Can chlorine in pool water cause my hair to turn green?
Too much chlorine in the water does not cause blond, gray or white-haired swimmers’ hair to turn green. Exposure to hard metals dissolved in the water — particularly copper, iron or manganese — is really to blame. When absorbed by the hair shaft and oxidized by chlorine, metals commonly found in pools tend to leave behind a greenish residue on hair. Metals are introduced into pool water through source water used to fill the pool, as algaecides or sanitizers, from ionizers, as a result of electrolysis, from water moving through recirculation pipes at excessive velocities, and from maintenance of aggressive (acidic) water conditions in the pool. Tip: Monitor the amount of dissolved metals in the water, and add sequestering or chelating agents to the pool to neutralize or remove metals from the water before they have a chance to be absorbed by your hair. Q: Can swimming in chlorinated pools damage or bleach my hair? A: Swimming in chlorinated pools can severely damage hair, and damage c
