Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Neutralizing Chlorine with Swimming Accessories
• Method 2 of 3: Home Hair Care
• Method 3 of 3: Preventing Chlorine Build-up
• What do you need

Chlorine is essential in keeping most pools clean, but it can also damage your hair. Chlorine makes hair dry and brittle with prolonged exposure, and it can also cause blonde hair to take on a green tint. However, washing the chlorine out of your hair is easy enough. Wash your hair with a special chlorine-neutralizing shampoo or use household products such as apple cider vinegar and baking soda.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Neutralizing Chlorine with Swimming Accessories

1. 1 Wash your hair with swim shampoo. Swim shampoos, or anti-chlorine shampoos, are specially formulated to remove chlorine and neutralize the resulting green tinge. Wash your hair thoroughly with swim shampoo immediately after leaving the pool. Lather up the shampoo and let it sit in your hair for a minute before rinsing it off your scalp.
   • If you have colored hair, replace your swim shampoo with a cleansing shampoo for colored hair.
   • These shampoos are sold in most pharmacies, hair salons, and online stores.
   • After shampooing, apply a conditioner to your hair to loosen knots and leave your hair silky smooth.
2. 2 If you don't want to buy a new shampoo, spray your hair with a chlorine neutralizing spray. Some sports and swim stores sell chlorine neutralizing sprays. Typically, it is used after rinsing hair in the shower, but before shampooing. Hold the can about half an arm outstretched from your head and spray your hair with the spray. Then wash off the spray with regular shampoo.
   • The spray neutralizes the chlorine in the hair, thereby preventing damage and scalp irritation.
   • Most chlorine neutralizing sprays are intended for skin as well as hair, so it can be used to eliminate irritation and chlorine odor on the skin.
3. 3 If you regularly expose your hair to chlorine, use a deep care product. Some swim shampoo companies also make deep hair care products. They are usually sold as a powdery substance to rub into your hair. Leave the product in your hair for 2-3 minutes before rinsing it off.
   • This product can be used in place of or along with other chlorine neutralization products.

Method 2 of 3: Home Hair Care

1. 1 Make a baking soda paste. Mix ¼ cup (32 g) - ½ cup (64 g) baking soda with enough water to make a thin paste. Apply the paste to damp hair and work from roots to ends. Rinse off the paste with clean water and shampoo.
   • Baking soda neutralizes chlorine and the resulting green tinge. Since baking soda will dry your hair, moisturize with conditioner.
   • If you have very blonde hair, you may need to repeat this process several times to completely get rid of the green tint.
2. 2 Wash your hair with apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar can be used as a brightening shampoo after swimming. Just pour about ¼ cup (about 60 ml) of apple cider vinegar over your head while you shower, then use your fingers to spread it from roots to ends.Rinse off the vinegar with clean warm water.
   • Shampooing your hair after vinegar is optional. If the vinegar smell bothers you, treat it with a hair conditioner.
   • Apple cider vinegar can strip natural oils from your hair, so we don't recommend using this method all the time. If you swim regularly, spend your money on a chlorine neutralizer.
3. 3 Try tomato paste, ketchup, or tomato juice on your hair. Apply a thin layer of tomato paste to damp hair, working from scalp to hair ends. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing your hair thoroughly in the shower. After that, wash your hair with shampoo and apply hair care products.
   • Use a wide-toothed comb to spread the paste through your hair.
   • Tomato red is believed to be particularly good at neutralizing the green that remains on blond hair due to chlorine.
4. 4 Add lemon juice to soda to make a citrus rinse. Combine lemon juice with a little soda in a small bowl. Pour this solution over damp or dry hair and comb through with a wide-toothed comb to distribute the product evenly. Leave the solution for 3-5 minutes and then thoroughly rinse your hair in the shower with regular shampoo.
   • It can also be added to a spray can and sprayed onto hair.
   • Do not use this method if you have dry, chapped, irritated, or flaky scalp.

Method 3 of 3: Preventing Chlorine Build-up

1. 1 Wear a swimming cap. If you plan on swimming a lot, a good swim cap will be worth the investment. Buy a silicone swim cap that is lightweight, breathable and fits comfortably on your head. A good cap should not cling to your hair or cause headaches.
   • To get the most out of the beanie, tuck all your hair underneath before entering the pool.
2. 2 Dampen your hair with clean water. Before entering the pool, completely wet your hair with clean water from the shower. This should limit the hair's ability to absorb chlorinated water as much as possible when you enter the pool.
   • Many swimming pools have showers in the changing rooms or near the swimming area that can be used before and after swimming.
3. 3 Coat your hair with oil before bathing. Since the oil is hydrophobic (water repellent), it will protect hair from chlorinated water. Apply liberally from scalp to hair ends before entering the water. For the oil to work better, use it under a bathing cap.
   • If you don't have hair oil, use olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, or jojoba oil.
4. 4 Rinse your hair immediately after bathing. If you don't want to shower in the changing room after bathing, at least rinse your hair. This will initiate the chlorine elimination process and help prevent the long-term buildup of chemicals in the hair.

What do you need

• Swimming shampoo
• Chlorine neutralizing spray
• Baking soda
• Apple vinegar
• Tomato paste
• Lemon juice
• Swimming cap