Can purple shampoo work for green pool hair? Or do you need a different product to get rid of the chlorine-caused streaks. Find out right here!
When working as a hairstylist, I often had clients who were regular swimmers worry about their blonde hair getting a greenish tint on them. Why is that? Well..
To put it simply, our hair strands contain protein and all water contains a certain amount of copper in it.
Swimming pool water contains chlorine in order to maintain pool hygiene and bacterial formation.
While most people may think that the reason blonde hair turns green is solely because of the high chlorine content in the pool, that thought isn’t wrong.
But in addition to it, when the chlorine and copper come in contact with each other, they form a chemical bond that sticks to our hair strands in turn making it become green.
Can Purple Shampoo fix the Green Pool Hair tint?
Purple shampoo is formulated to counteract brassy or yellow tones in blonde or silver hair and is not designed to remove the green tint caused by chlorine exposure in pools. To fix green pool hair, use a shampoo specifically made for swimmers or a clarifying shampoo to remove mineral buildup. Additionally, home remedies like rinsing your hair with a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar or tomato juice can help neutralize the green color. It's always good to prevent the issue by wetting your hair with clean water and applying a leave-in conditioner before swimming.
Key Takeaways:
- Purple shampoo is not effective for removing the green tint caused by chlorine exposure in pools.
- Chlorine in pool water reacts with copper, forming a chemical bond that turns hair green.
- To remove green pool hair, use a shampoo specifically made for swimmers or a clarifying shampoo to remove mineral buildup.
- Prevent green pool hair by wetting hair with clean water and applying leave-in conditioner before swimming.
- Consider using chelating shampoos sparingly to remove mineral deposits, but be cautious as they can be drying.
- Preventative measures include filtering pool water, wearing a swim cap, and conditioning hair before and after swimming.
- Home remedies like lemon juice, ketchup, or club soda can help remove green tint from hair, but use caution and avoid overuse.
Can Purple Shampoo Work for Green Pool Hair
People with blonde hair often find purple shampoo coming to their rescue because of its hair toning properties. Yellow tones, brassiness, it helps get rid of it all, but when it comes to the green pool hair issue, it is a big buzz kill!
Sorry to break it to you guys, but purple shampoo doesn’t actually work for green pool hair!
I’m sure most of you will want to know why. Well, if you go back to your basics of the colour chart, you will begin to remember that purple and green do not counterbalance each other.
Therefore, the only way to offset and neutralize colour issues, is by using opposite tones, which means red offsets green and not purple!
This means that you could rather use a red shampoo to get rid of the green colour, because using a purple shampoo will do you no good.
But that being said, using a purple shampoo after the green colour has been washed off will then help you maintain the silvery tones in your hair. But it won't do much if you want to prevent blonde hair from turning green every time you take a swim.
Using A Clarifying Shampoo To Get Green Out Of Hair
You could also use a chelating shampoo that can not only help get rid of buildup, but can work on breaking through the bonds and get rid of the mineral deposits that have stuck onto your hair strands.
But it is essential to remember that while chelating shampoos are very effective, they can be very drying in nature and can strip your hair off all its moisture, making it coarse, dry and dehydrated.
Therefore, using a chelating shampoo very rarely is advisable. By rarely, it means maybe 1 to 2 times in a month.
How To Avoid Green Pool Hair
I’m sure you’ve all heard that “Prevention is better than cure”, right? But how can green pool hair be prevented?
Pay attention to the water you fill into your pool:
Since the main issue for green pool hair is the copper in the water oxidizing with the chlorine (which you cannot avoid adding)
You could look into methods to reduce or get rid of the copper in the water, so no oxidation takes place. These methods are more effective to be used in private pools.
Filter the water that you fill into your pool, which means you could use a hose filter to get rid of the minerals that come through the water.
You can get your water tested by a professional or maybe by even using a water testing strip to check the copper content.
Use algaecide treatments that do not contain copper or those that contain low amounts of copper to reduce its effects.
Wear a swimming cap to cover your hair
When it comes to swimming in a public pool, the chances of green pool hair is more. Therefore, using a swim cap for your hair will definitely help keep green pool hair at bay.
But then, it is important to note that since swim caps aren’t completely free from water entering and therefore using before and after hair care methods in addition to wearing a cap is essential.
Do not forget to condition your hair
Conditioners are very essential for the hair as they act as barriers to the hair strand, sealing the cuticle from the harsh external effects, in this case, the oxidization.
You could use a good leave-in-conditioner like the ones by the brands Malibu C, Ion or Carol’s Daughter.
Rinse your hair with plain water before and after getting into the pool
If your hair is completely soaked in freshwater before you enter the pool, the chances of more water getting absorbed into the hair is very limited, making it harder for the oxidation to take place.
It is also essential to rinse your hair with water, shampoo and condition your hair well once you get out of the pool, as it will protect your hair health, in turn reducing the effects of the oxidization on the hair.
Use a red infusion shampoo
Like I’ve mentioned earlier, in order to offset and neutralize the green tint, the only way out is by following the basics of the colour chart and use the opposite colour to green, which is red.
Using a red shampoo to wash your hair after a swim can do you good. (You can refer to the frequently asked questions to find out which brands have good red shampoos to offset the green tint).
Home Remedies To Remove Green Pool Hair
If you’re somebody who hasn’t paid sufficient attention to the pre-hair care, then getting rid of green pool hair is a hassle! But do not worry; here are some ways you can get rid of the green tint.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is an effective hair lightening agent. You can apply the lemon juice all over your hair and leave it on for 5 to 7 minutes before rinsing off with plain water.
Further, shampoo and condition your hair like you normally would. It is important to remember not to follow this practice too often and not to leave the lemon juice too long in your hair as it is acidic in nature and can dry your hair out.
Ketchup
Using ketchup is another commonly used hack. Sounds pretty gross, using ketchup on your hair, doesn’t it?
Well, if it is going to work, it is worth the try, right? Apply the ketchup generously all over your hair and cover your head with a shower cap.
Wash off with water after half an hour or so. Shampoo and condition thereafter.
Using Club Soda And Water
Try out the club soda hack. Please note that those with dry hair and scalp conditions should avoid using this method.
Rinse your hair with club soda and let it sit for a couple of minutes before washing off with plain water. Shampoo and condition thereafter.
You can use ½ a cup of water mixed with 3 to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to rinse your hair. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before washing off with plain water. Shampoo and condition thereafter.
There are a lot of you guys with probably multiple questions out there! I hope that you find the answers you’ve always been looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can people with darker hair shades get green pool hair?
Is the green pool hair issue irreversible?
Can you suggest some red shampoos to offset the green tint on blonde hair?
Are there separate shampoos available for swimmers?
The final takeaway
While I’m sure a lot of you blonde haired people were worried about the green pool hair issue, I hope this article has cleared out most of your doubts.
There is always a way out of everything, so don’t you worry.
Just make sure you diligently use some of the precautionary measures and of course, taking proper after care once you’ve had that refreshing swim will help take care of the green pool hair issue.
Also Read:
Can You Go Swimming After Dyeing Your Hair Red
How To Protect Color Treated Hair While Swimming