What makes your hair turn green in a swimming pool?

Answer 1

Why That Turquoise Hair? or Good Grief � Goldilocks Goin' Green!

Based on an article first appearing in AQUATICS INTERNATIONAL magazine, by the same author.

What's all this nonsense about green hair being caused by chlorine? This fable has been around nearly as long as the one about that water additive causing pool pee to turn red. But blondies' curls do turn green in chlorinated water you say� Well, we're here to tell you it has nothing to do with the chlorine. We know the offender, and its name is� copper.

Let's start by insisting that a short series of events must occur before hair, or anything else in the pool, can turn green. Water must be allowed to become aggressive (negative calcium-saturation-index numbers); it must dissolve some metallic copper, it must have sulfates in it, then � later � high pH conditions must prevail (values above pH 8.3) to precipitate the stuff that the water had previously dissolved. This last step can happen in the water itself, on the plaster or� in the hair!

Let's get a little critical here. The color in question cannot manifest itself without the aforementioned copper in the water, then in the hair � yet neither should be the case in a well-managed pool. If copper is present in the water, that's the pool operator's fault and the pool operator's problem. Copper simply shouldn't be in your pool. If it is, somebody got it there; neither make-up (city) or natural (well) water has copper in it, so we are told by water-plant engineers and geologists.

But liquid pool heater is an all-too-frequent part of swimming-pool water because of sloppy water management. Copper pipes (heaven forbid) and bronze impellers contribute along with the heater's internal elements, as aggressive water will stop at nothing until it's satisfied. Since pH is by far the most influential variable in the CSI, one could safely say that temporary low pH � caused by acidic sanitizers or by excessive pH correction with acid � is the primary "cause" for this aggressive water. Such water achieves this fulfillment by taking on every metal and mineral in its environment, and that includes generous portions of the pool-system's copper.

Meanwhile, everybody's hair absorbs this copper-bearing water. Yes, the black-, brown- and red-headed kids as well as the blondies take on this still invisible dissolved metal. Then the second influence finishes the job: they shampoo. As all normal shampoos have high pH values, the dreaded precipitation occurs. Visible copper (oxide or sulfate) appears, providing that lovely shade of turquoise.

But only the blond-haired swimmers look like Heavy Metal groupies, since there is little pigment there to mask the green effect. And if the hair has been bleached blond you can expect near' twice the effect, as damaged or stripped hair has much more absorbency to hold the copper-bearing water.

What can the swimmers do? Rinsing the hair thoroughly and towel drying rather than letting the water evaporate with contents left behind seems most effective. Shampooing with "swimmers' shampoo" helps because it has an intentionally lowered pH to avoid precipitation. The best plan, of course, is to swim in, or operate, a well-managed pool with perfect, copper-free water.

If your swimmers are already affected, you can assure them that the color will fade after multiple shampoos. In the meantime, you may want to suggest that they join a punk-rock band.

Answer

Most newer Swimming Pools have very little copper parts in their mechanical systems. The most likely path for the Copper to get into the pool is through city water. Water evaporates, but copper doesn't. Over time, the level of copper continues to rise, as more and more fill water is added to the pool. Copper and Chlorine have a positive charge. Your skin and hair have a negative charge. The Copper bonds with the hair, and stains it. You might ask why hair is not dyed to a Copper color. When hair dries, the Copper is precipitated out as a Copper Sulfide.

Answer

Chemicals.

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Answer

Overexpose in the sulfate area. Swimming pool has a mixture of chlorine and chemical substances that's why your hair color will fade then turn to other color.

Answer 2

Chlorine does this. use a shampoo for silver hair to get it out. some brands are shimmer lights, so silver. The shampoo is purple. It has to be purple to cut the green. It has nothing to do with chlorine. The offender is� copper. Additionally, your pH is out of wack! Check with your water supplier - the water in your house Plumbing is probably at 3.0 ppm. so does your hair turn green then - think not. Correct the pool water pH and total alkalinity and your problems will decrease or disappear. k

A series of events must occur before hair, or anything else in the pool, can turn green. The water must be allowed to become aggressive; it must dissolve some metallic copper, it must have sulfates in it, then � high pH conditions must prevail (values above pH 8.3) to precipitate the stuff that the water had previously dissolved. This last step can happen in the water itself, on the plaster or� in the hair! Green hair color cannot manifest itself without copper in the water, then in the hair � yet neither should be the case in a well-managed pool. Copper simply shouldn't be in your pool. Copper pipes and bronze impellers contribute along with the heater's internal elements. Since pH is by far the most influential variable in the CSI, one could safely say that temporary low pH � caused by acidic sanitizers or by excessive pH correction with acid � is the primary "cause" for this aggressive water. Such water achieves this fulfillment by taking on every metal and mineral in its environment, and that includes generous portions of the pool-system's copper. Everybody's hair absorbs this copper-bearing water. Yes, the black-, brown- and red-headed kids as well as the blonds take on this still invisible dissolved metal. Then the second influence finishes the job: they shampoo. As all normal shampoos have high pH values, the dreaded precipitation occurs. Visible copper appears, providing that lovely shade of turquoise. Blond-haired swimmers are most obvious since there is little pigment there to mask the green effect. And if the hair has been bleached blond you can expect near' twice the effect, as damaged or stripped hair has much more absorbency to hold the copper-bearing water. What can the swimmers do? Rinsing the hair thoroughly and towel drying rather than letting the water evaporate with contents left behind seems most effective. Shampooing with "swimmers' shampoo" helps because it has an intentionally lowered pH to avoid precipitation. The best plan, of course, is to swim in, or operate, a well-managed pool with perfect, copper-free water. If your swimmers are already affected, you can assure them that the color will fade after multiple shampoos.

Answer 3

The reason why your hair turns green in your swimming pool is due to the fact that your pH in your water is off. Adjust the pH by adding the proper amount. Its a myth that chlorine causes this. Chlorine is the main ingredient in a lot of cleaning solutions such as bleach. When you get your hair bleached a lot of the hair products that are used for this lists the main ingredient as bleach which, again, has bleach in it.

Answer 4

Chlorine in the pool

ANS2:Our polar bears turn green from algae growing in their fur during the summer...just how long did you stay in the water? Chlorine does not turn hair green. That is a common misconception. In fact it is the presence of copper in your water. Possibly from an algaecide.

Answer 5

Your pool water probably has high copper content. You can remove it with a metal inhibitor.

Answer 6

It's only in old swimming pools, and it's not chlorine, it's the old copper pipe system in the pools that turn it!

Answer 7

th e gunk u get on your slef