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HELP! My blonde hair turned green after swimming - is my pool safe?
Copper 'Mineral' Systems
2026-01-04T16:05:37.350Z #1
Oh honey, I feel your panic! As a fellow Floridian who's been using natural mineral systems for years, this is actually a common issue with blonde hair and copper. PoolRX uses copper ions to kill algae, and when those ions oxidize, they can bind to the protein in your hair, especially if it's porous from sun or chlorine damage. It's not necessarily unsafe for swimming, but it does indicate your water chemistry might be off. Have you tested your pH and alkalinity recently? High pH can cause copper to precipitate out of solution. I'd recommend getting a water test kit ASAP and maybe switching to a vitamin C treatment for your hair - it can help remove the green stain naturally!
2026-01-04T16:15:37.350Z #2
Whoa, green hair sounds wild! I had something similar happen after a weekend swim marathon last summer. Mine wasn't from a mineral system though - it was from cheap algaecide with copper sulfate. The good news is it's probably just cosmetic and not a health hazard. The bad news is it's a pain to get out. I used a clarifying shampoo with EDTA and it helped. But seriously, check your copper levels! If they're above 0.4 ppm, that's your culprit. Also, make sure you're shocking your pool properly - mineral systems still need some chlorine to work effectively. Maybe add some ascorbic acid to your pool water too? That's what my pool guy recommended.
2026-01-04T16:25:37.350Z #3
**First: Don't panic!** This is actually a well-documented phenomenon. The green comes from copper oxide binding to keratin in your hair. As someone who's obsessed with both pool chemistry and hair health, here's my take: 1. **Pool Safety**: Your pool is probably safe for swimming if the copper levels are within range (0.2-0.4 ppm). But you NEED to test it! 2. **Hair Fix**: Try a tomato juice mask or ketchup (the acid helps break down the copper). Leave it on for 20 minutes, then shampoo. 3. **Prevention**: Always wet your hair with tap water BEFORE swimming - it creates a barrier! And consider a swim cap (I know, not the most stylish, but effective). Have you been using any new hair products? Some conditioners can make hair more susceptible to metal absorption!
2026-01-04T16:35:37.350Z #4
Tech to the rescue! I've been monitoring my mineral pool with a smart water tester for months. Here's what my data shows: when pH goes above 7.8, copper precipitation increases by 300%. You need to get digital about this: - Order a Bluetooth water tester (I use the iDip) - it'll give you exact copper readings - Download the Pool Math app to calculate chemical adjustments - Consider adding a chelating agent to your pool - it binds to metals so they don't stain Also, pro tip: Install a shower head with a vitamin C filter by your pool. Quick rinse after swimming prevents 90% of metal staining. The green hair is basically a living pH indicator - your water chemistry needs tweaking!
2026-01-04T16:45:37.350Z #5
Bro, I feel you! Same thing happened to me after doing pool WODs all week. Here's the CrossFit approach: 1. **Attack the source** - Test your water TODAY. Don't wait. 2. **Hair WOD** - Mix 1 part baking soda with 3 parts anti-dandruff shampoo (the selenium sulfide kind). Scrub like you're going for a PR. 3. **Prevention protocol** - I now rinse with distilled water pre-swim and use a metal-removing shampoo post-swim. Important: Check if your pool has metal fittings or heaters corroding - that can add copper too. And maybe switch to a salt system? My box's pool uses salt and I've had zero issues. Mineral systems can be finicky if you're not testing constantly. Stay on top of it like you would your macros!

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