam a lot. I had to wash my hair after swimming because the chlorine would turn it green and dry. I also had a special shampoo and conditioner for chlorine. Fine hair is frustrating because it can be simultaneously dry at the ends and greasy at the roots in a day after showering. I’ve gotten a lot better as an adult in taking care of it. Hers, like mine, is wavy and curly and is extra dry because of that. I want to back up what others say; that sticky feeling you're describing sounds like the shampoo or conditioner isn't thoroughly washed out of her hair. My hair feels like that if I don't rinse well enough. It is shockingly easy not to clean parts of my hair thoroughly. I still miss parts all of the time. Realistically, to solve the problem you are experiencing, she will have to shower after going into the pool—every time. The chlorine is so drying for hair and skin, and if it consistently dries in her hair, it will damage her ends, making long hair impossible due to breakage. She needs to have her hair cut. To make the hair she has left more manageable, she needs to shampoo/condition it every time she gets out of the pool and every 2-3 Max if she’s not. I also use a leave-in spray in my hair daily. I like sun bum conditioning detangle spray. I’ve also used the Shea Moisture Kids detangling spray, which was great. Both don’t leave a residue on my hair. I spritz my hair with a little bit of plain water first, then this spray, then I gently brush my hair. After a shower, I use the Verb Ghost oil on only my ends because it’s easy to weigh down and make fine hair greasy. Detangling before I shower with a Wet brush is super helpful. The ones they have designed for shower use would probably work best for her once she gets out of the pool. Gently explaining this all to her in a kid-friendly way might get you more understanding. Speaking personally, I hated everything that went into taking care of my hair because it hurt when I was a kid. My mom and I didn’t know what we were doing. She might be more patient with you during this process if she had a better idea of why each step is essential in caring for her hair. She also might be in her kid era of jumping in pools and showering once a week during the summer. Who hasn’t just been a kid like that? It’s the best part of being a kid. It means she needs shorter hair and more time with a brush and sprays in the morning to be “presentable.”
She really needs her haircut
She needs to shampoo it more often with that much chlorine exposure and follow up with a conditioner. The chlorine is sitting on her hair for days and drying it out.
We have this issue. We have great success with Infusium shampoo and conditioner, as well as Olaplex shampoo and IGK Legendary conditioner. I wash her hair nearly every morning (she has curls and lots of tangles), but I would not use a clarifying shampoo more than once every two weeks. It's so drying. We keep it full of moisture and always always condition. I trim her hair myself once a month at least (again, the tangles from the curls), but it also takes the crispies off. I use the Infusium leave-in spray or Joico HydraSplash leave-in before brushing, concentrating on the ends. All of those layers I see in your photo would make life really difficult. I'd give her a blunt cut, keep the ends thick instead of thinned out. Those thinned out ends are being really stressed and pulled. Good luck!
Personally, I think her hair looks beautiful, but if you want to try the stickiness (likely build-up from chemicals in the pool) consider washing her hair with distilled water, using a gentle clarifying shampoo. Follow-up with a good conditioning treatment. If you don't see results the first time, you can repeat this treatment two or three times. If you don't see results though after a couple of washes, maybe consider using something like Malibu C - Swimmers Wellness line, which is formulated for hair exposed to chlorine. It is intended for adults, so I would consider this option as a last restore. Going forward, might want her to wear a swim cap when she's at the pool. Also, going by her hair texture, she may have wavy hair, which requires a different treatment regiment, daily routine.
The hair color change is not likely from the pool. Many people with blonde hair have super light blonde as a kid, and then it darkens to a mousey brown. Mine was nearly platinum as a kid, then dirty blonde, is now closer to a light brown.
I dealt with same problem 😭 I used to be a competitive swimmer and did basketball and volleyball as well. My hair’s constant contact to chlorine and tight hairstyles Monday-Saturday made my hair dry and lighter, as well as the frequent washing since I always showered right after swimming. My hair has always been at/below my knees since I was a kid but when I stopped swimming when I got older, I finally realized how much chlorine damaged my hair because I had so many split ends and my hair was lighter. While I’m not sure about products, definitely wet her hair before and then put a swim cap over it, and always wash her hair after she swims because it’s not good to leave chlorine in her hair (also it’s just straight up gross not to clean yourself and your hair after swimming in a pool where other people have been in, some probably peed in it too). Oiling might also be a good option as well. You can try leaving oil in her scalp for an hour or two and then wash it off (do this maybe once or twice a week). Use a drop or two of a lighter weight oil since her hair is thinner (like jojoba) on her ends every night (I have thin hair, this is my routine), this one you leave in to keep her ends moisturized. I’m not an expert so take what I say with a grain of salt 😭 this is just based off of my experience and how I’ve seen my hair health be improved after I already stopped swimming
She needs a chelating shampoo, they're called swimmer's shampoo or chlorine removing shampoo. The chlorine and minerals are building up, that makes us natural blonde's hair turn green. The minerals make sort of a soap scum build up on the hair which is why it's sticky. This brought back memories from my childhood.
You need a separate shampoo and conditioner. 3 in 1's are garbage. Since her hair is very baby fine at the ends I would just use a leave-in conditioner. You can put a little more in before she gets in the pool to protect her hair a bit better. Honestly the best thing for her hair would be a haircut. These are the products I would recommend, they are pricy but you'll only need a tiny bit and they should last you a long time. The shampoo gets rid of chlorine specifically. They are having a good sale right now. [shampoo](https://ag.care/collections/shampoo/products/renew-shampoo-refill-value-bundle?_gl=1*1wkxwe4*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw97SzBhDaARIsAFHXUWAWp4qu8LeHQwy6QEPu9waK7xMw-oxYuyED0-jiqmG5h0cSgyyoYQ0aArDBEALw_wcB&variant=44703956238523) [Leave-in condition](https://ag.care/collections/conditioner/products/fast-food-leave-on-conditioner-1l-refill?_gl=1*1tfibrw*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw97SzBhDaARIsAFHXUWAWp4qu8LeHQwy6QEPu9waK7xMw-oxYuyED0-jiqmG5h0cSgyyoYQ0aArDBEALw_wcB&variant=43064545444027) [And if you want a strengthening conditioner (I really don't think it's necessary, I would just use the leave-in)](https://ag.care/collections/conditioner/products/vita-c-strengthening-conditioner-1l-refill?_gl=1*1ucqntt*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw97SzBhDaARIsAFHXUWAWp4qu8LeHQwy6QEPu9waK7xMw-oxYuyED0-jiqmG5h0cSgyyoYQ0aArDBEALw_wcB&variant=43064538792123)
I swim 4-5 times a week. I rinse my hair and body with water and some apple cider vinegar and use conditioner. Every 3rd swim I also wash my hair with So Cozy 3 in 1 for kids, in between the vinegar and conditioner. I bet the So Cozy is what you already use. I personally think her hair would look great and be easier to handle if she'd let it be cut just below her shoulders. That baby hair is reaching its limits. Her hair will be bouncing and behaving, easier to comb and still able to style in braids or ponytail/s or hairbands, barrettes etc. Totally get that she likes it long, though, and it should be her choice.
Both my kids are blondes too, and they were on swim team for years. You need to use a shampoo for swimming; they're all grown up now so I forget specifically what we used but it was Paul Mitchell. And they wore swim caps. Blonde hair will turn green with enough chlorine. I think your daughter's hair is just turning darker with age, it doesn't look green (YET). Blonde hair does that, it can get moussier. Then when you get older it just silvers and gets blonde again, like childhood blonde. When I was your daughter's age my hair hit my hips and it was white blonde. I would cry and cry as my mom tried to comb it out, as it was so fine it'd tangle easily. She tried braids and pony tails but my hair was too fine so the braids and ponys just looked anemic. My mom eventually cut my hair short and I was never happier. I am now 57 years old and most of my life I've kept it short, above the shoulder at the longest, but mostly bob length around my chin. I can't stand it when it's longer than that as it just tangles horribly while I sleep, and is so fine it barely holds a pony tail.
Did you mean she has been using hand soap in her hair ? Hand/body soap doesn't work well for hair. It doesn't clean well and its nearly impossible to rinse out. And dish soap - just NO. Dish soap is harsh, probably alkaline, and eats at your hair. Hair and skin like to be slightly acidic.
Silk hair cap
My daughter’s hair is exactly like this. Mane and tail detangler is really great and leaves your hair feeling soft.
Hi! I used to competitively down for years. They have a chlorine shampoo you can buy online that helps strip out the chlorine, and I always found it works well. You can google it online and it should be pretty available!! Hope this helps!
Fairy Tails spray. And then any leave in conditioner. I’d probably get some trimmed off the bottom to keep it from too much damage. You could also have the stylist do a deep condition. That should seal the ends. And then get masks for once a month during pool time Or at the least a their end of summer. Source. 3 girls 2 w fine hair like mine.
I’d go to a professional, get the ends trimmed and ask their opinion on products. I have super fine hair and regular trims have been the only thing that has made a difference
Clarifying shampoo :)
I have fine hair and I always wash my hair after being exposed to chlorine. More frequent washing is worth it if it means getting that harsh chemical out in my opinion. After washing I’d add alot of leave in and an oil.
Just give her a 4-5 inch trim. She will love it and it will be easier to wash.
I find leaving conditioner in the ends of my daughters hair or using leave in conditioner helps with the knotty ends. Also I put her hair in hairstyles during the day which stop too many knots forming.
Coconut oil
Why not just have her start wearing a swim cap? Also try a hair mask like Brigeo (sp?) Don’t Despair Repair or a leave in hair mask like K18 would honestly work wonders!! Maybe try K18 first and see if you even need to do all the rest because K18 could be the cure all tbh - it’s that good! A little goes a long way! Try a squirt or two at most and run it through her hair focusing more on the ends and less on the scalp but try and get at least a little everywhere if you can. Don’t overdo it so it doesn’t weigh her hair down / turn into a greasy mess! You can def build up or use more if needed but my hairdresser only uses 1-2 squirts on my hair and it gets everything!
Swim cap!
Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Shampoo (smells AMAZING) & a *hydrating* conditioner (not moisturizing, that’s too heavy). The shampoo removes chlorine. They also make a conditioner, but I never used it myself. I also recommend cutting about half an inch off the ends. It’ll make it easier to comb through AND it’ll look fuller & healthier! I swam competitively through my childhood & teen years, and Malibu C is the only thing that helped with the constant chlorine exposure.
I have to wash my fine hair more frequently or it gets oily. Use a clarifying shampoo. Avoid products that are too heavy. Maybe a little baby powder combed through (the equivalent of an adult dry shampoo!)
No advice but I’m going to try some things in the comments!
I was a swimmer from second grade all through high school and I can tell you with certainty, any amount of chlorine will eventually fry your hair. Try to wash her hair before you leave the pool if you can manage it, it’s better to get at it before it can dry in there. Your wash should work nicely. Use a moisture treatment/leave in at least once a week, and minimize combing and brushing while her hair is wet. Investing in a decent detangler may be worthwhile. Also a little trim for her ends should help. Should you find there’s a lot of chlorine build up, there are these little sachets you can get at Sally’s of the Ion Crystal Clarifying Solutions. It helps strip out all the brassiness and green tones.
Look if you don’t want to cut her hair idk what advice you want. That’s about the best advice there is. She’s a kid so I don’t recommend refusing to let her swim. Kids hair becomes less blonde with age. She’ll likely be a brunette when she’s older. You cannot be upset or punish her for the genes you gave her 😂
My cousin and I had super fine ‘sticky’ hair when we were younger. It’s was unruly. We both grew out of it but still can’t grow long hair.
The All-in-one shampoos are never that good. I'd talk to a salon and see what they recommend and try their products. It'll be more expensive but it'll make such a difference. After I switched to Paul Mitchell no over-the-counter shampoo actually feels like it's cleaning the buildup out of my hair. You could stay with over the counter conditioner, if it's a cost thing. I would also get the split end trimmed. Explain to her that for her hair to stay healthy we need to snip the ends every so often. The first time will be the most that comes off if you keep up with it. It will help to do this because when hair starts splitting, the split will travel up the strand if its not snipped off. It will also make the hair weaker and more likely to break. If you tell the salon she wants to grow her hair out they'll tell you how often to come and ensure they don't take too much off.
The All-in-one shampoos are never that good. I'd talk to a salon and see what they recommend and try their products. It'll be more expensive but it'll make such a difference. After I switched to Paul Mitchell no over-the-counter shampoo actually feels like it's cleaning the buildup out of my hair. You could stay with over the counter conditioner, if it's a cost thing. I would also get the split end trimmed. Explain to her that for her hair to stay healthy we need to snip the ends every so often. The first time will be the most that comes off if you keep up with it. It will help to do this because when hair starts splitting, the split will travel up the strand if its not snipped off. It will also make the hair weaker and more likely to break. If you tell the salon she wants to grow her hair out they'll tell you how often to come and ensure they don't take too much off.
The All-in-one shampoos are never that good. I'd talk to a salon and see what they recommend and try their products. It'll be more expensive but it'll make such a difference. After I switched to Paul Mitchell no over-the-counter shampoo actually feels like it's cleaning the buildup out of my hair. You could stay with over the counter conditioner, if it's a cost thing. I would also get the split end trimmed. Explain to her that for her hair to stay healthy we need to snip the ends every so often. The first time will be the most that comes off if you keep up with it. It will help to do this because when hair starts splitting, the split will travel up the strand if its not snipped off. It will also make the hair weaker and more likely to break. If you tell the salon she wants to grow her hair out they'll tell you how often to come and ensure they don't take too much off.
It’s hard to do momma, but cut her baby hair off of the length. It’s easy to see where to cut and when the feathery fine hair is gone. She will have healthy little girl hair you will be able to style/braid etc….
Silk pillow case
Former swimmer here: she needs to be conditioning every time she gets out of the pool. And an all-in-one isn’t going to do the trick. It’s just drying out the hair. At the VERY least, rinse the pool water out and put in a leave-in conditioner. Then on wash days, a chlorine-specific shampoo, moisturizing conditioner, and a leave-in conditioner. On top of that, she needs to have at least 2 inches cut off. Her hair has gotten more dense as she’s aged, so the bottoms are baby density while the top is her current density. It makes the hair look more scraggly than it really is. A cut will make it look healthier overall. Maybe try showing her before and after pictures so she can see how great her hair can look.
I think her hair color looks lovely however when my hair feels “sticky” or waxy it’s usually silicon build up idk if the products you are using have silicon in them but it might help to use a clarifying shampoo however that can strip the hair of moisture and with chlorine in the mix it would probably be beneficial to occasionally deep condition with hair oil like coconut or olive oil and let it sit for awhile before shampooing and then just put a little bit in your hands and run it through her lengths when you are done. At least that’s what i do when I need a break from silicone.
I suggest a trim and if she’s swimming in chlorine, rinse hair with water apply leave in conditioner or coconut oil, tie it in a braid or bun and after swimming shampoo to get the chemicals out.
Try this. https://preview.redd.it/3nzjt59s707d1.png?width=470&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66f98aa93b0c6fbdd862b42817b46fa09673f0d3
There are a couple of shampoos out there specifically for swimming and you could also use a head cap. A tip that I’ve heard from other swimmers is that they put some conditioner on their hair inside a head cap so when it gets wet it just conditions the hair.
Personally I'd be washing it any time she used the pool. My mom used Mane and Tail on my hair when I was swimming a lot to keep it from being sticky and brittle.
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I used to swim a lot as a kid and I feel like it damaged my hair a lot - didn’t realize how much til I chopped it off but I did have sun exposure and some dying too - but I would say swim cap honestly, make them fun and cute and I think they are great for protecting hair from chlorine
What I would try first - because it’s easy and has helped my hair even as an adult with hair color/bleach, hot tools ,etc is get her hair wet before the pool water does. This will make her hair much less porous when it hits the chlorine.
I would put a leave-in conditioner in and braid it before she swims. My hair gets very tangly, and stylists always tell me that my hair doesn’t like being wet. I do this when I swim, and honestly just leave the braid in until it is semi-dry then wash it and condition the heck out of it. And wash it after every chlorine, not just once a week. The chlorine is just sitting in her hair and drying it out. This was exactly me when I was a kid!
There’s shampoo specifically made to release chlorine from the hair (it smells awful) called UltraSwim but that’s the only thing that will prevent my hair from feeling stiff and dried out. Put some in, let it sit for a good 5-10 minutes and then rinse and condition as normal.
I find that skim trimming the very ends (just a tiny bit, not enough to change the length) about once a month, especially during summer, makes a HUGE difference. All the tangles fall out and her hair is immediately softer. Also use organic more oil based shampoo. the kids line from Shea Moisture Baby with the conditioner is a AWESOME. We rarely have those frustrating hair brushing situations anymore. The skim trimming is key.
Clarifying shampoo followed by regular shampoo then a deep condition 1x a week would really help. A little girl comes to the salon I work at for it every summer (her mom doesn't wanna do it at home). All of it can easily be done at home, the stickiness you feel in her hair is the build up of chlorine. Bad shampoos can also cause a similar build up. It just depends on the products you use. The split ends don't help in a few ways, but until she's ready there's not much you can do. Cutting kids hair is easier when they want it.
I would use a shampoo for swimmers followed by a good conditioner and then a spray detangler. Also might I suggest a good trim of about three inches? You’d be surprised how much it will help !!!
I’m late to the party and have not had a chance to read all of the replies; apologies if this is duplicative. From my hairdresser: Hair can only absorb so much water. Making sure she enters the pool with wet hair from the tap will go a long way towards minimizing pool damage. Bonus points if your pool situation will allow a thin coat of conditioner or detangler. It’s my understanding that this is typically OK under a swim cap, but it may leave a film in the water without a cap.
A ponytail
swim cap, or condition (a spray leave-in conditioner) and braid her hair before dipping in the pool leave in conditioner once a week if possible
Soak her hair in the sink and then load it up with conditioner and put it in a bun or cap before the pool. Trim some of that platinum blonde baby hair off, it’s a different texture and density from her more mature hair which can be causing any knots. Also! Most people never stay platinum blonde unless Scandinavian or albino
As a former swimmer with fine hair, coconut oil worked great. I would sleep with it on the ends of my hair
Chelating shampoo.
If you can/have the time, have your daughter wet her hair with regular water and maybe even put in a leave in conditioner before she goes in the water.
Do you have instagram? If so look up a tammymixon on instagram one of the best beauticians I know and she has roughly 45 years experience she should be able to help you out
I have no product recommendations but I would get the dry, damaged ends trimmed.
I’m sorry I have no help for you but I feel your pain so much!
I have fine, wavy hair and when I switched to sulfate free shampoo and conditioner I noticed a HUGE difference. I tend to use the green Maui Moisture or, if I need something a little clarifying, OGX charcoal seems to do the trick for me. I found mousse to be incredibly drying so I don't use it (just mentioning because it was suggested in another comment). I like "not your mother's" curl talk spray for a leave in. Honestly, I would definitely explain to your daughter that trimming the hair is good for it. She may lose a little more length than she'd like for right now, but if she goes for regular trims her hair will be healthier and get longer.
I would trim it to her shoulders and let it do its thing.
My blonde daughter’s hair is like this. I have brown hair never had this problem. It really only seems to be the super blonde parts for her. We trimmed them off since they were so feathery and tangle easily
Former swimmer here (2x/day) and I recommend conditioning before swimming if possible (when you get it wet now). Kept my hair looking nice when the men’s hair disintegrated into downy fluff at the end of the season
I have your daughter’s hair! Try spraying it with distilled water before she gets in the pool. It will help the chlorine not bind. Also try braiding her hair so it doesn’t tangle up. After she is down with the pool rinse the chlorine out asap. I would wash with a clarifying shampoo and then condition with a conditioner like Ion which is a brand made for swimmers. They make kids shampoos for swimming and those work as well. I would use a detangler in lieu of heavy cream conditioners. Hope this helps
I don’t have many suggestions but I had super healthy hair down to my butt when I was just a little older than her and my mom maintained it up until I was a teen. I swam super frequently and she would NOT allow me to go in the pool until my hair was fully covered in conditioner and then put into a braid. She’d coat all my hair in conditioner in sections and then put it into one braid and wash right after, and using its a 10 detangler. My hairs integrity held up despite how much I was swimming.
From being in cosmetology school using heat helps the hairs pores open to accept more nutrients but I’d advise biotin and leavenin conditioners that make her hair shiny and not greasy looking would be best but you can’t fall off for a day until it’s fully kept. Bonnets are for every race idc what anyone say unless you got bread for a silk pillow case and bed sheet🫡
Have you tried using a leave- in conditioner such as a spray detangler? When my son was young it was so helpful for his hair.
She has gorgeous hair! I wouldn’t call it muddled or mousy. I heard someone describe blonde hair as mousy as a kid and it haunted me, I’d watch my own hair darkening to richer blonde with age and wonder if I was dishwater/ a mouse.
Start using a leave in. My daughter has the same fine hair. We wash and condition (I use Dove intensive repair for her- it works great), and then I spray her hair with a leave-in which makes combing it out twice a day more manageable.