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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 15 2013 at 6:27pm | IP Logged
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OK, mothers of swimmers. Do you have a tried and true method of removing chlorine that has built up from a summer of swimming?
I googled this topic, and I found a suggestion for using baking soda. DD is not too enthusiastic, though, so I want to be sure it really will help before we attempt this.
We started today with a good haircut for her, but we need to get the chlorine out, and I don't want to use anything too chemical-ish.
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
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Posted: Nov 15 2013 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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typing one handed --
any clarifying shampoo will work.
pantene clarifying shampoo works very well. it may take a couple of washings, but you should see immediate improvement.
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 15 2013 at 6:48pm | IP Logged
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Lemon juice as a rinse in the shower.. you can dilute it with hot water so it's not cold poured on.. and rinse it out.. it's not for "bleaching" but for helping strip anything off the hair and smoothing the cuticle of the hair down.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Christine Forum All-Star
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Posted: Nov 15 2013 at 6:53pm | IP Logged
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We use UltraSwim Chlorine-Removal Shampoo. My older daughters like to use UltraSwim conditioner too.
__________________ Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 15 2013 at 7:58pm | IP Logged
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In the preventative part.. my girls shower after they swim and we've never had a problem even the lighter haired girls.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 16 2013 at 6:34am | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
In the preventative part.. my girls shower after they swim and we've never had a problem even the lighter haired girls. |
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We shower and wash hair as soon as we are done swimming just for that reason, but my dd's hair just seems to have soaked up the chlorine anyway . I did read that going into the pool with your hair already wet can really help, since there is only so much water hair can soak up. Might try that next summer.
In the summer my kids swim just about every day and for hours at a time.
Maybe the long exposure makes it worse?
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 16 2013 at 9:59am | IP Logged
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Yeah, and the different types of chemicals used and how much by the pools. My kids are on swim team so it's every day for 6 weeks in the mornings and a couple of afternoons a week plus whatever time they go just to play.
And I know they test the water throughout the day. But I've never felt that the water was heavily clorinated. Been lots of places where there was more indication of clorine useage.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Mackfam Board Moderator
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Posted: Nov 16 2013 at 10:24am | IP Logged
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Have you ladies had both cups of morning coffee??? Because here comes a chemistry soliloquy!
I always thought that it was chlorine that was the cause of hair turning green in the pool, but after enjoying a fun little rabbit trail this summer after observing that it's my one tow-head blonde that has major green-locks and none of my other kids (that have lightish-brown hair) really deal with it as much, I found that it has nothing whatsoever to do with chlorine.
Hair turning green after swimming actually has nothing to do with how chlorinated/or not the pool is. It's a function of the oxidized metals in the water (primarily copper) and these bind to the protein in hair. It makes sense really - have you ever seen a copper windvane or copper roof after it's been outdoors a bit - it oxidizes and turns what color? Green! Now the chlorine probably does function chemically to help oxidize that metal, but it's the copper - not the chlorine - that's the culprit here. Copper is sometimes used in pools to control algae.
Here's a really good article that debunks the chlorine myth.
Again, if you think of hair and how blondes, especially tow-head blondes, generally have drier hair overall, you can see why their hair is more prone to the green tint - the copper sulfate more readily adheres to the protein shaft of the hair because blonde hair soaks up stuff like a sponge. Same with chemically treated hair that might be drier - anyone with really dry hair will be more prone to green tint. Those with healthy hair that's not as coarse, or less dry overall, will probably not have as much of a problem with green tint because the copper sulfate isn't able to adhere as well to that hair. Which is why if you apply conditioner or get your hair wet before getting in the pool, the hair strands will be less accepting and therefore you may be able to avoid some of the green tint.
So, to removed the green color, you actually need something to undo the chemical reaction in your hair. Anything that is an anti-oxidizer will work. Which is why Jodie's lemon juice formula helped her - lemon juice, tomato juice - both contain acids that act on oxidizing metals. All clarifying shampoos typically strip the hair (which is why you shouldn't use them that often), but they contain chelators (organic compounds that bond to the metal atoms). A chelator will chemically "hold hands" with the metal (the copper) that was formerly best friends with the protein shaft of your hair, and "woo" it away, thus taking the green tint with it!
So...there you have it! Copper - not chlorine - is the culprit in green hair!
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 16 2013 at 10:38am | IP Logged
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Good thing I don't need coffee LOL
And this makes total sense now.. we live in a dry climate so I teach my girls to use conditioner after shampooing and not rinse their hair too much.. leave just a bit of the conditioner in so that we don't have hair flying every which way or clinging tight from the static. Which means it would protect the hair too since it wouldn't be "dry" when exposed to swimming pool water.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Betsy Forum All-Star
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Posted: Nov 16 2013 at 10:43am | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
A chelator will chemically "hold hands" with the metal (the copper) that was formerly best friends with the protein shaft of your hair, and "woo" it away, thus taking the green tint with it! |
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I really hope that this is not an illicit friendship, because I will have none of that going on in my hair, if you know what I mean!
__________________ ImmaculataDesigns.com
When handcrafting my work, I always pray that it will raise your heart to all that is true, modest, just, holy, lovely and good fame!
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Mackfam Board Moderator
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Posted: Nov 16 2013 at 11:07am | IP Logged
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Betsy wrote:
Mackfam wrote:
A chelator will chemically "hold hands" with the metal (the copper) that was formerly best friends with the protein shaft of your hair, and "woo" it away, thus taking the green tint with it! |
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I really hope that this is not an illicit friendship, because I will have none of that going on in my hair, if you know what I mean! |
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Consider it an "exorcism" of sorts!
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 16 2013 at 11:08am | IP Logged
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Along Jen's lines, I have read that most swimming pools have less chlorine (ppm) in them than drinking water.
No green hair here- just very straw-like and hard to brush, not soft and shiny. The hairdresser yesterday said it was the chlorine. She is the second hairdresser to say that- plus she had me feel dd's hair when it was wet and note the "mushy" texture it had, not like normal wet hair. Apparently that is chlorine's doing also. I have to say It did feel mushy.
So could it be the copper that is causing the ick hair? Ok- her hair does not look that bad, but it is abnormally hard to brush, IMO, and we go around and around with that. Plus, soon after brushing it looks unbrushed again, which is discouraging. Her hair is a light honey-brown and has some wave to it.
I went out to get clarifying shampoo today, and the store didn't have any
. I guess we will try the baking soda until I can make another shampoo run.
But I do feel very hopeful and better now knowing that the whole hair brushing/still looks awful thing may be resolved. She is very particular and doesn't want anyone to brush it or wash it for her.
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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JodieLyn Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 16 2013 at 11:35am | IP Logged
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Melinda, you might want to get the book Curly Girl It helps with how to treat hair that curls whether it's waves or real curls. It's really helped my girls learn ways to treat their hair to help it look it's best.
__________________ Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SeaStar Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 23 2013 at 1:28pm | IP Logged
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UPDATE:
Went to Walmart and spent 30 minutes looking at shampoo bottles (of which there are a bazillion at Walmart), and could not find a single bottle that was clarifying. That was really, really frustrating... there must have been at least 30 different types of Pantene alone.
Then I came home, and somehow lucked into a $0.79 bottle of Alberto VO5 clarifying shampoo on Amazon. It was an add-on item, and I put it with my ongoing order.
So we did one night of baking soda, and then a couple days later did a wash with the clarifying shampoo when it came.
I think that helped a lot, and now we have a bottle to use for next summer as well.
Thanks for all your help!
Oh- and now that VERY SAME bottle of shampoo on Amazon is $6.95.
Is it not just one big, outrageous game on Amazon or what???
__________________ Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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CrunchyMom Forum Moderator
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Posted: Nov 23 2013 at 5:43pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
Oh- and now that VERY SAME bottle of shampoo on Amazon is $6.95.
Is it not just one big, outrageous game on Amazon or what??? |
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Have you seen the add-on/app called camelizer? You can see the price history of items on Amazon and subscribe to be notified if an item drops below the price you name. Just google it, and I think you can find it for whatever browser you use.
__________________ Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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