So, you know how it is, right? You take a lovely dip in the pool, feeling all refreshed, and then you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. Horror show. My hair, especially the lighter bits, had gone this weird, swampy green. Not a good look, trust me.
My First Panic Move
Honestly, my stomach just dropped. I’ve heard about chlorine doing this, but seeing it on my own head was something else. My first thought was, “Okay, don’t freak out. Fix it.” I remembered I had a bottle of really strong clarifying shampoo stashed away. The kind that strips everything out of your hair. So, I jumped in the shower and scrubbed my hair like there was no tomorrow. I must have washed it twice, really working that shampoo in.
After rinsing it all out and letting it dry a bit, I checked. Well, it was… a little better? The super vibrant green had faded a bit, but it was definitely still there. More of a dull, sad, greenish tinge now. Especially noticeable under bright lights. Ugh. Not good enough.
Digging a Bit Deeper
I knew just clarifying wasn’t going to cut it completely. I did a quick search on my phone, well, more like I remembered some old tricks people talked about. Some folks swear by ketchup, but the thought of smelling like a salad bar wasn’t appealing. Then I remembered seeing some specialized products, like purple shampoo for brassiness, but specifically for green tones. I also read about some home remedies like baking soda paste.
I decided to try a more targeted approach before resorting to kitchen chemistry. I went to the store and looked for something, anything, that said “anti-green” or “chlorine removal” for hair. Found this one treatment that promised to neutralize green tints. It wasn’t super expensive, so I figured, why not?
The Main Event: Operation De-Green
Back home, I followed the instructions on the bottle. It was like a thick conditioner.
Here’s what I did:
- Got my hair damp again. Not soaking, just damp.
- Slathered a whole bunch of this anti-green stuff all through the greenish parts. Really made sure it was coated.
- The instructions said to leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. I probably left it on for a good 20, just to be safe. Put on a shower cap to keep it all contained and maybe keep some heat in.
- Waited. Paced a bit. Kept my fingers crossed.
After what felt like an eternity, it was time to rinse. I rinsed it out really, really well. My hair felt super soft, which was a good sign, because sometimes these treatments can be drying.
The Result!
I towel-dried it gently and then, the moment of truth. I looked in the mirror, under the brightest light in my bathroom. And guess what? The green was GONE! Seriously, just gone. My hair was back to its normal color. Maybe a tiny, tiny hint if I squinted and imagined it, but practically speaking, it was fixed. I was so relieved, you have no idea.
My hair did feel a little bit dry afterwards, which isn’t surprising after all that. So, I immediately followed up with a super hydrating hair mask, left that on for another 10 minutes. That really helped to get some moisture back in.
So yeah, that was my little adventure in de-greening my hair. It was a bit of a process, but totally worth it to not look like a creature from the deep. Next time I go swimming, I’m definitely wearing a swim cap or at least wetting my hair with tap water and putting conditioner in it before I get in the pool. Lesson learned!
