Do you know what happens when blondes take a dip in a swimming pool? They do more than just get wet – unfortunately. All blondes out there know about this problem. They have to deal with their hair turning green.
That’s chemistry with you. If you are sporting blonde hair this summer, you might want to pay attention to this article. After all, dipping into the cool waters is the best way to survive the heat that the summer season brings. Not only that, it is a lot of fun. So even if you have to suffer through green hair, you will take it – as long as you can enjoy your summer, right?
The good news is, you do not have to bear the shame of having green hair every time you swim in a pool. But before we go into the solution, let us figure out how it happens in the first place.
Why does hair turn green after swimming in a pool?
Most people would blame chlorine. After all, this is the main chemical found in the water. It keeps the bacteria in check and the water safe for swimming. While the chlorine is necessary, it can affect your hair in some way. But before you swear it off, hold back a little. It is not the main reason why your hair is turning green after every swimming session.
The main culprit for your green hair disaster is the copper that is usually found in the water. If you did not know, even tap water has copper in it. This is what causes your hair to turn green.
So why does this only happen when you swim in a pool?
Well, the copper that lands on your hair becomes visible because of the chlorine in the water. When the copper and chlorine combine, it creates a film that is stuck to the protein surrounding every strand of your hair. This is the film that is responsible for making your hair look green. While this happens to all hair types, it is only obvious when your hair is light in color – or blonde.
Fortunately for you, there are ways for you to keep your hair from turning green. These are also the same tips that you can use to fix your hair – in case it already turned green.
Tips to keep your hair from turning green
Here are your options to deal with green hair.
- Do not go in with dry hair. The chlorine and copper in the water actually stick to dry hair. When it is wet, it will not cling as much.
- Use a leave-in conditioner. Before you get into the water, make sure you apply enough leave-on conditioner on your hair. This will keep the water from sticking to your hair.
- Wash your hair after. You know the showers nearby? Make sure you use them. Immediately after you get out of the pool, wash your hair. You want to wash the chlorine off.
- Apply tomato juice. If your hair is already green, coat it with tomato juice – or even V8. Let it stay for 5 to 10 minutes. After that, you can rinse it off and put on conditioner. Ketchup also works well – but you have to wrap your hair in tin foil or a shower cap. Let it sit for 30 minutes and use both shampoo and conditioner for this one.
- Try baking soda. Mix ¼ to ½ cup of baking soda with water. Make sure you end up with a paste-like consistency. Massage this into your green hair and rinse it with water. Repeat if your hair is still green – ending the last one with conditioner.
- Crush aspirin. Use around 6-8 tablets and add warm water. Once dissolved, apply it on your hair and leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse it with water and use both shampoo and conditioner.
- Juice a lemon. Apply on your hair and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes after you are done swimming in the pool. You can also use lemon flavored Kool-Aid and apply it to your hair. Leave it for a few minutes. Wash it with water, shampoo, and conditioner.
