Chlorine strips the natural oils that keep kids hair moisturised and defined. Saltwater raises the hair cuticle. Both leave hair dry, frizzy and prone to tangling. For children who swim several times a week, the cumulative damage builds quickly - particularly for curls and waves.

Before swimming: saturate hair with fresh water to reduce chlorine absorption. Apply a small amount of Twiddl Leave-In Cream or Detangler Spray as a protective layer.
After swimming: rinse immediately with fresh water, then wash with Curl & Hydrate or Cleanse & Nourish Shampoo. Apply conditioner generously and detangle with a wide-tooth comb while it is still in.
Vitamin E in the Twiddl formula provides antioxidant protection against environmental damage. The Hydrating Lipid Complex helps restore moisture and seal the cuticle after exposure. Aloe Vera soothes any scalp irritation from pool chemicals.

1. Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate (Shampoo — both ranges) is the primary cleansing surfactant in Twiddl's shampoo. It removes chlorine and salt build-up effectively after swimming without stripping the scalp's natural oils the way sulphate surfactants do. For children who swim regularly, the post-swim shampoo choice matters more than most parents realise — a harsh surfactant undoes whatever the conditioner puts back.
2. Decyl Glucoside and Lauryl Glucoside (Shampoo — both ranges) are mild plant-derived co-surfactants that work alongside Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate to remove chlorine and salt residue thoroughly, while remaining gentle enough for daily post-swim use.
3. Vitamin E (Tocopherol) (all products) is a natural antioxidant that protects the hair shaft from oxidative damage. Chlorine and UV exposure both generate oxidative stress in the hair fibre — Vitamin E neutralises this at a molecular level, reducing the cumulative structural damage that builds across a swim season.
4. Glycine Soja Oil (all Curl & Hydrate products) prevents moisture loss from the hair shaft and provides direct UV protection — particularly relevant for Australian children swimming outdoors year-round.
5. Hydrating Lipid Complex (all Curl & Hydrate products) locks water inside the hair fibre. Hair that is well-hydrated at a structural level absorbs significantly less chlorine and salt than dry, porous hair — making this the most effective pre-swim protective treatment in the range.
6. Glycine Soja Sterols (all Curl & Hydrate products) improve the hair's elasticity and moisture retention, helping strands recover their suppleness after chlorine and salt strip the oils that keep them pliable.
7. Aloe Vera Leaf Juice (Curl & Hydrate Shampoo, Cleanse & Nourish range) provides long-lasting moisturisation and calms scalp irritation caused by pool chemicals, particularly useful for children whose scalps react to chlorine.
8. Hydrolysed Quinoa (all Curl & Hydrate products) delivers 17 amino acids to repair the structural protein damage chlorine causes. Chlorine breaks down the hair's protein bonds with repeated exposure - amino acid replenishment helps rebuild what a full swim season removes.
9. Vitamin B5 (D-Panthenol) (all products) restores softness and manageability to hair after washing, directly reducing the post-swim tangle situation that salt and chlorine create.
10. Castor Seed Oil (Leave-In Cream) strengthens and thickens individual strands, improving their resistance to the protein degradation chlorine causes over repeated swimming sessions.

Rinse hair with fresh water immediately after swimming to remove chlorine and salt before they dry into the shaft. Follow with Twiddl's Curl & Hydrate or Cleanse & Nourish Shampoo; both use a glutamate-based surfactant system that removes chemical residue thoroughly without stripping the scalp. Apply conditioner generously from mid-lengths to ends and detangle with a wide-tooth comb while it is still in, never after rinsing. Finish with the Leave-In Cream on damp hair to restore moisture and protect against frizz. For children who swim several times a week, this routine done consistently prevents the cumulative dryness and protein loss that builds across a full swim season.