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If you have a blond child and a chlorinated pool, I don’t need to explain the horror of green pool hair. My oldest is five, has white-blonde hair, and by mid-May he was already sporting that swampy green tinge that makes every family photo look like we dipped him in a vat of algae.
I tried everything: ketchup (yes, really), clarifying shampoos, DIY sprays, voodoo spells. Nothing worked. Until I found this miracle packet and gave it a shot. And listen — it actually worked. Not instantly, but with consistent use, his hair is officially back to its natural shade of toe-head perfection.
I thought that we wouldn't have this issue with our salt water pool, but apparently it's the same chemical reaction yada yada, and here we are.
Malibu Swimmers shampoo. It's a little powder packet (comes in single, 3 pack and more) that you add a little water to (in the palm of your hand). It makes a paste, you put it in your hair, and it strips it of everything. EVERYTHING. Your hair will feel pretty violated if you use this too much, but if you're in the pool a lot, this is what you need. Make sure to moisturize like a psycho after. See steps below.
I now use this miracle green pool hair removal powder about once a week as part of our post-pool ritual. Here’s the routine:
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Start with a clarifying shampoo to get the grime and chlorine out. This one smells amazing, and I use it almost daily on my thin, brown strands. Yah, I'm probably crazy for using it on a toddler (not cheap). See below for budget option.
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Mix about 1/3 to 1/2 a packet of this stuff into a paste
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Apply the magical paste to damp hair, making sure it’s fully coated
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Let it sit for about 5 minutes (yes, it's a negotiation every time)
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Rinse it out, shampoo with something "clarifying" again, then follow with a rich conditioner or a moisturizing hair mask. I like this clarifying shampoo for this step or any other day, and this conditioning mask, but I'm always trying new sample packs of other conditioning masks. (Here is a more budget friendly shampoo option for when I'm feeling stingy. Also, this kid standard, Johnson's Head-to-Toe Gentle Tear-Free Shampoo, is in the mix as well. )
It's a whole thing. He hates it, but it's worth it. Plop in a few extra toys for this bath and they'll be fine.
It’s a bit of a process, but it’s the only thing that got us results. And I’d much rather go through this weekly routine than explain to the grandparents why my child looks like a sea creature in every photo.
The best part? One pack lasts several treatments if you’re just using it on a little head. You can check it out here on Amazon and stock up before pool hair season gets out of hand.
Hot tip: We also are VERY vigilant about wetting his hair fully with just water (sometimes a little conditioner too) before he swims. Every time. It's helped a ton.
Is that blood? Nope. I'm not THAT crazy. It's ketchup. It actually worked a little (more temporarily). Was he happy? No. Did he dip a finger in and taste it? Yes. How'd it smell? Like ketchup.
I’ll do a full post soon on the other things I tried (and wasted money on), but if you're dealing with green pool hair, this is the real MVP. It’s budget-friendly, non-damaging, and it works — no ketchup smell required.
