Best Swimmers Shampoo – Top Picks & Guide

Do your hair and skin feel dry and tight after a long swim? Chlorine is a champion at keeping pools clean, but it’s a real villain for your hair. That harsh, brittle feeling isn’t just annoying; it can actually damage your locks over time. Finding the right swimmer’s shampoo feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. You see so many bottles promising to “remove chlorine,” but how do you know which one truly works without stripping your hair of its natural moisture?

We know the struggle. You want clean hair without the straw-like texture afterward. That’s why we dove deep into the world of specialized swimmer shampoos. This guide cuts through the marketing jargon. We will break down exactly what ingredients you need and which ones to avoid.

By the end of this post, you will confidently know how to choose the best shampoo to neutralize chlorine and keep your hair soft and healthy. Get ready to ditch the dryness and welcome happy, swim-ready hair!

Top Swimmers Shampoo Recommendations

Bestseller No. 1
Ultra Swim Chlorine Removal & Hard Water Treatment Moisturizing Shampoo, 7 Ounce
  • Shampoo for Swimmers: This shampoo gently removes chlorine and chlorine odor, and prevents damage to hair; It also helps remove copper deposits and other oxidized metals that can cause lighter colored hair to take on a greenish cast
  • Gentle Formula: This shampoo can be used after every swim, even if your hair is chemically treated, colored, permed or relaxed; Leaves hair smelling fresh and feeling clean after each shampoo; Also great for hard water with high mineral content
  • Nourish and Condition: Formulated with Vitamin E and aloe to nourish and condition your hair; Use this hydrating shampoo after every swim to counteract the effects of chlorine and prevent dry, brittle hair
  • Manage Tangles: Enjoy a day at the pool without all the tangles and "pool hair"; Ultra Swim removes chlorine’s bond, making hair soft, smooth, and super manageable
  • Kid Friendly: This ultra gentle formula is safe for children and gentle enough to use every day; Pair it with Ultra Swim Conditioner for manageable, soft, healthy hair
SaleBestseller No. 2
UltraSwim Dynamic Duo Repair Shampoo and Conditioner, 7 fl. Oz.
  • Product Type:Beauty
  • Item Package Dimension:3.0 " L X3.0 " W X 9.0 " H
  • Item Package Weight:1.0 lbs
  • Country Of Origin: United States
  • Ultra Swim is the shampoo made for swimmers. It gently removes harmful chlorine to prevent damaged, dry and discolored hair
Bestseller No. 3
Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Shampoo and Conditioner + Hair Mask Summer Essentials Kit - Adults & Kids Clarifying, Moisturizing, Shine Restoring Hair Care - Protects from Pool Chlorine & Copper, 6 Ct
  • Chlorine Shampoo for Swimmers & Conditioner Collection for Dry Hair - This dry hair shampoo and conditioner set for damaged hair is perfect for all hair types exposed to pool chemicals or ocean water, as it removes damage & impurities caused by chlorine and other minerals. A swim hair protection duo that gently, yet effectively keeps hair tangle-free and replenishes vital moisture for radiant shine & maximum manageability
  • Antioxidant & Plant-Based Protein Ingredients - This textured hair shampoo and conditioner collection is formulated with vegan wellness ingredients like allantoin, provitamin B5, flax protein, and macadamia oil. A hair anti-breakage combo that acts as a dual hair moisturizer for dry hair damaged by pool or ocean water. It's about time to deeply hydrate your hair from the root with this shampoo and hair conditioner for damaged dry hair. These hair care products for swimmers will get the job done
  • Moisturizing Conditioning for Dry Hair - Both swimmers wellness shampoo and conditioner will restore texture from chlorine, copper, and other harsh water minerals. This swim cap conditioning routine is an essential to your textured hair products in order to prevent dry, brittle hair while keeping it tangle-free
  • How to Use - Apply shampoo to wet hair & massage into a lather. Rinse. Pour Swimmers remedy crystals across wet palm & rub hands together, adding water to dissolve. Apply & scrunch throughout hair, then allow to remain for 5 min* and rinse. Reapply shampoo, rinse. Follow with swimmers conditioner from mid-lengths to ends. Lather & rinse. Use collection weekly. *when using with white or non-pigmented hair, shampoo an additional time to ensure the crystalized vitamins are removed from the hair
  • Vegan Hair Care Wellness - Make your hair glow with this shampoo conditioner set for chlorine damage removal, which indeed... is infused with protein for hair! Malibu C is 100% vegan, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free & plant-based
Bestseller No. 4
Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Clarifying Shampoo for Chlorine & Hair Build Up - Adults & Kids Swim Shampoo to Help Protect Against Pool Element Damage, Retain Moisture, Restore Shine & Texture (9 oz)
  • Remove, Retain and Restore - While swimming in the pool may be great for your body, it's terrible for your hair! This sulfate free shampoo is the ultimate swimmers' remedy to bring your crunchy, brittle hair back to life. Say goodbye to unwanted pool elements including chlorine and copper while retaining your hair's natural oils for maximum moisture and shine.
  • Antioxidant & Plant-Based Ingredients - This hair shampoo is formulated with good-for-you ingredients such as Allantoin, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Flax Protein, and works to restore your damaged texture while defending against aggressive oxidizers. A swimmers one-stop-shop for hair care.
  • Gentle and Effective - Experience healthier, full-bodied tresses after using our chlorine removal shampoo. Not only does it remove green hair after swims, it also provides you with moisturized, shiny hair.
  • How to Use - Apply the shampoo to wet hair and rinse thoroughly. For a full hair detox, follow with our Hard Water remedy and Swimmers Wellness conditioner.
  • The Malibu C Perspective - As trailblazers of wellness solutions in the beauty industry since 1985, the mission statement of Malibu Wellness is tried and true: to solve problems for every human being using nature-inspired, patented technologies. Malibu C is a professional hair care brand, creating hair products for women and men based in science, not marketing hype.
Bestseller No. 5
Paul Mitchell Shampoo Three, Clarifying Shampoo, Cleanses Impurities + Removes Chlorine, For All Hair Types, Great For Swimmers, 10.14 fl. oz.
  • Helps eliminate swimmer’s “chlorine green”
  • Helps wash away impurities and dulling buildup
  • Gives hair a boost of strength
Bestseller No. 6
Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Clarifying Shampoo for Chlorine & Hair Build Up - Adults & Kids Swim Shampoo to Help Protect Against Pool Element Damage, Retain Moisture, Restore Shine & Texture (33.8oz)
  • Remove, Retain and Restore - While swimming in the pool may be great for your body, it's terrible for your hair! This sulfate free shampoo is the ultimate swimmers' remedy to bring your crunchy, brittle hair back to life. Say goodbye to unwanted pool elements including chlorine and copper while retaining your hair's natural oils for maximum moisture and shine.
  • Antioxidant & Plant-Based Ingredients - This hair shampoo is formulated with good-for-you ingredients such as Allantoin, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Flax Protein, and works to restore your damaged texture while defending against aggressive oxidizers. A swimmers one-stop-shop for hair care.
  • Gentle and Effective - Experience healthier, full-bodied tresses after using our chlorine removal shampoo. Not only does it remove green hair after swims, it also provides you with moisturized, shiny hair.
  • How to Use - Apply the shampoo to wet hair and rinse thoroughly. For a full hair detox, follow with our Hard Water remedy and Swimmers Wellness conditioner.
  • The Malibu C Perspective - As trailblazers of wellness solutions in the beauty industry since 1985, the mission statement of Malibu Wellness is tried and true: to solve problems for every human being using nature-inspired, patented technologies. Malibu C is a professional hair care brand, creating hair products for women and men based in science, not marketing hype.
Bestseller No. 7
SoCozy Kids Swim 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash - 3-in-1 Combo Pool Shampoo & Conditioner for Swimmers - Salt & Chlorine Removing Activated Charcoal
  • Cleans Hair & Repairs: Unlike other chlorine shampoos or conditioners, SoCozy's 3-in-1 Swim combo gently removes unsightly green tones without stripping hair of essential oils; Provides added moisture to restore hydration for softer, silkier hair
  • Ultra Moisturizing Ingredients: Our gentle 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash is made with your family in mind; Carefully formulated for kids and toddlers with premium key ingredients such as Activated Charcoal, Jojoba Oil & Coffee Seed Extract
  • Salon Quality Formula: Every SoCozy product is expertly formulated with Cozy Friedman's expertise; Cozy is a renowned hair care expert and salon owner with over 20 year experience with kids hair
  • No Nasty Ingredients: Apply our multi-use after swim shampoo, conditioner & wash with confidence; This kids shampoo & conditioner for swimmers is free of Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, Formaldehyde, Synthetic Colors or Dyes & Propylene Glycol
  • Convenient & Travel Friendly: Pack all of your kids toiletry needs for your next getaway with one hassle-free bottle of our easy, 3-in-1 formula
Bestseller No. 8
TRISWIM Chlorine Removal Shampoo 8.5oz | Removes Chlorine, Bromine, Hard Water Minerals & Saltwater| Hydrates & Restores Hair | Safe for Color-Treated Hair | Lime + Tropical Mango Scent
  • TRISWIM works to neutralize and remove Chlorine, Bromine, Salt Water, Hard Water Minerals, and other chemical odors from your hair with the TRISWIM Shampoo; Our Shampoo will heal and soothe dry hair and leave your hair feeling refreshed and healthy
  • Benefits: TRISWIM’s Shampoo hydrates and moisturizers swimmers and active individuals’ hair with Aloe Vera, Vitamin A and Pro Vitamin B5; This is the perfect shampoo individuals who seek to build stronger and healthier hair
  • For All Swimmers: Daily swim workouts, exercising in the water or lounging around by the pool or at the beach? TRISWIM, the Official Swimmers’ Hair & Skin Care product for United States Masters Swimming The shampoo will keep your hair Chlorine and Salt Water free, healthy and soft
  • Healthy Alternative: The Lime and Mango scent appeals to men, women and kids; Our shampoo smells great and is made paraben-free, gluten-free and without animal-testing; TRISWIM has protected both animals and swimmers of all ages since 2004
  • Ingredients: TRISWIM’s Chlorine Removal Shampoo contains Chamomile and Watercress that helps relieve symptoms of dandruff and itchy, dry scalps; The specifically-designed formula both protects and heals swimmers hair from harsh drying elements

Choosing the Best Swimmer’s Shampoo: Your Essential Buying Guide

Swimming is fun! Chlorine and saltwater keep pools clean. But these chemicals can dry out your hair. They can also make your hair color fade fast. Swimmer’s shampoo is special. It cleans out those harsh things. This guide helps you pick the right bottle for your hair.

Key Features to Look For

Good swimmer’s shampoo does more than just clean. Look for these important things:

  • Chlorine Removal: This is the most important job. The shampoo must actively bind to and rinse out chlorine.
  • Color Protection: If you color your hair, find formulas that say “color-safe.” These gently clean without stripping the dye.
  • Moisturizing Agents: Since chlorine dries hair, look for ingredients that add moisture back in, like aloe vera or natural oils.
  • pH Balance: Hair prefers a slightly acidic environment. Shampoos balanced closer to a 5.5 pH level are gentler on your scalp and hair shaft.

Important Materials Inside the Bottle

What’s inside matters greatly. Check the ingredient list carefully.

Ingredients That Help
  • Chelating Agents: These ingredients (sometimes listed as EDTA or specific natural acids) grab onto mineral deposits and chlorine. This lets the water wash them away easily.
  • Natural Oils: Coconut oil, jojoba oil, or argan oil help replenish the natural moisture that swimming takes away.
  • Vitamin E and Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5): These vitamins strengthen the hair and help it hold onto hydration.
Ingredients That Reduce Quality (What to Avoid)
  • Harsh Sulfates (like SLS): Strong detergents strip too much oil. They make dry hair even drier. They can also break down hair color quickly.
  • Heavy Silicones: Some heavy silicones can build up on the hair shaft. This buildup can actually trap chlorine residue underneath, making the problem worse over time.

Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

The effectiveness of the shampoo changes based on its formula and how you use it.

Quality Boosters

A high-quality swimmer’s shampoo uses gentle surfactants (the cleaning agents). It focuses on neutralizing chlorine rather than just masking it. Shampoos with higher concentrations of chelating agents generally work better, especially for people who swim daily.

Quality Reducers

Low-quality formulas often rely on strong perfumes to cover up the chlorine smell. They might feel very slippery in the shower, but that slipperiness might be from cheap additives, not true conditioning. If your hair still feels stiff or smells like chlorine after washing, the shampoo is not doing its job well.

User Experience and Use Cases

How you use the shampoo changes your results.

Before and After the Pool

Smart swimmers use swimmer’s shampoo twice. First, wet your hair thoroughly with fresh water *before* you get in the pool. This fills the hair shaft with clean water, so it absorbs less chlorinated water. Second, use the specialized shampoo immediately after swimming. Don’t wait until your next shower later that day.

Best For…
  • Competitive Swimmers: These users need the strongest chlorine removal daily. Look for professional-grade formulas.
  • Recreational Swimmers: If you swim once or twice a week, a good moisturizing swimmer’s shampoo is perfect for maintenance.
  • Curly or Color-Treated Hair: These hair types suffer the most damage. Prioritize moisturizing and pH-balanced options.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Swimmer’s Shampoo

Q: Is swimmer’s shampoo different from regular clarifying shampoo?

A: Yes. Clarifying shampoos remove general product buildup. Swimmer’s shampoos specifically target chlorine and pool chemicals, which regular shampoos often leave behind.

Q: How often should I use swimmer’s shampoo?

A: If you swim every day, use it after every session. If you swim once a week, use it just after your swim session.

Q: Can I use my regular conditioner after swimmer’s shampoo?

A: Absolutely! Follow up with a good, moisturizing conditioner to lock in hydration after the shampoo cleanses the hair.

Q: Will this shampoo stop my hair from turning green?

A: Yes. The green tint comes from oxidized copper in the pool reacting with chlorine. Swimmer’s shampoo removes the chlorine, which stops the reaction.

Q: Does swimmer’s shampoo work on saltwater pools?

A: Most good formulas help with saltwater residue too. Saltwater is drying, so moisturizing ingredients are key here.

Q: Do I need swimmer’s shampoo if I wear a swim cap?

A: You still need it. Swim caps leak, and the hair around your hairline gets exposed to chlorine.

Q: What does “pH balanced” mean for my hair?

A: It means the shampoo cleans without making your hair too alkaline (too soapy). Balanced pH keeps the hair cuticle smooth and shiny.

Q: Can kids use this shampoo?

A: Yes, if the formula is gentle enough. Look for options labeled “tear-free” or “for sensitive scalps.”

Q: How long does it take to remove the chlorine smell?

A: A quality swimmer’s shampoo usually removes the smell completely in one wash if used right after swimming.

Q: Should I use swimmer’s shampoo if I don’t swim often?

A: If you only swim occasionally, a gentle, moisturizing shampoo might be enough. Save the specialized shampoo for heavy swimming periods.