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11 Best Shampoos For Getting Chlorine Out Of Your Hair

Your hair needs this, trust.

By Katrina Mitzeliotis
How to Get Chlorine Out Of Hair
Jewelyn Butron

Now that it's officially warm weather season, it's pretty easy to understand why one of the first things that comes to mind when trying to beat the heat is taking a dip in the pool. But even though a swim is always refreshing, sometimes pool water can be more damaging to your hair than you think.

Meet Our Experts: George Papanikolas, Matrix celebrity colorist, Joe Cincotta, PhD, R&D director at Federici Brands

Post-swim, you might be inclined to reach for a clarifying shampoo, but you should steer clear. “A clarifying shampoo will exacerbate the dehydrating effects of chlorine and will not effectively remove the mineral deposits,” says Cincotta. A chelating shampoo is a better choice, as it will target hard-water minerals and chemicals, like chlorine. For regular use, the secret to keeping your summer hair healthy while splashing around? A hydrating shampoo, which will wash out the chlorine while restoring moisture.

Here, some expert-approved options for your next pool day.

1
Best For Daily Swimmers

Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Shampoo

Swimmers Wellness Shampoo
1
Best For Daily Swimmers

Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Shampoo

$38 at Amazon$18 at Walmart$32 at JCPenney
Credit: amazon.com
Pros
  • Nice smell
  • Great if you swim often
Cons
  • Slightly pricey

Nourishing agents, like pro vitamin B5 and flax protein, tackle brittle, brassy tresses in this sulfate-free formula. It’s a great go-to product for removing chlorine and restoring hair’s natural moisture. It also doubles as a body wash, so feel free to use it head-to-toe.

2
Best For Itchy Scalps

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt

Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt
2
Best For Itchy Scalps

Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt

Credit: courtesy
Pros
  • Great for sensitive scalps
  • Hydrates the scalp
Cons
  • Expensive

If you have a sensitive scalp that’s often itchy and red after it comes in contact with chlorine, this is the product for you. The detoxifying scrub is paraben-, silicone-, and phthalate-free and works to remove chemical residue while also restoring moisture and hydration, striking the perfect balance you need post-swim.

Pros
  • Works on color-treated hair
  • Sulfate-free
Cons
  • Small quantity

Don’t let the name fool you–this sulfate-free formula works on all hair, even if it hasn’t been dyed. The gentle rinse is exactly what your hair needs after chlorine exposure. It cleans without leaving behind any residue and won’t further strip your strands of moisture.

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4
Best For Green-Prone Blondes

TriSwim Chlorine Removal Shampoo

Amazon’s Choice
Chlorine Removal Shampoo
4
Best For Green-Prone Blondes

TriSwim Chlorine Removal Shampoo

Credit: amazon.com
Pros
  • Removes green tint from hair
  • Relieves itchy scalp
Cons
  • Can be drying

When it comes to combating chlorine, look no further than this hydrating formula that’s specifically formulated to target that dreaded green tint so often seen after chlorine exposure. Organic aloe vera, vitamins A and E, and pro vitamin B5 provide needed hydration.

5
Best Organic Option

Intelligent Nutrients Fortifi-hair Shampoo

Fortifi-hair Shampoo
5
Best Organic Option

Intelligent Nutrients Fortifi-hair Shampoo

Credit: amazon.com
Pros
  • Softens hair
  • Gentle
Cons
  • Slightly expensive

The holy grail of organic shampoos, this fortifying formula restores moisture while gently cleaning the scalp, all while protecting natural oils without further stripping the cuticle. The result? Softer, smoother, healthier hair.

6
Best For Highlighted Hair

Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Lumiere

On Sale
Blond Absolu Bain Lumiere
6
Best For Highlighted Hair

Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Lumiere

Credit: amazon.com
Pros
  • Great for blondes
  • Protects hair cuticle
Cons
  • Can dry out the hair

Banish brassy tones once and for all thanks to this new line, created just for blondes, which nourishes hair follicles from the inside out. Hyaluronic acid strengthens fiber damage and protects the cuticle post-swim.

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7
Best For Dry Hair

ColorProof Baobab Heal & Repair Shampoo

Baobab Heal & Repair Shampoo
7
Best For Dry Hair

ColorProof Baobab Heal & Repair Shampoo

Credit: amazon.com
Pros
  • Hydrating
  • Color-safe
Cons
  • Expensive

Want to keep your color as vivid as it was when you left the salon? This fortifying formula will improve strength and elasticity, all while infusing your hair with the hydration it desperately needs.

8
Best Detangling Shampoo

Oribe Run-Through Detangling Shampoo

Run-Through Detangling Shampoo
8
Best Detangling Shampoo

Oribe Run-Through Detangling Shampoo

Credit: dermstore.com
Pros
  • Detangles hair
  • Protects color
Cons
  • May not be great at detangling curlier textures

The shea butter in this formula eliminates tangled hair after a dip in the pool while also helping to soften and condition strands so that combing your hair is more manageable. The shampoo also features star ingredients like watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower, all of which are meant to defend the hair from dryness and color deterioration.

9
Best Budget Formula

Pantene Sulfate and Silicone Free Baobab Shampoo

Sulfate and Silicone Free Baobab Shampoo
9
Best Budget Formula

Pantene Sulfate and Silicone Free Baobab Shampoo

Credit: target.com
Pros
  • Budget-friendly
  • Sulfate-free
Cons
  • Watery consistency

According to Cincotta, keeping your hair healthy all summer requires a hydrating shampoo, and this sulfate-free wash gives hair the hydration it needs. It has a blend of vitamin B5, antioxidants, and baobab essence that work together simultaneously to maintain moisture and softness.

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10
Best For Curls

Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo

Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
10
Best For Curls

Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo

Credit: ulta.com
Pros
  • Great for curly hair
  • Removes hard water deposits
Cons
  • Can be drying

Even though clarifying shampoos can strip moisture from your hair, this one is crafted specifically for those with curls and who love the pool. As you lather, the cleansing lemon, grapefruit, and orange flower acids in the shampoo remove chlorine and minerals from hard water deposits.

11
Best Exfoliating Shampoo

R+Co Submarine Water Activated Enzyme Exfoliating Shampoo

Submarine Water Activated Enzyme Exfoliating Shampoo
11
Best Exfoliating Shampoo

R+Co Submarine Water Activated Enzyme Exfoliating Shampoo

Credit: nordstrom.com
Pros
  • Removes scalp buildup
  • No exfoliating beads
Cons
  • Can feel drying

This multi-tasking shampoo exfoliates strands to remove buildup and excess oils from the scalp. It also includes red algae extract, which locks in hydration, leaving hair looking revived, cleansed, and shiny.

12
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How does chlorine affect different color hair?

Chlorine interacts with hair color differently depending on your shade. Once chlorine comes in contact with brown hair the color fades, leaving an underlying orange pigment. “Blonde hair absorbs the minerals and chemicals and can take on a greenish cast,” says Papanikolas. But it isn’t just color-treated hair that’s at risk. “Chlorine oxidizes the internal disulfide bonds in hair causing it to lose strength and elasticity, which leads to breakage,” says Joe Cincotta, PhD, R&D director at Federici Brands.

Can you protect against chlorine damage?

Yes, says Papanikolas. “Wet your hair with freshwater before you enter the pool so that it absorbs less chlorine,” he advises. Hair is like a sponge, so the more fresh water it absorbs ahead of time, the less likely it is to soak in the chemically-treated water.

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