How To Get Rid of Green Blonde Hair After Swimming
Swimming offers a delightful escape, especially during those sweltering summer days or after grueling hours spent at the office. But, a common worry among those with blonde hair is the unsettling transformation of their luscious locks into a greenish hue due to chlorine exposure. At first glance, this alarming color change can be quite disheartening.
But the culprit isn’t solely chlorine—it’s the copper deposits lurking in the pool water that contribute significantly to this unwelcome tint, intertwining with the chemicals to alter your beautiful golden strands. Our SPS PoolCare blog helps you understand why swimming pools can turn your hair green, provides effective remedies to resolve this issue, and provides tips for maintaining healthy hair after swimming.
Why Is My Hair Green After Swimming?
Chlorine diligently keeps the pool water clean by killing bacteria, but it can have damaging effects on hair health, especially those with lighter hues. The chlorine in the pool opens the hair’s cuticles, allowing copper particles from copper-based algicides to attach to strands and cause greenish discoloration. This is why hair turns a strange shade of green after swimming, not just from the chlorine, as the myth suggests.
How To Get Green Out of Blonde Hair After Swimming
If you get green hair from your swimming pool, don’t panic. There are a variety of targeted solutions and natural options you can use to get rid of that green!
Specialized Shampoos and Treatments
Thankfully, shampoos and hair care science have come a long way since pools started popping up in backyards in the 1950s. Specialized shampoos, like clarifying shampoo, fight chlorine and mineral buildup, along with shampoos specifically for chlorine removal. These shampoos include chelating agents that attach to chlorine and minerals in your hair, allowing them to be washed away and restoring your hair’s natural color.
Natural Home Remedies
If you prefer a natural approach and don’t want to buy a brand-new shampoo, head to your kitchen—various kitchen staples can combat the green effects on your luscious blonde locks.
Surprisingly, tomato juice effectively neutralizes the green tint in your hair, as it’s on the opposite side of the color wheel. Apply tomato juice evenly throughout your hair, from root to tip, and cover with a shower cap. Leave the tomato juice on for 10 to 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and condition.
Vinegar is also an intelligent approach to removing the green, as the vinegar’s acidity dissolves the mineral buildup and releases the copper particles from the hair. Use equal parts apple cider vinegar and warm water, submerge your hair in the solution or apply it evenly, and rinse. Apply these solutions one to two times a week for the best results.
Step-by-Step Guide To Getting Green Out of Your Hair
To make sure you get every last hint of green from your golden strands, follow these instructions on how to apply these remedies effectively:
- Thoroughly wet hair with fresh water before applying a treatment to help the product distribute evenly.
- Apply the specialized shampoo or home remedy of your choice, massaging it gently into your hair from root to tip so every inch is covered. If certain areas are more affected than others, more treatment should be applied.
- Use a shower cap to cover and leave on for as long as the treatment recommends.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly to remove all traces of dislodged minerals and the product.
- Apply a nourishing hair mask or conditioner to restore moisture to your hair and smooth the cuticles.
Preventing Green Hair From Chlorine Damage Before Swimming
Prevention is the best defense against green hair from a pool with chlorine. Before swimming, saturate your hair with fresh water to reduce the absorption of chlorinated water, and apply a silicone-based conditioner to seal hair cuticles.
If you can, try out a tried-and-true swim cap. Swimming caps drastically reduce exposure to copper and chlorine, keeping hair relatively dry and protected. They even make swim caps for long hair, providing extra room and defense.
Post-Swim Care To Protect Blonde Hair
Post-swim hair care is just as crucial as pre-swim hair care—you don’t want the mineral buildup and chlorine to soak further into your hair. After swimming, rinse your hair immediately with fresh water and shampoo to get green out of blonde hair for immediate prevention.
A leave-in conditioner or hair mask is also essential to restoring moisture and strength to your strands. Avoid using heat-styling tools like curling irons, blow dryers, and straighteners, as your hair is already stressed and needs time to regain its strength.
Keep Your Blonde Hair Bright and Healthy With SPS PoolCare
Dealing with green hair after a dip in your swimming pool is frustrating. Fortunately, with some effective strategies and the right products, you can easily restore your hair’s natural beauty and banish that green hue in no time. By knowing your preventive options like swim caps, shampoos, and home remedies, your hair will stay golden!
Do you need reliable pool cleaning and maintenance services to check your chlorine levels, clean the filters, or shock the pool? SPS PoolCare is here to make owning a pool a joy with our comprehensive treatments and services! Find an SPS PoolCare service area near you or complete an online contact form to get in touch with our team. Remember to visit our blog for pool care tips.
