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Original poster

My hair has gone GREEN

69 replies

Hairdisasterhelp · 26/03/2024 02:56

Sorry for posting in AIBU but I need the traffic.

I’m currently on holiday in Bali and my hair has turned green from the pool.

we arrived at the hotel on the 20th and spend the first few days swimming in the pool with no issues, however yesterday I went in the pool for about 2 hours and the ends of my hair have turned green.

I spoke to the reception staff and they called the 3rd party pool maintenance team out who clarified that the night before they had switched from a chlorine system to a copper system and that the copper levels were too high, which has caused my hair to turn green.

The vendor has offered for me and my friend (who’s hair has also been affected, though she has darker hair than me and hers has turned a caramel / copper colour) to visit a local hair salon.

I know basically nothing about hair and I don’t want to get into a situation where it’s worse and completely unfixable when I return to the UK.

any advice is appreciated.

My hair has gone GREEN
My hair has gone GREEN
OP posts:
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NancyBellaDonna · 15/08/2024 11:17

This happened to me two years ago. Sorry to say but nothing got rid of it and I tried all the remedies. I even attempted to dye my hair with a box dye and it did not take (I'm red blonde). It's taken me two year to grow it out and I have just had that last bit cut off. It did not stay green but went a dull blonde.
I have been advised by our local swimming pool attendant that one should wet your hair with clean water before you get in the pool and obvs rinse when you get out. I think you can buy leave-in conditioners that you can put on your hair before you swim or go in the sun.
I am contemplating buying a swimming hat à la HRH Princess Margaret for this year's holiday just in case it happens again.

Carrotcake93 · 01/04/2024 15:50

Ketchup works for me. But it's so stinky 😅

cooldarkroom · 01/04/2024 15:08

My DD had green hair throughout her childhood summers !
You can also leave on Clear alcohol vinegar it helps neutralise the copper.
(smell wares off after rinsing)

Skyblue18 · 01/04/2024 15:02

Personally I would use it as an opportunity to have a new hairstyle or a trim up to where the green begins

Jewelanemone · 01/04/2024 14:51

Another unhelpful one here that thinks it looks really pretty!

C0hil · 01/04/2024 14:39

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

butterfly0404 · 01/04/2024 14:17

Mine did this recently when I had blonde highlights over a faded purple colour - the result was turquoise ends and a mortified hairdresser.
I used ketchup and a red tinted shampoo over a couple of weeks and now my colour is lovely, a sort of grey blonde that people ask where I I've had done.

It will be fine with a bit of TLC

yourmamaa · 01/04/2024 14:08

JMSA · 01/04/2024 13:07

@yourmamaa

Well she can treat my suggestion as a 'just in case' 🙄

Yeah, just in case of a siege in Bali where all the ketchup runs dry

Nobody is gonna lug a heavy ass bottle of ketchup for 17 hours when she could just go to any restaurant or supermarket

TeaWithHobnobs · 01/04/2024 13:46

How is your hair now @Hairdisasterhelp ?
I hope you managed to sort it and you're enjoying your holiday.

Epidote · 01/04/2024 13:35

Forgot to mention, rinse you hair very well after the pool. Don't expose the pool water to the sun, it will help to stop the green getting spread.

Epidote · 01/04/2024 13:31

That is because of the chlorines from the pool. Get a purple/ blue mask, the one to fade the copper brightness in blonde hair an problem solved.

BasketsandBunnies · 01/04/2024 13:10

Sorry didn't see the copper comments. Ketchup works for chlorine but I don't know about this.

BasketsandBunnies · 01/04/2024 13:09

Ketchup definitely works for this.

JMSA · 01/04/2024 13:07

@yourmamaa

Well she can treat my suggestion as a 'just in case' 🙄

MalcolmTuckersSwearBox · 01/04/2024 12:55

It needs a chelation treatment to remove the metals in your hair. Go to the salon.

Scribblydoo · 01/04/2024 12:53

No it isn't the chlorine, it is copper oxidised by the chlorine. Acids in the form of tomato sauce etc won't take it out nor will purple shampoo help. A chelating shampoo is needed but you can certainly minimise the problem by wetting your hair (with not pool water before) and then washing it promptly after. https://myhairdoctor.com/swimming-pool-green-hair/

SWIMMING POOL GREEN HAIR

SWIMMING POOL GREEN HAIR - My Hair Doctor

Why Blonde Hair Turns Green in Pool Water and How to Fix it I’m sure you’ve heard it before – swimming pools can turn blonde hair green. Most people are under the false impression that chlorine is to blame. The truth is, chlorine is not the main enemy,...

https://myhairdoctor.com/swimming-pool-green-hair

Gerwurtztraminer · 01/04/2024 12:49

Just go to the hair salon. Not sure why you are hesitating. They'll be used to this happening and have products that feel and smell a damn sight nicer than ketchup that can remove the green.

Also if it's copper not chlorine that caused the green then ketchup could make it worse plus strip your hair and make it very breakable (vinegar in it).

Otherwise put up with it and visit your own hairstylist once you are back home. I would not be chucking home remedies at my hair.

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 01/04/2024 12:45

Pippa246 · 01/04/2024 09:39

posters saying it’s the chlorine - OP states in first post she was ok for the first few days then they switched from chlorine to copper and it was high levels of copper that apparently caused the problem- would ketchup still work for that?

Does anyone know the answer to this? The OP might try using ketchup and find it doesn't work at all and she's left with a lingering tomato and vinegar smell for the rest of her holiday, which might be even worse than the green ends!

Topsyturvy78 · 01/04/2024 12:39

I don't think it's really noticeable. I have heard of bleached hair turning green in pool's though. I've never bleached mine so can't offer any advice.

Idontgiveashitanymore · 01/04/2024 12:36

Just put your hair up in a bun and enjoy your holiday

ASundayWellSpent · 01/04/2024 12:30

Another vote for ketchup. Heinz preferably from experience. Put it on like a hair mask. Brush it through. Wrap it up and cover with a shower cap or plastic bag and leave for half an hour then wash it out. When you get home wash it with purple shampoo a few times.

yourmamaa · 01/04/2024 12:17

JMSA · 26/03/2024 06:14

Most hotels have FB groups for tourists (often set up by groups in the UK); they go on there before their holiday to ask questions about the place, or to offer their leftover toiletries or pool floats when they leave.
Find one and ask if anyone coming out in the next few days would consider bringing a bottle of ketchup with them.
I personally would go for the chop rather than messing about with hair dye abroad.

It's Bali, a prime tourist area, not the Arctic (and even then the Arctic probably has ketchup everywhere on its bases!)

There'll be ketchup in a restaurant within her hotel or within walking distance. Or just any Mcdonalds or fast food joint. Or any supermarket.

Luckymummytoone · 01/04/2024 12:06

Ketchup etc never worked when this happened to me. I was told to get a pink based shampoo - I think it was bleach London rose tint I bought and it worked with one wash (didn’t turn my hair pink either). Xx

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 01/04/2024 11:55

Perhaps I never did the ketchup thing right but the one time my hair did this and I tried ketchup I still had green hair but I also had a funky vinegary tomato stench to me that I couldn't unsmell for a long time.

I would go to a hairdressers.

TooFondOfBooks · 01/04/2024 11:46

@KimberleyClark
Glad it wasn’t just me 😶