• Question: HELLO THERE ALL YOU SCIENTISTS :) WHY DO BLONDE PEOPLES HAIR GO GREEN WHEN THEY GO ASWIMMING IN CHLORINE???????????????????????? SEE YA LATER :D

    Asked by hannahcurrie123 to Damien, Rachael, Simon, Suzi, Tim on 16 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Rachael Ward

      Rachael Ward answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      Hi @hannahcurrie123

      I think chlorine has been given a bad reputation and it it not chlorine alone that causes this. Instead it is copper – metal used in piping in swimming pools that causes the problem. The chlorine makes it worse by helping to oxidise the copper so there is more in the water.

      This copper has a slight green tint and so is absorbed into your hair when youre in copper containing water. All hair colours absorb it but it shows up more on blond hair because its lighter and has less pigment. Bleaching your hair makes it more absorbent so it takes up more of the copper and can become greener than other hair types.

      I think you can buy special swimming shampoo which has a different pH from normal ones and is meant to stop the green copper precipitate from forming on your hair.

      I hope this answers your question

    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      Hi @hannahcurrie123
      My hair never went green when I dyed it blonde!!
      I used to date a boy who CHOSE to dye his hair green (it didn’t look very good)

      🙂

    • Photo: Tim Fosker

      Tim Fosker answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hi @hannahcurrie123

      What a great answer by @Rachael. I didn’t know that. I’ve had all my hair shaved off since the picture on I’m a scientist was taken so I have no hair to dye any colour 🙂

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