Swimmer's Pre-Pool Hair Oil
A coat for the lengths before you get in: coconut oil sits close to the hair, olive oil helps spread it thin, and jojoba keeps the whole blend from feeling heavy.
You will need
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp jojoba oil
The ritual
- Warm the three oils together in a small dish until the coconut oil melts.
- Wet your hair thoroughly at the poolside shower before anything else.
- Rake the oil through the mid-lengths and ends, keeping it off the scalp.
- Twist the hair up and pull your swimming cap on over it.
- Shampoo it out properly afterwards, twice if the hair still feels coated.
Why these ingredients
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- Sits closer to the hair strand than most oils, which is why it is the base here rather than a lighter choice.
- 1 tsp olive oil
- Loosens the coconut oil so it spreads down the lengths in one pass instead of clumping at the ends.
- 1/2 tsp jojoba oil
- Light and slippery, it stops the mix feeling like candle wax and helps the whole lot rinse out afterwards.
Easy swaps
- 1 tbsp coconut oil → sunflower oil if coconut leaves your hair feeling stiff or straw-like.
- 1 tsp olive oil → almond or grapeseed oil, whichever you already have.
- 1/2 tsp jojoba oil → argan oil, or simply leave it out.
Keep it clean
Mix with freshly washed hands and clean, dry bowls and spoons. If a recipe is stored, use a jar or bottle washed in hot soapy water and dried completely, and never dip wet fingers into the batch.
Storage & when to let go
Three months in a small sealed jar at room temperature. It will be solid in winter and liquid in summer, which is normal.
What to expect — honestly
Hair comes out of the pool feeling less parched, smelling less of chlorine, and combing through more easily. It does not waterproof anything. Colour-treated hair will still shift over a season of swimming, cap or no cap.
Common questions
Does oil actually stop chlorine damage?
It reduces how much pool water the hair takes up, which helps with the dryness and the smell. It is not a seal, and it will not undo damage already there.
Do I still need a cap?
Yes. The cap does far more than the oil does, and it keeps the oil off other swimmers. Treat this as what goes under the cap, not instead of it.
This recipe is shared for general cosmetic enjoyment, not medical advice — see how we research and write in our editorial policy and the full safety guide.
