Green Tip for removing chlorine from hair using baking soda

Green Tip Tuesday is back!!

It’s been far too long, but now with summer winding down a bit, I can get back into my routine (which is, in fact, usually anything but routine!)

Might have been better to share this tip at the beginning of summer, but “better late than never”I always say.

If you’re like me, and you love to swim, and if it’s in a chlorinated pool more times than not, then you know about the way chlorine can affect your hair.

I have light hair that is super fine, but also super thick. One thing I can’t stand is to have the smell of chlorine permeating from my head hours after I’ve gotten out of the pool.

So, what do I do?

Well, I always shower post swimming and I keep a small empty bottle in the shower that I mix 1/2 teaspoon of good ol’ baking soda and a pint of water in. I then use this mixture to rinse my hair. Sometimes rubbing it in my hair well and leaving it in for a few minutes.

You definitely want to rinse it out completely as you don’t want a gritty feeling when running your fingers through your hair later (as it can be if you don’t rinse it well like when using the no ‘poo method too).

To add some extra shine to your hair, you could also mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of water – in that same bottle left in the shower – and use this as a rinse for your hair.

Aaahh fresh, clean hair with no chlorine scent!

BUT, not only do I have an issue with keeping my hair from smelling like chlorine, honestly my skin can emit the smell for hours after swimming, too. I’m not sure if this is because I have fair, sensitive skin or if it happens to everyone.

Again, I use my lovely bag of baking soda to help relieve this issue.

I just mix baking soda, water and soap in my hand and rub and scrub (not to roughly, mind you) and that alone seems to get the chlorine scent out of my skin.

If I have time for a bath though (which is preferable) then the problem is solved by simply adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to a full bath and taking a nice long soak.

Want to make the bath a little more “special”? Mix 2 1/2 cups of baking soda, 2 cups cream of tartar and 1/2 cup cornstarch to create bubbling bath salts. Keep these stored in a covered container by your tub and add 1/2 cup per bath. Aaaahhhh!

bubble bath with rubber ducky

Want to scent your bath a bit? Add about 7 drops of your favorite essential oil to a full tub of water (add before you get in and add fewer drops if you have sensitive skin).

My daytime favorite scent is sweet orange. The evenings are strictly for lavender or chamomille.

essential oils

Got any other tips you’d like to share? I’d sure love to read them in the comments below and share them with my readers too.

Happy Green Tip Tuesday – Be Healthy, Be GREEN!

Lita