Swimmer's Shampoo

I don't know of any good ones, but we did last summer was get my daughter's head wet with tap water before getting into the water. Also, I used a conditioner every day to help it. I hope that this helps.

Hi K., we have been very happy with the products (shampoo and conditioner) by California Baby (they have a line for swimmers called swimmer's defense). Both my kids are blonde, both kids are on the swim team and both wear a swim cap all the time (even our son, who just does it because all the boys wear caps, I think it is a rule at our pool). I make sure to make the hair wet first, and our daughter wears a leave in conditioner before they put the cap on. If your son's hair is not too long, I am sure a good shampoo and conditioner will already make a difference. And he could wet his hair first since it doesn't take as much of the pool water then.
Happy Swimming, and btw we love the YMCA too!!!

K.,
WE use the Agree Swimmers solution 3 in 1 formula. Then we use conditioner afterwords. No green hair here!!!
I bought it at Wal Mart,and Target. It comes in a tube only and its blue.
W. M.

I don't know of any special shampoo but try wetting his hair first with fresh water before he gets in and then right when he gets out shower off. If his hair is wet before he goes in it won't be able to absorb as much of the chlorine water.

have him get his hair wet first before getting in the pool,you can try aloe reid by nexxus or BullFrog, which you can find just about any where, also spraying his hair with biolage daily leave in tonic will help too. PS. I am a hairdresser... J.

There are several shampoos made specifically to remove the chlorine from ones hair. You can find them at most beauty supply stores or stores that specialize in swim or waterpolo equipment. I use the Ultraswim Shampoo.

I swim everyday and the gal who cuts my hair recommended getting your hair wet in the shower with H2O before entering the pool. That way, the first thing that binds to your hair shaft is water, not chlorine. Additionally after the pool, use a mixture of 1 part baking soda to 3 parts water as a rinse....this deactivates the chlorine. I have also used SwimSwim shampoo and conditioner which was quite good in the past, but haven't bought it in a couple of years so not sure where it is now sold....maybe online? The preventative measures took care of the issue for me.

I know this sounds crazy, but I hear tomato sauce works. The acidity in the sauce is suppose to neutralize the hair in some way and get the green out. It worked for my MIL. Good luck.

Aloe Rid by Nexxus works great at getting rid of the green tinge. It's sold at nice salons, but you can find it at either Target or Wal-mart (I always forget which, but buy a tube or bottle each summer when I see it).

It's also important to rinse with clear non-pool water before getting in to help keep the copper from attaching (it's the copper not the chlorine that causes the green!)

I'm glad you asked. I'm a hairdresser and have been asked this question lots of times, lol. First off, to prevent the chlorine from absorbing into the hair, you can put conditioner into the hair before he swims. Don't rinse it out. If you fill the follicles before you swim, less chlorine will be absorbed. If you forget the conditioner, have him soak his hair in clean water before the swim (there are usually showers at the pools) the clean water will be aborbed and less chlorine will soak in. You should use a clarifying shampoo (joico makes a good one, or paul mitchell) if you don't want to buy a seperate shampoo- use any shampoo and add a little bit of baking soda before you lather. This works great to remove chlorine. You shouldn't do it every day, since it can strip the natural oils and may dry out the hair. Always follow with a good conditioner, and only do it every few times of shampooing, or once a week depending on how often he swims. Don't put the baking soda into the bottle of shampoo- just sprinkle it into your hand with the shampoo. I would say about equal parts. It will get the green out and the smell. Good luck!

Hi K.,

My daughter has long, thick hair and has been on a swim team the last two years. I've found that Ultra Swim shampoo works wonders! Although it's not specifically made for kids, it does say "kid friendly" on the bottle.

Good luck!

H.

Hi K.,
Wow, I never even knew they offered swimmers shampoo? I can remember having green hair during the summer when I was a kid, I had very white blonde hair. The only thing that ever worked consistently was rinsing two or three times a day, and as soon as I got out of the water. My mom would always briad my hair prior to swimming, then take them out when still wet & rinse right away, and several times a day.

I was told about something that is cheaper than any specialty shampoo you can get. I have always loved swimming too and got the slimy hair going. A hairdresser told us to take a baking soda slurry and put it in your hair. It reacts with the chlorine and no more slimy hair. A box of baking soda is cheaper and easier to take a little in a baggie or something for right after swim practice. I don't even mix it with water anymore. I get some baking soda on my hands and put it in my hair like it was conditioner. Let it sit for a minute or so, and rinse. After rinsing, I then go on with my normal hair washing routine. Since you already have the regular shampoo, all you need to get is the baking soda.

Happy swimming.

I was a year-round swimmer during my whole childhood, and I had (still have) very blond hair. I always used UltraSwim shampoo and conditioner with good results. Also, he should rinse his hair with clean water BEFORE getting into the pool - really get it soaking wet - that actually does help keep some of the chlorine and copper from soaking into the hair. And then of course immediately upon getting out of the pool, rinse his hair again in clean water. Then as soon as he gets home, wash his hair using the Ultra Swim shampoo. Hope that helps! =)