14 Best Chlorine-Removal Shampoos You Absolutely Need if You Swim
You don’t wanna mess with chlorine build-up.
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I have always been an extra, beauty-loving lil weirdo. So as a teenager, I started coating my hair in deep conditioner before going in the pool to avoid drying out my highlighted blonde hair. Sure, it made my hair kinda soft, but it didn't actually solve the problem. In retrospect, I wish I could have been the one to introduce my bb self to chlorine shampoo—the quickest, easiest, and legit best way to de-chlorinate my hair after a swim sesh.
You might already know what can happen to your hair at the hands of chlorine: dry, brittle, stringy hair that's gunked with build-up. Basically, chlorine can collect on your hair almost like a mineral deposit; to counteract this, chlorine removal shampoos contain chelating agents—i.e., strong clarifying ingredients that can dissolve these stubborn compounds. The most effective chlorine removers are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium citrate, and high-dose citric acid, but gentler options (like apple cider vinegar and vitamin C) can also help clarify hair. Overwhelmed? Don’t worry, I personally tested and reviewed the 14 best chlorine shampoos myself.
Our top picks for the best chlorine removal shampoos in 2024:
Ready to bring your pool hair back to life? Keep reading for the 14 best chlorine shampoos based on my personal testing, along with info from experts on what chlorine damage does to hair, which ingredients remove chlorine from hair, and how to best prepare your hair for the pool to help avoid damage in the first place.
Pros
- Surprisingly moisturizing for a clarifying shampoo
Cons
- Could be too heavy on oily or fine hair types
If I had this shampoo back in my swim days, I’d have saved a lot of money on keratin treatments to fix my dry, damaged swimmer’s hair. The formula contains a powerful mix of ingredients to help remove chlorine, including clarifying surfactants and chelating EDTA. But unlike other drying clarifiers, this one helps keep my hair soft with shea butter, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and castor oil. So when I already have a brittle head of hair, it helps nourish and smooth it while washing.
- Key ingredients: Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate (sulfate-free clarifier), disodium EDTA, sunflower oil, coconut oil, shea butter oil
- Size: 7.8 oz.
Glowing customer review: “Hard water was ruining my hair, and this not only has removed the buildup on my scalp, but made my hair so soft and not weighed down that I'm getting curls and nice waves again."
Pros
- Filled with a slew of chelating ingredients
Cons
- You'll need to follow up with a deep conditioning treatment because it'll dry out your hair if not
Say a warm hello to my all-time favorite clarifying shampoo that works for every hair type: the Ouai Detox Shampoo. It's formulated with apple cider vinegar to remove product build-up (FYI: it's filled with chemical exfoliant malic acid). Plus, it leaves hair shiny and smooth, because ACV can also help to balance the pH of your scalp's acid mantle. Think that was it? Nope, this shampoo also contains hydrolyzed keratin, which repairs and strengthens your hair. *Drops mic, adds to cart.*
- Key ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, hydrolyzed keratin, EDTA
- Size: 10 oz.
Glowing customer review: "This shampoo is my new FAVE! It smells amazing, and you can’t smell any vinegar—best of all, it keeps my hair from turning green!"
Pros
- Formula is sulfate-free so it's less drying and stripping
Cons
- Some testers weren't huge fans of the herbal scent
I get it: Chlorine exposure is already harsh on color-treated hair, so why bring stripping sulfates into the equation, too? This cleanser is equipped with two chelators (hi, EDTA, and citric acid), along with a sulfate-free clarifier to cut through chlorine and minerals without messing with your hair color or shine.
- Key ingredients: EDTA, citric acid, panthenol, sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate (sulfate-free clarifier)
- Size: 8.45 oz.
Glowing customer review: "I have fine hair that's prone to product build-up and tends to get oily at the scalp. I use a small amount of this about once or twice a week and it keeps my hair fresh in between washes longer."
Pros
- Works to eliminate the "green tint" those with blonde or lighter hair colors may develop
Cons
- Testers say that you have to use quite a lot in order for it to properly work
This bb is an oldie but a goodie—and was actually the *exact* product that my mom had me using back during my kiddie swim team days. The hero ingredient of this shampoo? Citric acid, a chelator that works to dissolve chlorine build-up each time you rinse. Plus, this formula also helps relieve symptoms of dandruff.
- Key ingredients: Citric acid, aloe vera, vitamin A, pro-vitamin B5
- Size: 8.5 oz.
Glowing customer review: "This was a desperate end-of-the-summer purchase and it quickly put some softness and life back into my daughter's hair. After a summer of chlorine exposure, this made her hair combable and manageable again."
Pros
- Uses very strong cleansers to remove build-up
Cons
- Way too drying for curly hair
No, you don't understand, I'm obsessed with this clarifying shampoo when I need to get down to business clearing up build-up. It’s strong and effective af—I'm talkin' three types of sulfates and two forms of EDTA that break up even the strongest chlorine and mineral build-up. I massage this through my hair as needed (no more than once every few weeks, max), and layer on a rich conditioner followed by a moisturizing leave-in to help offset the dryness. It's pretty strong, but my oily hair can take it (and tbh, loves it).
- Key ingredients: Sodium lauryl sulfate, EDTA, citric acid, mango seed butter, sunflower seed oil, avocado oil, castor seed oil
- Size: 10 oz. or 33.8 oz.
Glowing customer review: “I just spent a week in Vegas. Between the hotel's shower water, the chlorinated pool, and the sweat and sunscreen, my hair was a hot mess when I got home: sticky and disgusting feeling, even after washing it daily while I was there. I needed something to really help deep clean my hair, and this did the job!”
Pros
- Doesn’t leave hair feeling stripped
Cons
- Can lead to protein build-up if used too often
I get it: The thought of lathering up your dry, chlorine-gunked hair with a harsh, stripping shampoo isn’t exactly appealing. Which is why I love this sulfate-free shampoo, which contains a mix of chelators (citric acid and two types of EDTA), clarifiers (like two strong, sulfate-free detergents), and moisturizers (hi panthenol, aloe vera, jojoba oil, and moringa seed oil) to keep hair clean and soft. It’s also got a dose of proteins to help repair damaged strands each time you use it.
- Key ingredients: EDTA, citric acid, panthenol, aloe vera, jojoba oil, moringa seed oil
- Size: 12 oz.
Glowing customer review: “I have dry, damaged hair. I'm not even kidding: my co-workers, my husband, and even my kids noticed the drastic change. My hair went from being dry and brittle to soft and, overall, it feels so much healthier.”
Pros
- Nozzle-tip = easy to apply directly to scalp
Cons
- Some testers weren’t a fan of the apple cider vinegar scent
If you’re looking for a simple rinse you can easily douse your hair in after swimming, try this bb from DpHue. It has a base of apple cider vinegar, which gently breaks down build-up, including chlorine. Squeeze the formula across your wet scalp (it has a water-like consistency, so go slow), massage it through your hair, then rinse. You’ll be left with softer, cleaner hair, and a v happy scalp.
- Key ingredients: Apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, argan oil, EDTA, citric acid
- Size: 8.5 oz.
Glowing customer review: “We have hard water with a fair amount of chlorine, and I find that this ACV rinse seems to counteract that drying quality without being moisturizing to the point that it weighs my hair down. It leaves my hair soft and bouncy.”
Pros
- Charcoal works great to soak up excess oils
Cons
- Can be very drying, so you'll need to follow up with a moisturizing conditioner
If you struggle to find a chlorine removal shampoo that doesn’t make your curly hair feel like straw, you’ve gotta try this formula from Priyanka Chopra’s line. It’s not exactly “gentle” (it has somewhat drying clarifiers), but it does remove build-up and chlorine residue with a mix of charcoal and EDTA (the gold standard in mineral removal). Because it’s a bit drying, you’ll want to use it once a week, max, and make sure to follow with a deep conditioner to keep your ends from drying out.
- Key ingredients: Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate (sulfate-free clarifier), charcoal
- Size: 11 oz.
Glowing customer review: “I was in search of a shampoo that would get rid of the chlorine water that would stay in my hair ever after showering. My hair was so crunchy and dry. I stumbled upon this at my Ulta store, and it has worked wonders! My hair feels so soft and refreshed. I couldn't be happier.”
Pros
- Contains gentle cleansers that won’t strip hair
- Relieves itching, according to testers
Cons
- Some reviewers say the tea tree scent is overwhelming
If you struggle with dandruff and you're a swimmer with chlorine build-up, you need a shampoo that tackles both issues without over-drying your hair. Enter: This Dandruff Relief Charcoal Shampoo by Briogeo that's filled with chelators like sodium citrate and sodium gluconate, as well as activated charcoal; they all work together to remove chlorine and wash away build-up without stripping your hair (tysm, panthenol and coconut oil). Then, the high dose of salicylic acid comes into play by exfoliating your scalp to get rid of flakes.
- Key ingredients: Sodium citrate, salicylic acid, lactic acid, charcoal, panthenol, coconut oil
- Size: 8.4 oz.
Glowing customer review: “I was constantly switching hair care brands until I came across Briogeo, and I think I’m done with my search. My hair feels so healthy, and it has a shine to it that it hasn’t had in many years.”
Pros
- Less than $10 on Amazon
Cons
- Contains drying cleansers, so you'll need a good moisturizing conditioner
If you're looking for a v affordable chlorine-removal shampoo, you can't go wrong with this drugstore formula. After a long week of swimming, strip all of the chlorine and mineral build-up from your hair with this sulfate- and EDTA-based cleanser. It’s pretty harsh, so only use it once per week—and load up on conditioner after rinsing—but it's inexpensive, effective, and worth having in your shower when you need it.
- Key ingredients: Sodium laureth sulfate, EDTA, citric acid, aloe vera
- Size: 7 oz.
Glowing customer review: “I swim two hours a day, and the chlorine smell was always in my hair. Additionally, it had faded my hair from red to blonde. This product solved all the problems.”
Pros
- Reviewers say it removes build-up in one wash
Cons
- Should only be used once a week (contains drying sulfates)
Growing up as a swimmer, I had this shampoo in my bathroom at all times as a weekly treatment to get rid of chlorine residue and build-up, thanks to the fact that it’s loaded with surfactants to cut through chlorine and minerals. So, if you spend tons of time in the pool as I did, I highly recommend you lather up with this clarifying shampoo once a week. Just make sure to follow it up with a deep conditioner, since it can be a lil harsh.
- Key ingredients: Sodium laureth sulfate, panthenol, jojoba extract, aloe vera, EDTA, citric acid
- Size: 10.1 oz.
Glowing customer review: “My blonde hair will turn green in a chlorine pool, and this will take that green right out. It also helps get the hard water and brassiness out too.”
Pros
- Uses vitamin C to reduce chlorine build-up
Cons
- Might be too drying for curly hair types
If you spend all your time in the pool, stockpile this chelating shampoo with EDTA and citric acid that’ll effectively dissolve chlorine residue each time you rinse. It’s not as harsh as other chlorine removal shampoos, but it’s not exactly moisturizing either—so make sure to alternate it with a less-intense formula (like an ACV rinse) throughout the week and layer on a deep conditioner every shower to keep your hair healthy.
- Key ingredients: EDTA, citric acid, malic acid, vitamin C
- Size: 33.8 oz.
Glowing customer review: “I teach swimming, so I'm always in a pool. This shampoo keeps my hair blonde and isn't harsh, plus it has a very beachy coconut smell, which is very nice. The price is also great, and it's really the only brand I ever use.”
Pros
- Pump bottle is easy to use in the shower
Cons
- Can be too heavy for fine hair
If you have 4c hair, your post-swim routine should include washing with this sulfate-free cleanser. It won’t break down chlorine as effectively as a true chlorine-removal shampoo (so you’ll need to suds up with one at the end of your swim-filled vacay), but it’ll help get rid of surface residue with gentle detergents while keeping hair soft with jojoba oil and panthenol.
- Key ingredients: Sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate (sulfate-free clarifier), citric acid, jojoba oil, panthenol
- Size: 14 oz.
Glowing customer review: “I have a natural 4a-4c coily hair type. I struggle to find shampoos that won't strip my hair but still clean well enough to remove old hair products. When I use an overly drying shampoo, I can feel my hair start to tangle and knot immediately. Not with this Adwoa shampoo, which actually felt like I was using a sudsy conditioner. The slip and moisture were great.”
Pros
- Gets rid of green hues from chlorine build-up
Cons
- Some reviewers say the bottle leaks
For all my blondes who also are terrified of the pool turning their hair green, I gotchu. This shampoo works to counteract green hues and remove chlorine with vitamin C, EDTA, and sodium gluconate, while its rice proteins will help strengthen hair and mitigate some chlorine damage. Just make sure to follow with a hydrating conditioner (and this rinse-out treatment if you're dealing with extra build-up, like from hard water) to help keep your hair soft and shiny.
- Key ingredients: sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate (sulfate-free clarifier), EDTA, vitamin C, rice proteins
- Size: 9 oz.
Glowing customer review: “My daughter has very fine, curly, long hair, and it tangles very easily. The chlorine pools at her swim lessons make her hair brittle, slightly green-tinted, chlorine-scented, and more tangled. When I use this to wash her hair, it really removes most of the remnants of chlorine and leaves hair silky and soft.”
What does chlorine do to your hair?
Chlorine—a chemical element commonly used for disinfection—raises your hair’s pH, making it “more brittle and susceptible to breakage,” says trichologist Shab Caspara.
Over time, chlorine can result in crunchy, dry hair, says hairstylist Marty Harper. Chlorine can also give lighter-colored hair (whether bleached or natural) a green or gray tint, while chlorine build-up on curly hair can leave it stretched out, brittle, and lank.
How do you get chlorine out of your hair?
To get chlorine out of your hair, you should immediately rinse your hair with clean water after swimming (whether that’s dumping a bottle of water over your head, rinsing it in the sink, or hopping in a quick indoor or outdoor shower), especially if you have a protective style in.
But water alone won’t remove chlorine, which is why you should wash your hair as soon as possible with a clarifying shampoo to avoid “further oxidation, damage, and discoloration,” says Caspara.
What shampoo ingredients remove chlorine?
To remove chlorine from hair, look for shampoos that contain ingredients that can lift off build-up from chlorine, like sulfates (see: sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate) or chelating ingredients like EDTA or sodium citrate, which bind to and break down minerals like chlorine. Though sulfates and chelators are most effective at removing chlorine from hair, they’re also incredibly drying for regular use—which isn’t ideal if you’re in the pool multiple times per week.
So for a somewhat gentler alternative to use on a daily basis, Caspara recommends looking for a shampoo filled with natural clarifiers, like apple cider vinegar, activated charcoal, and vitamin C (ascorbic acid), all of which can help break down chlorine build-up. Still, they’re not always the most effective, especially if you’re consistently in the water, which is why you should plan to wash with a “harsher” chelating shampoo, like Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo or Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo, every other week to keep your hair free of chlorine deposits.
How do you get rid of chlorine-damaged hair?
To get rid of chlorine damage to your hair, you should focus on repairing your hair with moisturizing, protein-filled treatments. “Chlorine can break down the protein bonds that keep your hair healthy and moisturized,” says Caspara, which is why she recommends using a bond-building treatment or a protein-based deep conditioner once a week to help repair brittle sections of hair.
But don’t forget moisture as well: Too much protein without enough moisture will result in even more damage. So make sure to saturate your hair in a protein-free deep conditioner (I love Davines’s The Renaissance Circle Mask or TGIN’s Honey Miracle Mask) during every shower to offset the drying effects of chlorine and chlorine removal shampoos. Seriously—this step is vital.
How do you prepare your hair for chlorine?
Before going into a pool, you can prepare your hair for chlorine exposure and also mitigate some of the damage by hydrating your hair first. “It’s important to create a barrier of moisture between your hair and the chlorine,” says Harper, which you can do by saturating your hair with a rich conditioner before swimming. Caspara recommends using a silicone-filled conditioner, which “can create a barrier on your hair, making it more waterproof and preventing chlorine from penetrating the cuticles.”
You can also spray on a vitamin C-based leave-in (which will neutralize some of the chlorine) or smooth on a moisturizing leave-in conditioner before swimming to help reduce some dryness and create that physical barrier between your hair and the chlorine. But if you’re in a pinch (or have braids or another protective style in), you can just wet your hair with clean water before swimming to limit some chlorine absorption.
How to choose the best chlorine removal shampoo:
Look for moisturizing ingredients
Because your hair can feel stripped after swimming in chlorine and sudsing up with a chlorine removal shampoo, make sure the formula you’re using has some moisturizing properties too, says Harper. Look for shampoos that contain moisturizing butters (like cocoa butter and shea butter) and protective oils (ahem, jojoba, argan, and coconut oils).
And if your chlorine removal shampoo still isn't moisturizing enough, try this trick: Massage and rinse conditioner through your hair first, roots to tips, then suds up with your shampoo. The conditioner will help create a tiny buffer so your hair doesn't feel quite as stripped. Just make sure to condition your ends as normal, too, after rinsing out your shampoo.
Consider how often you swim
The amount of time you spend in the pool should dictate what type of chlorine removal shampoo you use and how often you use it. If you’re a regular swimmer who’s in the pool daily, you’ll need a shampoo with a strong, EDTA-based cleanser once or twice a week to remove built-up chlorine. On the days you don’t suds up with a chlorine removal shampoo, you’ll still need to clean your hair with more than just water to dissolve chlorine. Look for a sulfate-free cleanser containing apple cider vinegar or vitamin C, both of which can help neutralize chlorine without feeling too stripping.
If you only hop in the pool once a week (or once a month) max, don't worry about alternating between two different chelating shampoos. Just rinse with an EDTA-filled chlorine removal shampoo after each swim session to get your hair back to a clean, neutral state, then continue shampooing and conditioning as usual until your next swim.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Ruby was the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram.
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