Q&A for How to Get Chlorine Out of Your Hair

Yes. Applying something moisturizing to your hair before getting in a pool can help prevent the absorption of chlorine. Coconut oil or even regular conditioner will work.

Chlorine is extremely drying and should not be left in hair. However, you can rinse thoroughly and condition to remove it; you do not have to use shampoo.

You can remove normal levels of chlorine from your hair with a thorough rinse and conditioning. If your hair is damaged or the chlorine levels are very high, you may need to shampoo or use baking soda to neutralize it.

No, you should not leave chlorine in your hair. It is extremely drying, so be sure to rinse your hair and wash or condition it after swimming in chlorinated water.

You should wet your hair and put a conditioner all the way through it before wrapping your hair and putting it inside a swimming cap. Then, as soon as you're done swimming, wash and treat your hair to help get any remaining water or chlorine out of it.

If you have access to a sink, you should at least try to wet your hair even if you don’t have shampoo. Waiting to shampoo your hair may lengthen the removal process, since removing chlorine can already be challenging. It may also cause your hair to feel drier than normal.

Yes. Doing this after swimming is better than not removing chlorine at all.

Shampoo, which is alkaline, will neutralize the acidic properties in the apple cider vinegar.

It actually depends on the hair type. If it is straight, then you are fine. If your hair is wavy and curly, don't use it.

Chlorine is known to make hair fall out on occasion. Check the chlorine concentrations in your bathing water. It's possible the levels are higher than what you are normally accustomed to.

No. The only way to remove chlorine is to use a clarifying shampoo.

If you have blonde hair, the tips can turn green from the chemicals in the pool. Be thorough when you wash your hair after swimming and your hair color should return to normal. Consider wearing a swimming cap if you want to prevent green hair in the future.

Yes, there is no problem with using conditioner after you rinse out your hair.

Try buying a special swimmers shampoo to get it out. Also, before you go in the pool, really wet your hair. It will absorb less chlorine that way.

Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Suave are some popular drug store brands. However, drug store shampoos tend to be too harsh on the hair (meanwhile, the conditioners tend not to be terribly effective). If you can afford it, any higher-end brand from a store like Sephora or Ulta should be good. Alterna is a particularly great, nourishing hair care brand.

You could use a clarifying shampoo and a leave in conditioner to clean and soften your hair.

When you go to the shower, wet your hair and put in conditioner. Leave it in for 1 minute and rinse.

Try making a paste that will neutralize the chlorine and lift out any green color it deposited from your hair. Mix a ¼ cup (32 g) to ½ cup (64 g) of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Spread the paste throughout your hair while it's damp, massaging it into your scalp. Then, rinse out the paste with water and shampoo. Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner to hydrate your hair, which may be extra dry from the baking soda. If you have lighter hair, you might need to repeat the process 2-3 times to get rid of the green color.

Use a swim shampoo, which is a shampoo specially designed to remove chlorine from your hair. Wash your hair with a swim shampoo as soon as you get out of a swimming pool. Work it into a thick lather and let it sit in your hair for a minute or so before you rinse it out. Look for swim shampoos at pharmacies, beauty supply shops, or by ordering them online. Make sure you use a good, moisturizing conditioner after you wash your hair with shampoo so it's hydrated and smooth.

Yes, chlorine can be really damaging for your hair if you leave it in overnight. Chlorine is a harsh chemical that can dry out your hair and leave it really brittle. Additionally, if you have dyed or light-colored hair, the chlorine can turn your hair a greenish color, which can be difficult to remove once it sets in. Your best bet is to wash your hair with swim shampoo as soon as you get out of a pool to get the chlorine out of it. But even if you can't wash it out immediately, definitely take a shower and wash the chlorine out before you go to bed.

Don't use a special shampoo everyday. It may damage your hair follicles. You do not need to shampoo after that and condition, you can do that if you want.