Swimmer's Hair

My daughter swam for 8 years competitively and use to get green hair, too. The remedy that worked for us believe it or not was ketchup! Strain it of the little skin pieces if you can otherwise just soak her hair with ketchup, let it sit a few minutes than rinse and wash with regular swim shampoo. Other people said this didn't work for their kids, but we were desparate. Also, the best way is to avoid the problem in the first place. Have her totally wet her hair before she gets in the pool with plain water. You can than add pool guard type lotions after her hair is wet from the shower water. I felt getting the hair wet ahead of time was as effective as adding the swim lotions. Good luck.

Hi M.. I know this sounds crazy but a hairstylist I used to work with down south told her swimming clients to use tomato juice if they started to get green. The red in the juice counteracts the green color. It's totally harmless and worth a try!!!!

M.:
I suggest you do the following:
Wet her hair then put on the swim cap because the hair is porous and the chlorine damages it. If you look chlorine under the microscope it is like sharp pieces of glass. Over time, that damages the hair. So, if the hair is already absorbed with water, then the less chlorine will get it.
After swim team, a nice hair cut take care of the damaged ends.

Good luck.
Y. E.

You might try lemon juice or vinegar. Back in the old days when I was a kid we would treat our hair with mayonaise as a conditioner!Just rub in and leave on for awhile then wash out well.
Have you consulted with a beauty shop to see what reccomenadations they may have?

I have a very blonde friend and she pours bottled water on her hair before she gets in a pool with a lot of chlorine. If your little girl's hair is already wet it will not absorb the chlorinated water as much as it would if it were dry.
As for getting the green that is there out. I don't know how to do that. Maybe vinegar?

I just read in the FIRST magazine, that after you swim, and after the shower, to pour, sounds weird, an 8 oz bottle of club soda over the hair, don't rinse, just dry normally. Seems the carbonation lifts the chlorine out. Club soda also comes in 8 oz cans so they could be carried easily.

She must be blonde, or fair haired!

I used Ultra Swim Shampoo and Conditioner daily and googled it for you at: http://www.swimoutlet.com/ProductBrand.asp?Brand=1159&amp...

Also, have her wet and condition her hair AND put a swim cap on BEFORE entering the pool. LEAVE the conditioner ON - do not rinse it before putting the cap on.
After practice, take the cap OFF in the shower - not the pool.

Have the lifeguard or pool manager double-check the chlorine level as well.

Keep hair trimmed - especially during swim season. And use a repair serum once a week (they didn't have this in my day). Aussie makes one.

~ Mom of 4 AND former Swimmer (year round), Life Guard and Water Safety Instructor. [And, luckily, a brunette - who had many chlorine induced "blonde highlights" in my swimming days!]

Good luck!

It's the pool she's swimming in. The chlorine level is "off". I was on a swim team all thru high school and there were a few pools we'd have meets at that would turn our hair various shades of green.

For the dryness the trick we used to do was slather conditioner on our heads before we put our swim caps on.

Yes try K-Pak daily conditioner. Also try putting a leave on conditioner in her hair daily. Use can also use the K-Pak moisturizing shampoo.

Hi --
When my 13 year old blond daughter & I were dealing with this a few summers ago, my hairdresser advised wetting the hair with tap water or applying conditioner before swimming. Both prevent the clorinated water from saturating the hair in the same way as it would if dry when entering the pool. And, in addition, rinsing &/or washing the clorinated water out ASAP after swimming.
D. B.

I don't know what to do about the green color, but for reconditioning hair, I use coconut oil on my granddaughter's hair just about daily. It comes in a jar kind of like vaseline - I think you'll find it in the ethnic hair care products. anyway, I use it just about every day and her hair is absolutely gorgeous. i get a lot of compliments on her hair and the best part about the coconut oil is that as long as she has that in her hair, she won't get head lice. Lice cannot attach their eggs to the hair shaft with the coconut oil on it so no worries in that regard. That's actually why I started doing it - there was a head lice scare at her school. not only did we survive that without so much as a nit but the condition of her hair improved immensely. I have continued to use it even though the lice scare is over. Oh, yeah, it goes a long way also. I bought the jar a year ago and have only used about half of it!

if you started the clarifying shampoo AFTER the affects of the chemicals set in , then there is really nothing that you can do. I am a hairdresser, so I see this alot. It is not just the chlorine. There are several chemicals that are in a pool that cause the green discolorization in the hair.
the ONLY way to rid the hair of the green color (as per my experience) is to cut it off. Be dilligent in future swimming seasons to start using swimming and clarifying shampoos BEFORE the green sets in.
It really depends on how light the hair is, how pourous it is, and how fine it is to determine how fast the hair will respond to the effects of pool water. It also depends upon the amounts of the three main chemicals in the water and the amount of time spent in the pool by the child!~

Hi there,

I was a green blondie too when i was young and a swimmer. once it is green..too late...gotta cut it.

you have to be proactive.

1. never get in the pool with dry hair. (this is key not just for people with blonde hair, but for anyone, the chemicals are soooo harsh and drying to anyone who swims a lot)
2. use the shampoo you choose a regular basis, not after hair is green.
3. once hair is wet before entering pool put on a swim cap.

good luck!

I found a website with lots of info regarding swimmer's hair:
www.clubmom.com/display/256337

Hope it helps,
-M. R.

Hi,
I have no idea if this will help, but I'm a blonde swimmer and used to have this problem when I was a kid. I remember my mom used a shampoo that was green on me and she said it was the only thing that worked for taking the green out of my hair-and I ended up with bright green hair a lot. It was called Herbal Essence and it was green like spinach. I don't know if it's still around and what was the secret of it, if it is. Maybe the herbs? Maybe the green? I just know it was kind of a relief after all the lemon juice my mom kept pouring on my head (that didn't work to get the green out, btw).
Good luck! HTH.

Also, I have to add that I never had to get a hair cut. I had very long hair all through the 70's and none of my school pictures had a green haired kid in them...so maybe it eventually washes out after swim season? Or maybe that green shampoo worked really well? I am not sure. I can ask my mom... :)

For my daughter's extremely dry summer hair, daily I apply a cream (in a pot, not bottle) conditioner, brush it through the hair and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. Then we rinse it out, brushing along the way. After my daughter is out of the shower, I spray in a leave in conditioner, especially over the ends.

It helps.

I agree with others about the green, once there no hope unless you color or cut it.

Good luck,
Stephanie

Hey M.,
My daughter was on a swim team for many years and the best thing to do, is invest in a well fitted comfortable swim cap. It really helps to protect the hair. My daughter refused to wear one at first, but once she got used to it she would not swim without one on.

The only thing I know that helps is to make sure your daughter rinses her hair in fresh water before getting into the pool, and , of course, wears a cap. After swimming, make sure she showers promptly and shampoos and conditions her hair.
Good luck!

My daughter has white blonde hair and during the summer her hair gets brittle with a green tinge so I started to comb a mosturizing conditionerin her hair then I would braid or put it up in a pony tail before she went into the pool. This helped her hair and now we do it every time and her hair stays nice and sodt and no greeness!

This is all good advice but I would like to add that you should not use the clarifying shampoo every time, as it will exacerbate the problem by drying out the hair, and making in more porous. I was a hairstylist for many years and I saw this occasionally. I would try the baking soda treatment and clarifying shampoo to remove the discoloration. The hair should get back to a squeaky clean state- chlorine and other build ups can be felt on the hair shaft, and when it is removed there will be a noticeable difference in the feel of the hair. After you remove the build up use the clarifying shampoo occasionally- once a week or two depending on how often you swim. Again, get the hair wet before swimming, use a conditioner and swim cap, and rinse after. If the hair got quite green you might not have a lot of luck with this, but the situation can be improved. Good luck!

Hi M.-!

Maybe a swimmer's cap is the answer. I have blonde hair and if I don't wear one, I get green hair too. Not my favorite shade..... :)

How about a swim cap?
I know they are a pain (literally) to put on, but it will solve your problem. Plus a swim cap is way cheaper than buying a bunch of products.

Hi M.,
As a blondie, one trick that worked for me, was to put club soda and lemon juice on my hair, then lay in the sun (usually on the grass so I could spread out my hair), and the combo would bleach out the green. Good luck!

Hi M. G.,

To keep hair from turning green get her hair wet and put a conditioner on it and leave it in, before swimming, hair is like a sponge and once it's wet does not absorb as much liquid. If she has long hair wet it put the conditioner in and then braid it. If all this fails get a swimmers cap. The green is caused by the copper pipes that bring the water into the pool not the chemicals.

I have three very blond children who swim year round. The boys I just keep their hair short. But, my daughter has long hair, so we have to be careful. The trick is to never get in the pool with dry hair. Always get it wet with clean water first. If you can, it also helps to spritz the hair with dilluted conditioner before she gets in the water. Good luck

Hi M.,

1) Get her hair soaking wet in the shower before she swims and don't dry it. It won't be able to absorb as much pool water because it's already saturated with clean water. This won't fix the existing damage but will stop it getting worse moving forward and it's sooooooo easy to do!

2) Comb olive oil through her hair once a week. Leave it on in a shower cap (or send her swimming with a swim cap) for 30 minutes or so then wash it out. That will help with the dryness. You could use a hot oil treatment, but they are way more expensive than olive oil wihch you probably already have and they really don't work any better.

HTH
T.

Arbonne's Detoxifying Rescue Wash for hair and body is great...pure, safe and beneficial.
E. #17524441
www.arbonne.com

Not only blondes have this problem! My brunette daughter has her hair turn green as well, mostly the ends and highlights (natural). My beautician told us that competely wetting with tap water before getting in the pool helps, as does using Aloe Rid shampoo (by Nexxus)after swimming. It's not as expensive as many salon brands and it's been available at either Target or Wal-mart, I never remember which, for last couple of years.

To get rid of major green, or other color problems (like those "temporary" hair dyes at Halloween that don't wash out like they claim), mix a paste of baking soda, Aloe-Rid and tap water. Apply to hair and leave for 5 minutes, then rinse completely. The baking soda will strip all temporary color and anything else (including moisture) from the hair shaft, so you'll need to use massive conditioners for a while to ensure you don't break her hair while combing. [We did this after a black temporary hair dye that 6 weeks later still hadn't washed out completely, even though it'd said, washes out in 8-10 washes!] The hair will be extremely brittle and fragile for a while, so use super conditioner, like Humectress (also by Nexxus and available at Target or Wal-mart). After about two weeks, her hair was back to its regular color and condition.

Just an FYI, everyone always says it's the chlorine in the pool, it's NOT, it's the copper, that causes the green color.

I have heard that if you wet your hair thoroughly before you go into the pool that it helps. Since your hair is already wet it won't absorb as much of the chlorine.

Try lemon juice, it works great.

Hi M.,

I am a hairstylist I know what you are talking about. I see it quite often. You can use a less expensive route for the green wash her hair in vinegar and water. I also have filters for your shower that helps with the dry skin and hair. The filter removes all the lead and chlorine and other chemicals that are in our water supply.

You may check out my page www.nikken.com/ninamarie

Have a great week.

N. Marie

Hi M.,
I used to swim on my school swim team so I had to stay on top of this as well. You can use jojoba oil as a pre-swim treatment or olive oil. I currently use the Kerastase - Soleil line. It's expensive but effective.
H.

HI M.,

The best way to prevent green hair is to get it wet with fresh water before getting into the pool and then putting in a leave in conditioner and then wearing a swim cap. That should help from it getting worse. Also, she should wash her hair immediately after getting out of the pool. Waiting allows more of the chlorine to penetrate.

After it is green, you should still use the swimmers shampoo and then also find a really good conditioner from a salon to help with the dryness.

D.

I am a hairdresser and what I tell my clients is to get the hair wet and put a conditioner in it. Don't rinse before getting in the pool. Also I know Redken and Biolage both have a product that prevents sun damage. Those are both preventative. to get the green out is another story. Take her in for a trim and depending on how bad it is they can clarify it. Hopefully that helps. good luck.

Get the hair cholesteral for the dryness and matbe lemon for the green.

I see you have a lot of responses already, so you may have this one. I was told to put lots of conditioner in my hair and tie it back in a bun or swimmers cap. Hope this helps.

L.

As a swimmer & lifeguard for years..i too battled with green hair. A few things I found that helped...
swim cap
getting her hair wet before getting in pool (that way it absorbs the water not the pool water)
lots of conditioner
frequent trims
and thats about all you can do! good luck !

We were at the pool one day when a hairdresser commented on my child's hair and the pool chlorine. Her advice was to thoroughly saturate the hair with water (in the shower) prior to entering the pool. The hair is "full of water" and protected from "absorbing" the chlorine from the pool. It seems to work for us, and we have light hair.

make sure her hair is wet before going in the pool, also try using Biolage leave in tonic, everyday.

My daughter is blond and had the same problem as a child. We tried it all too and nothing worked. So, we went with a simpler solution: Wet her hair before she goes in the pool so that her hair will absorb less chlorine, which is what is turning it green. Try lemon too.

TOMATO PASTE!!!!! i knew a couple blondes with a hairdresser mom, we went swimming together in their pool quite a bit and they always did this after swimming and came out of it blonde again. if you google it you will find others saying the same thing.

One thing that works is making sure hair is already completely wet before getting into the swimming pool. Also, if you leave a little bit of the shampoo/conditioner in the hair it should help some.

I always used Alberto VO5 hair dressing. It comes in a black and gold toothpaste style tube. Work it into her hair before she gets int the pool and then wash it out when she's done swimming. I had a friend with very fine hair that used Vaseline but it's very hard to get out. I've also heard of using baby oil. Basically you just want to use something that will coat and protect her hair until she gets out.

Does she wear a swim cap? Helped my friends in high school.

Good morning-
Wow...... I have always had this issue with my hair growing up. I lived in the pool and had blonde hair. Which the two added together gives you a green head of hair :o)
Now I have a blonde little girl who loves to swim just as much. And the item that worked when I was a kid is still working on my daughters hair...... lemon juice. You can either use real lemons or I like to buy the plastic lemons in the store that are filled with the lemon juice because it is much easier to add to the hair. You just get their head wet, squeeze and soak their hair, let it sit for a couple minutes and TADA the green is gone. And this way you don't have to worry about the crazy smells after. Then I like to add any conditioner to the hair to give it some moisture. Good luck!! C.

Hi there, I did the same thing and had the same problem. The only thing that worked for me was the expensive products from Boots - these products are all from England. If you haven't already tried these they make a great product especially for this problem. It's been a while and I'm not sure the best place to find it, I would start with their website and maybe drugstore.com - Best of luck!

M.,

My daughter is in cosmotology school and would recommend shimmerlights shampoo. It is in a purple bottle and is purple in color. It especially formulated for blonde or highlighted hair. I use Biolage conditioning balm it works great. I even will run a small amount through my damp hair and leave it in. I've also heard to put conditioner in hair before swimming(don't tell the swim coach) They also say to wet hair with fresh water before getting in chlorine.

Good Luck,
L.

My daughter has bleach blonde hair (naturally) and talk about quick to turn green... THE ONLY THING that has worked is a shampoo and conditioner called MALIBU - swimmers shampoo and conditioner. We found it at a beauty supply and it's worth it. My daughter's hair is not green and she is at the high school pool (highly chlorinated) every day!!

R.

Hi M.,

This used to happen to me! Try putting conditioner on her hair before she puts her swim cap on - it protects her hair from the chlorine while she is in the pool. Then wash with the clarifying shampoo after swimming. Try different brands - they're not all the same. A deep conditioner once a week should help with the dryness.

Good luck!

My hairdresser just said to get the hair wet before you went into the pool.

Good Luck

I am a blonde mom, and have battled green hair forever. I see you have lots of preventative tips, but I have a tip for removing the green without cutting!
My hairdresser told me years ago to soak the green hair in distilled vinegar. Yes, it is drying, but it takes the green right out, then you can do the wet hair and conditioner from then on to avoid having it happen again.

Wow - you have received lots of great advice, some of which I never heard of! We did warm beer, but I've heard of tomato juice too. We also did (once a month) a hot oil treatment. Once the green is gone, you will definitely want to do the swim cap (put some conditioner inside the cap to lubricate the cap in between practices) as a preventative measure in the future. Being a swimmer myself, I remember hating the swim cap until one of my coaches required me to wear one. Now I can't imagine NOT wearing it! Besides, it keeps your hair from slowing you down (let your daughter know it really will make her faster)!

M., We had a simi;ar problem with my daughter's thick, curly hair. A beautician friend told me to work conditioneer through her hair before swimming. Also,all of my kids use clarifying shampoo only once a week. Maybe this would work for your daughter too!

I don't know how to get the green out, but we deal with the dry hair from swimming too. I use a leave-in conditioner. Do you have a Sport Clip in your area? You probably do - they are in most town. It's a hair cutting place for men. They sell a leave-in condition/lotion. It's a tea tree conditioner and it works really really well to help keep their hair soft after all the swimming.

make sure to rinse her hair right after swimming each day. to get the green out use baking soda. use conditioner for dry hair for the drying out from swimming. I hope that helps!

My niece has long blond hair and my sister wets it puts conditioner on it and then puts her swim cap on. The hair being wet and then sealed with conditoner helps keep the clorine out which is what dries it out. Might give it a try. C.

I'm sure you may have already heard of this or even try it, but my hairdresser suggested getting hair wet with regular water before getting into the chlorinated pool water. Good luck and have a good one!

I'm not sure if either of these really work but I was told to get my hair wet with tap water before going into the pool. Doing that makes the hair absorb less drying water then the chlorinated water. I was also told to put leave in conditioner in my hair before I got in the pool.
Let me know if either of them work, we swim a lot during the summer.

I was a swimmer when I was younger, there isn't a lot you can do to help with the green hair, I am asuming that she is a blonde as I was, I had to cut the ends off and start over.

First wet her hair before she gets in the water, if its wet before she gets in it won't soak op so much chlorine. then I would reccommend coating it with conditioner and putting her hair in a cap as well. this is all just to protect her hair. once she starts wearing a cap it should stop absorbing the chlorine and turning green. Hope that helps good luck!

My mom is in the pool everyday and loves the Kiehls swimming products.

Hi M.,
Have your daughter wet her hair and put conditioner on it before she gets into the pool (don't rinse it out). I have heard this is the best way to solve the problem.

Good Luck!
K. N

I am a blond with a blond daughter on a swim team. I agree that the official "swimmers" shampoo is useless. I do however get great results from the Paul Mitchell brand of clarifying shampoo and the Joico brand of extra moisture conditioner. Give em a try :)

Hi M.,
Try mixing baking soda with shampoo to form a paste. Use that as many times as necessary to remove the green then follow up with a heavy conditioner for 5-10 mins with a shower cap. I prefer Redken All Soft heavy conditioner. Make sure you thoroughly wet your daughter's hair with tap or bottled water and apply a leave in conditioner before she swims and immediately rinse with tap or bottled water when she is done. I agree that a swim cap is the best idea though.
Sincerely,
L.