How to Get Green Out of Blonde Hair

As someone who’s dabbled with blonde locks, I can confidently say that a Hulk-like green cast is one of the most annoying outcomes – and it tends to creep up right after an afternoon in the pool. Who wants to saunter poolside with a mane displaying horrendous shades of green?

While a green hue is common after spending time in the pool, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it. In fact, there are many ways to get rid of that infamous green shade after pretending to be a mermaid all day long. 

If you’re just crept out of the water, only to realize that your blonde locks feature an irregular (and undesirable) shade of green, you’re not alone. This is a common problem with common solutions – and that’s what we’re discussing today.

Say goodbye to “Grinch green” dilemmas using one of the techniques below!

How to Get Green Out of Blonde Hair – Six Ways

Although nobody wants to end up with a green mane, the good news is that there are plenty of ways to remedy the situation. And all of the techniques are super simple, likely utilizing ingredients and products you already have on hand. Let’s dive in!

1. Soak in White Vinegar and Baking Soda (Best for Green Tips)

White vinegar and baking soda are very versatile ingredients most people use daily. That said, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if you had plenty of these products in your kitchen cabinet.

Well, head to your kitchen and grab a large bowl, white vinegar, and baking soda. Then, do the following:

• Wash your hair as usual.
• Mix two cups of water with 1 cup of white vinegar.
• Place the tips of your hair in the mixture until all green parts are submerged.
• Allow the hair to soak in the vinegar and water mixture for two minutes.
• Add four tablespoons of baking soda to the mixture.
• Allow it to fizz, then soak for an additional two minutes.
• Rinse, dry, and enjoy!

2. Wash With Tomato Juice or Ketchup (Best for Whole Head)

Lots of people have tomato juice hiding somewhere in their kitchen – likely in the abyss that is the back of the pantry. Well, there’s finally an excellent use for it – washing green casts out of your blonde hair.

Don’t have any tomato juice? Don’t worry – you can use ketchup, too. Who knew everyone’s favorite condiment could be kryptonite for unsightly green hues on blonde hair? 

Whether you use tomato juice or ketchup, here’s how you can quickly get rid of green hues.

• Wash your hair as usual.
• Pour the tomato juice or ketchup onto your mane. Slather, so the juice or condiment is thoroughly incorporated into your whole head.
• Leave the ingredient on your hair for about three minutes.
• Rinse and repeat (if necessary).
• Once the green is gone, let your hair air dry and enjoy green-free strands once more!

3. Slather a Baking Soda and Water Mask (Best for Whole Head)

Yes, we’re mentioning baking soda again. Why? Because this handy ingredient can do just about anything, from making teeth whiter to cleaning children’s toys, and it costs less than a buck. That said, yes, it can work wonders on your green mane. 

Using baking soda as a hair mask to fight greens is a cinch. All you need to do is mix baking soda with water until it forms a paste. Then, apply it to your hair (paying extra close attention to the heavy green areas.)

Let the mask sit on your hair for about 20 minutes. Then, rinse and dry your hair as normal.

4. Use Conditioner or Coconut Oil (Best for Tips)

The tips of your locks are the most likely area where green hues will rear their ugly head. Are you currently dealing with this dilemma but don’t want to create mixtures like a mad scientist in your bathroom? Then this is the option for you.

It’s so simple, girls. Like, seriously. Life really doesn’t get much better than this.

Just apply conditioner (or coconut oil) to your troublesome areas. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing. You will likely need to repeat this application once or twice before all of the green is removed. 

5. Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar (Best for Whole Head)

Apple cider vinegar is loaded with plenty of acids. So much so that it can neutralize green tones, leaving you with green-free hair once more. And yes, this is another fantastic option for those on a budget. You can get a big thing of apple cider vinegar for relatively cheap!

Using apple cider vinegar to get rid of green hair is easy. All you need to do is mix your apple cider vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio, then rinse your mane with the mixture. 

6. Use Professional Products

Unfortunately, some DIY treatments just won’t do the trick. If you have a serious case of the blues – or should I say greens – then you’ll need to seek professional help, from a shampoo treatment, of course!

There are many top-notch products on the market that are specifically designed to combat the ugly green shade that’s so common after swimming. However, one of the crowd favorites is the Malibu-C Swimmers Wellness Collection.

I (and many others) recommend the wellness collection because it comes with everything you’ll need to stop green shades dead in their tracks while also keeping your mane in tip-top shape. It comes with a shampoo, conditioner, and four swimmer wellness packets to cover all your bases!

Follow the directions on your professional product for the best results. Most are pretty simple: wash your hair with the shampoo and use the conditioner afterward. Then, let your hair air dry. Easy-peasy!

How to Prevent Green Hues in Blonde Hair

I’m always in the market for preventing misfortunes rather than remedying them after they occur. How about you? If so, then you need to follow these simple tips and tricks to ward off green hues in the first place. (Your time, money, and mane will thank you later.)

1. Wet Your Hair Before Swimming

One of the best things you can do to prevent greenness is to wet your locks before swimming. All you need to do is rinse with regular water – no products necessary. Dry hair absorbs more readily than wet hair, so wetting your locks will ensure they don’t absorb too many chemicals and turn green.

2. Put ACV or Conditioner on Your Mane

While wetting your hair is enough to fend off the bulk of green hues, you can add an extra layer of protection by slathering some apple cider vinegar or your favorite conditioner onto your strands. Simply apply and hop into the pool!

3. Wash Your Hair When You’re Done in the Pool

My second best tip? Wash your hair immediately after you get out of the pool. You don’t want to give the chemicals extra opportunity to soak into your strands. That said, rush off to the showers before you continue with the rest of your daily activities.

4. Don’t Get Your Hair Wet

The last tip I can share is to, well, don’t get your hair in the pool in the first place. Consider clipping your hair up or putting it into a high ponytail or bun. You can also wear a shower cap if you’re concerned your strands will fall into the water.

FAQs

Green hair is not your friend, and now you know how to get rid of it – and, more importantly, prevent it from happening in the first place. You’ve learned a lot already, but I wanted to share a few of these commonly asked questions so you can learn more. 

How do you get green dye out of blonde hair?

If you put green dye in your blonde hair but don’t love it anymore, your best option is to bleach or dye it out. While you can try using a clarifying shampoo or a baking soda mixture, you will likely need to color it out – especially if it’s relatively new green hair.

Will purple shampoo fix green hair?

Purple shampoo will not fix green hair. If you want to tone green hair, you will need to use a red toning shampoo. This remedy is more often used for blonde hair that’s turned green from other causes, not the pool, but you can certainly try it!

Will clarifying shampoo remove green tint?

Clarifying shampoo will remove green tints from blonde hair. So, if you notice an unwanted green cast on your mane, go ahead and use your favorite clarifying shampoo to eliminate it ASAP.

Getting Green Out of Blonde Hair is Simple!

Although green hair can be a funky way to unleash your inner punk rock queen, it’s not always desired. Luckily, there are many DIY and professional ways to get rid of green casts after swimming. Use tomato juice, vinegar, baking soda, or apple cider vinegar, and watch the green wash away!

Do you struggle with green hues after swimming? How do you fix it? Share below!