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The 15 Best Shampoos for Chlorine Removal
Kiss pool hair goodbye with these clarifying shampoos.
Whether you're clocking laps in the pool or simply floating around for hours, harsh pool ingredients can wreak serious havoc on your hair. Thankfully, many of the best shampoos for chlorine removal are gentle enough to get rid of product buildup and drying chemicals from your hair and scalp without stripping away much-needed moisture.
To ensure all chemicals are washed from your hair post-swim, professionals recommend keeping an eye out for shampoos with acids and compounds equipped to dissolve chlorine molecules, like vitamin C, sodium thiosulfate, or apple cider vinegar. "I recommend looking for ingredients that are naturally acidic to neutralize the effectiveness of chlorine, then let the shampoo’s cleansing agents do the removal work," master stylist, colorist, and owner of Broome Street Society in New York City Andrea Hans tells BAZAAR.com.
Shop Our Editors′ Favorite Shampoos for Chlorine Removal
In addition to a hardworking shampoo, experts also suggest keeping a stable of consistent hair care routine that helps restore its overall strength. "Maintaining healthy hair is just as important out of the pool as it is in," celebrity hairstylist Zachary Morad adds. "After swimming, you want to make sure that you’re treating your hair right, and that goes beyond just using the right shampoo."
Debby Vellozzi, head of product development at Virtue Labs, also suggests using a wide tooth comb on damp hair to help avoid pulls, tangles, and breakage. Ultimately, if you’re planning to dip your hair in chlorinated water, making sure it's as healthy as possible beforehand is especially helpful. "Use appropriate hair care as suggested by your stylist, get regular deep conditioning treatments, trims, and protect it from heat and environmental aggressors," Hans advises.
Here, we've rounded up some of the best shampoos for chlorine removal that are equal parts gentle and effective, and make it a no-brainer to reap the benefits of a relaxing swim.
R+Co Lost Treasure Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
R+Co Lost Treasure Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse
Pros
- Boosts shine and manageability
Cons
- Citrus scent may be off-putting to some
This vegan rinse uses apple cider vinegar to remove chemical build-up while boosting shine and calming the scalp. The cleanser can easily replace your regular shampoo, and is nicely scented with notes of Sicilian lemon, green tea, and eucalyptus to keep your hair extra fresh.
One satisfied customer writes:
"Used once so far but what a huge difference it already made. My scalp is often itchy and irritated but after using this once, it made a huge difference. Hair was shinier, scalp was calmer, and hair felt really clean. I plan on using once a week. Very happy with this purchase." —Jessica L.
| Key ingredients: | Apple fruit extract, aloe vera leaf juice, tamanu seed oil |
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Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Collection (3-Pack)
Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Collection (3-Pack)
Pros
- Helps prevent green hair
- Works on extensions
Cons
When it comes to his chlorine-removing shampoo of choice, Morad notes that he often reaches for Malibu C. "Malibu C Swimmers Wellness is the chlorine removal shampoo I use most frequently," he says. "It’s strong enough to cleanse deep within the hair cuticle, contains vitamin C, and is gentle enough to use if you’re in the pool regularly!"
| Key ingredients: | Vitamin C |
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Sun Bum Revitalizing Detox Shampoo
Pros
- Color-safe
Cons
- Best used on a weekly basis
Sun Bum's popular detox shampoo gets rid of lingering chlorine in addition to salt water build-up, and uses apple cider vinegar and blue agave to balance and soften hair.
One satisfied customer writes:
"This Detox Shampoo is amazing. It leaves my hair soft and shiny, and my scalp fells invigorated. Nothing harsh or drying here. Follow that with the Hair Mask, My hair looks young and healthy again." —Diane C.
| Key ingredients: | Apple cider vinegar, blue agave, cacao |
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Girl+Hair Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Pros
- Helps balance scalp and hair pH
Cons
With nearly five-stars and over 2,800 customer reviews, this best-selling rinse is a hit among Amazon shoppers, and was created by a dermatologist to optimize its hair health benefits. And since this cleanser features a pointed tip, it's especially ideal to use to target the scalp when wearing braids or twists.
One satisfied customer writes:
"I used this to remove buildup from a protective braid style. Was pleased with how well and clean my hair looked after rinsing. I also had a nice tingling feeling in my scalp as well when I let it sit a few minutes. Will definitely purchase again." —pmonica
| Key ingredients: | Apple cider vinegar, rice water, vitamin E, chamomile, shea butter |
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Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Pros
- Great for sensitive scalps
Cons
Amazon customers are also raving about this sulfate-free shampoo from Aveeno, which not only uses apple cider vinegar for a deep clean, but also contains colloidal oat to soothe the scalp while increasing hair volume and shine.
One satisfied customer writes:
"This is my favorite shampoo. Really helps keep the grease away." —Marge
| Key ingredients: | Colloidal oat, apple cider vinegar |
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Redken Detox Hair Cleansing Cream
Pros
- Shine boosting
Cons
Morad loves using this cleansing cream from Redken on his clients, since it works well to not only remove chlorine, but also build up from air pollution, daily products, and mineral deposits (like copper and iron) that are found in hard water.
One satisfied customer writes:
"I have used this shampoo for years and keep coming back. I use it about every other wash, and my hair always has the best texture and natural bounce when I use it. Plus, the big bottle lasts me forever." —Alex
| Key ingredients: | Citric acid, salicylic acid, hydrolyzed wheat protein |
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Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo
Pros
- Gentle
- Great for curls and coils
Cons
Water works are a good thing when it comes to Ouidad's beloved clarifying shampoo. This cleanser features a bevy of chlorine-fighting fruit acids, including lemon, grapefruit and orange flower, that remove residue while enhancing your overall curl definition—win-win.
One satisfied customer writes:
"I was in search of a shampoo that would get rid of the chlorine water that would stay in my hair, even after showering. It was so crunchy and dry...I'm serious. I stumbled upon this at my Ulta store and....it had worked wonders! My hair feels so soft and refreshed. I couldn't be happier." —onetoanother
| Key ingredients: | Combined citrus extract (lemon, grapefruit and orange flower) |
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Moroccanoil Clarifying Shampoo
Pros
- Hydrating
Cons
- Scent may be off-putting for some
If you're a fan of Moroccanoil's range of highly covetable body care products, we highly recommend adding their top-rated, lavender-scented clarifying shampoo to your summer beauty rotation. Since it's enriched with keratin and plant-based oils, its formula helps strengthen hair from the inside out without weighing it down.
One satisfied customer writes:
"After using bond strengthening shampoo for months in an effort to repair my color treated hair, I looked at reviews and decided to try this clarifying one. Oh my! After just one wash, my hair feels Ahhhmazing!!! It fells clean, weightless, and smells wonderful!!!!" —Anonymous
| Key ingredients: | Argan and avocado oils, lavender, chamomile, and jojoba plant extracts |
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Davines Nounou Shampoo
Pros
- Gentle
Cons
- Best for highly-processed hair
This Italian-made shampoo is gentle enough to cleanse relaxed or bleached hair without stripping it of much-needed nutrients. "If you’re swimming often or daily, try Davines Nounou Shampoo, which is naturally acidic, since it includes tomato extract as a main ingredient," Hans explains.
| Key ingredients: | Fiaschetto tomato extract |
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Pattern Beauty Clarifying Shampoo
Pattern Beauty Clarifying Shampoo
Pros
- Hydrating
Cons
- Scent blend may be off-putting to some
This clarifying shampoo from Pattern is ideal for those with curly and coily hair, and is powered by ingredients like matcha green tea and aloe vera for a thorough cleanse that locks in supreme hydration.
One satisfied customer writes:
"I love this shampoo so much. It gets everything out of my hair and whenever I finish it feels amazingly clean and fresh." —Selecia
| Key ingredients: | Matcha green tea, aloe vera, panthenol |
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Virtue Refresh Purifying Shampoo
Pros
- Paraben-free
Cons
- Not ideal for dry hair and scalp
This rejuvenating shampoo from Virtue contains a formula that aims to reset your hair and scalp by gently absorbing excess oil and chlorine. And as an added bonus for those living in bustling cities, the essential also cleanses hair of environmental irritants, like pollution and smoke.
One satisfied customer writes:
"Clarifies my scalp without over drying. I use this once every two weeks and it keeps my hair clean and full of body." —Anonymous
| Key ingredients: | Charcoal powder, coconut oil, alpha keratin 60ku, hops extract, coconut fatty acid blend, artichoke leaf extract |
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Fekkai Apple Cider Detox Shampoo
Pros
- Great for sensitive scalps
Cons
- Citrus scent may be off-putting to some
Dmitry Irshinskiy, a professional colorist at Fekkai SoHo in New York City, uses this color- and keratin-safe clarifying shampoo to restore his clients's post-swim hair. Along with apple cider vinegar, it's powered by salicylic acid to boost the scalp's exfoliation and cleansing power.
One satisfied customer writes:
"I have severe scalp psoriasis and always thought a clarifying shampoo would be too harsh on my scalp but after just one use the build up/flakes/ discomfort cleared up so much. I recommend this to anyone suffering with build up, especially with a sensitive scalp!" —Jordan
| Key ingredients: | Apple cider vinegar, ginger extract, salicylic acid, pro-vitamin B5, specialty rice protein, edelweiss flower extract |
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Virtue ColorKick De-Brassing Shampoo
Virtue ColorKick De-Brassing Shampoo
Pros
- Hydrating
Cons
Vellozzi recommends using this sulfate-free toning shampoo up to twice a week after swimming. It uses a blend of clarifying ingredients, like lemon fruit extract and salicylic acid, to neutralize brassiness and brighten natural (or unnatural) color.
| Key ingredients: | Lemon fruit extract, salicylic acid, alpha keratin 60ku, plant-derived humectants |
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Davines Alchemic Shampoo Chocolate
Pros
- Intensifies brown tones
Cons
- Not ideal for blonde or red hair
"I suggest using Davines Alchemic Chocolate Shampoo to maintain a beautiful brunette tint," Hans says. She also warns, "Be careful to not use a tinted purple or blue shampoo to offset a residual green tone from chlorinated water; since they’re not neutralizing tones, your hair would just look muddy."
| Key ingredients: | Vitamin B |
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Adwoa Beauty Blue Tansy Clarifying Gel Shampoo
Adwoa Beauty Blue Tansy Clarifying Gel Shampoo
Pros
- Vegan
Cons
- Best for wavy, curly, and coily hair
Ideal for oily scalps, this nourishing shampoo from Adwoa Beauty contains a blend of blue tansy flower and jojoba oil to repair existing hair damage, along with bamboo extract for enhanced shine.
One satisfied customer writes:
"I'm using this after swimming (once a week) to help protect my hair from the chlorine. I love this, it smells great, doesn't feel harsh, and my hair feels really healthy and not stripped down." —lyracakes
| Key ingredients: | Blue tansy flower, jojoba oil, bamboo extract |
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Meet the Experts
- Andrea Hans is a master stylist, colorist, and owner of Broome Street Society in New York City.
- Zachary Morad is a celebrity hair stylist based in Los Angeles, California.
- Debby Vellozzi is the head of product development at Virtue Labs.
- Dmitry Irshinskiy is a professional colorist at Fekkai SoHo in New York City.
How does chlorine impact hair health?
According to experts, frequent interaction with chlorine can ultimately cause hair to become drier and more fragile, while making it more prone to thinning, shedding, and breakage. Additionally, the chemical can negatively affect your overall scalp health, since a lack of hydration can cause a shift in the scalp microbiome (or, the healthy bacteria that helps keep it balanced).
And while dryness and fragility are clear tell-tale signs of damage, another indicator that chlorine is left behind in your hair is the color turning brassy—or even tinting an unnatural shade of green. If chlorine isn’t fully removed, it remains active until neutralized or completely cleansed from the hair, which is why the right protection by way of a swimming cap or a prioritization of post-swimming care, is key.
Does chlorine effect light and dark hair differently?
"When dealing with hair that's been affected by swimming, there are differences between how it visually affects light hair versus dark hair, however what’s happening beneath the surface is the same," Morad explains. "We see blonde hair shift to either green or pink from copper found in some pool water, but just because we aren’t able to see that change in darker hair doesn’t mean it’s not absorbing the same chemicals."
Professionals note that coating your hair with a leave-in conditioner or oil before taking a dip can help form a barrier of protection and minimize chlorine absorption.
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For more than 150 years, Harper’s BAZAAR has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
Tiffany Dodson is currently the associate beauty commerce editor at Harper’s Bazaar, where she specializes in trend forecasting, building relationships with major and emerging brands, and crafting shopping stories—from holiday gift guides to product road tests. Tiffany's work has previously been featured in outlets like SELF, Bustle, and Teen Vogue, and she's been quoted as a commerce and beauty expert in publications and platforms like The Business of Fashion and NPR’s Life Kit podcast.
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