Green hair after swimming: Is it a myth or reality?
Green hair after a refreshing dip in the pool is a fairly unknown phenomenon. Have you ever experienced it? This phenomenon, often associated with swimmers, can be surprising and unwanted. But how does this green color actually occur, is it harmful to your hair, and more importantly, can you go bald from this change? In this blog, we delve into the causes and provide handy tips to keep your hair healthy and color-free.
How does green hair occur from swimming?
Green hair after swimming is often wrongly attributed to chlorine, but the actual cause is the presence of copper particles in the water. These copper particles may come from algaecides or from corrosion in swimming pool facilities. Chlorine, which is added to the pool water, helps to dissolve the copper, making it easily attach to hair, especially when it is light in color or chemically treated. The copper binds to the proteins in the hair and thus forms a green color. To date, fewer than ten cases have been published that are related to swimming pools where clearly elevated concentrations of copper were present.
What does it look like?
Green hair after swimming is usually characterized by the following aspects:
- Color Change: The most obvious feature is the change of hair color to a greenish hue. This color change is usually subtle, but can be more prominent in people with lighter or chemically treated hair, such as blondes.
- Distribution: The green color is not always evenly distributed. It can be more concentrated on parts of the hair that are drier or more damaged, where the copper particles can attach more easily.
- Texture Change: In addition to discoloration, the hair can also feel coarser or dryer as a result of the chemical reaction between the copper and the hair.
- Gloss: The hair can lose its natural gloss and look dull, especially if there is also chlorine damage.
These changes are usually temporary and can be treated with specific hair products that are designed to remove metal particles from the hair and restore the natural health and color of the hair.
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Is it dangerous for your hair?
No, green hair from swimming is mainly an aesthetic problem and does not pose a direct threat to your hair’s health. The discoloration itself causes no damage. However, the chemical substances present in pool water, such as chlorine and copper, can indeed dry out your hair. This dehydration can lead to brittle hair and split ends, which can worsen the overall condition of your hair. Regular exposure to these chemicals can weaken the hair shaft and reduce your hair’s natural shine.
Myth: Does green hair make you bald?
The idea that you can go bald from green hair due to swimming water is a persistent myth with no scientific basis. There is no direct evidence that the presence of copper or other chemicals in swimming pool water leads to hair loss. However, it is true that excessive exposure to chlorine and other harsh chemicals in the pool can damage your hair. This can result in hair breakage and thinning of your hair, especially if it is often exposed to such conditions. However, this type of damage does not cause permanent baldness, but it can negatively affect the overall health and appearance of the hair.
More about different forms of hair loss
What can you do about it?
- Take precautions: Rinse your hair with clean water before entering the pool. This saturates your hair with pure water and reduces the amount of copper it can absorb.
- Use a swimming cap: A swimming cap can help protect your hair from direct contact with chlorinated water.
- Washing after swimming: Use a chelating or swimmers’ shampoo immediately after swimming. These shampoos are specially formulated to remove minerals and chlorine residues, which cause the green color, from your hair.
- Conditioning: Apply a good conditioner to restore the moisture balance in your hair. This also helps to close the cuticle layer of the hair, preventing further absorption of chemicals.
- Tomato paste or ketchup: It may sound like a kitchen myth, but the red hue of tomatoes can help neutralize the green color through the chemical reaction of the copper. Apply it to your hair, let it sit for a while and then wash it thoroughly. For a minor correction you can let ketchup work for a few minutes in the shower. For a larger correction, it is wise to apply it to dry hair and let it work for 20-30 minutes.
By following these tips, you can not only prevent and combat the unwanted green hue, but also ensure healthy, strong, and shiny hair, even after many swimming sessions!
Now that You’re Here
Hair loss is any form of hair loss on the body. It is often associated with multiple causes at once. Therefore, it can be very difficult to get a diagnosis that explains all your complaints, and also to successfully treat your hair loss. Hair loss is almost always harmless, but it can cause serious psychological problems. Therefore, it may be nice to know which diagnosis applies to you and possibly prevent hair loss. In this overview we focus on hair loss from the hairy scalp and face. To help you understand which forms of hair loss exist, you can find an overview here of many different types and causes of hair loss.
