Swimming is very hard on your hair, since dry hair absorbs water like a sponge (and if you go into the water, that means absorbing pool chemicals or salt—neither one is a hair helper). If possible, minimize contact of pool or saltwater with your hair. Since most bathing beauties cannot really do that, here is our best advice. Step under a shower and get your hair completely soaking wet with tap water before you go into the pool or the ocean. This will reduce the amount of chemicals or salt your hair absorbs, since it’s already saturated. When you get out of the water, rinse out your hair in tap water as quickly as you can.