Many people notice that their hair starts to become unhealthy or takes on a slight green tint after a dip in the pool, but why is that?
Your hair starts to become brittle and dry due to the chemicals in pool water, like chlorine. The chemicals strip your hair of natural oils, making it more dry and damaged. The reason behind the green coloration actually isn’t due to the chlorine, contrary to popular belief. In fact, it is due to the levels of copper often present in the water. When it reacts with the chemicals, the copper oxidizes, and the mixture absorbs into the swimmer’s hair, giving it a green tint.
There are methods you can use though to keep your hair healthy and its natural color. These include using a leave-in conditioner before you swim, wearing a swim cap, and making sure to properly wash your hair after swimming. You can also soak your hair with fresh water beforehand so that the chance of your hair becoming damaged is lessened.
Senior Clara Budge who has been swimming competitively since she was three says it’s something that she struggles with, and is still trying to find a solution.
“I try [to] keep myself from washing my hair every day, [I] do it every other day, but I’ve been struggling with it for my whole life, and I still haven’t found anything to fix it,” Budge said.
