The Best Shampoos to Prevent Chlorine Damage

This shampoo is a relatively new product, but it exceeded my expectations. First of all, it smells much better than any of the products I tested in this experiment. Second, it didn’t even require a follow-up with a conditioner. Thanks to its Macadamia and Argan oil blend, this delicious-smelling shampoo made my hair more manageable, softer, and shinier. It is very foamy, and a pleasure to use! I also loved that the shampoo is color-safe, which is so important, especially for a clarifying shampoo. According to hundreds of reviews that I found online, many women who color their hair blond complain that some of the most popular chlorine-fighting shampoos slightly discolor their hair. Since Macadamia Sun & Surf Shampoo doesn’t contain any sulfates, it’s not an issue with this top-performer. To be completely transparent, I have to say that I continue using this product even when I’m not swimming in the pool. I feel like my hair is less frizzy when I use this product.

The Chlorine Test: Even though the product didn’t completely turn the chlorine-infused water clear, it was close enough to become the winner.

This overall great product didn’t claim to remove chlorine from hair (Sephora’s product description states, though, that it’s “for using after swimming to remove chlorine from hair”), but I decided to test it anyway since there aren’t that many plant-based clarifying shampoos to choose from. Similar to the Macadamia product, it’s color safe, sulfate-free, and has not been tested on animals. It smells delicious and serves double-duty: you can use it after taking a swim in a pool or the ocean, or use it before hair coloring—when your scalp is completely clean, your hair color will come out more even and last longer. Just as with the Bumble and Bumble product, you can also use it once a week to remove the excess build up of the product. It’s also pleasantly foamy, and feels great as you apply it. You don’t need a lot of product to clean the entire scalp.

The Chlorine Test: This shampoo turned chlorinated water light blue. My chlorine-testing kit didn’t clarify what that means, but I assume it didn’t remove the chemical that well. That’s the only reason this product is a runner-up in this top chlorine-removal shampoo list.

Based on the product’s price and the results of the chlorine test, it’s the number one choice among all shampoos in this list. However, I look for much more than chlorine-removal properties in my shampoo. I want my hair to be more voluminous and shinier even after I’ve been swimming in the pool. I want my shampoo to be color safe and multi-tasking. UltraSwim provided me with the best results you could possibly expect from a $5 drugstore product, but I was a bit concerned about the controversial sodium laureth sulfate in its ingredient list, and overall manageability of my hair. Don’t get me wrong: my hair felt smooth and soft, but compared to products like those by dpHUE and Macadamia, it left my hair feeling a bit less nourished. Concerning the additional benefits of UltraSwim, I think this shampoo is gentle enough to use as a body wash too. In fact, that’s what I ended up using it for – to clean up my skin after all the chloride my skin was exposed to during the experiment. It’s very foamy, and smells great!

The Chlorine Test: This shampoo performed the best during the chlorine test—water in the container turned completely clear. I was impressed!

Right off the bat, I have to say this shampoo was not foamy enough for my taste, but it’s still worth checking out if you have curly hair. As claimed on the package, the product is designed to “lock moisture” in your curls and it does seem to deliver what it promises. In comparison to other products in this list, this shampoo could be classified as a “chelating” one, which means that it not only removes chlorine, but also protects hair from minerals and metals that can cause color fading. Ouidad shampoo comes in an interesting consistency that reminds me of Burt’s Bees shampoos—it produces less foam, but seems to keep hair more hydrated than any other “regular” shampoo on the list. I also felt that this shampoo helped my straight hair to be less frizzy and to remain sleeker throughout the day.

The Chlorine Test: It was not a top-performing product, but it cleared the water well enough—making it turn from bright to very light pink.

This shampoo was a brand new discovery, and I’m currently obsessed with it! For starters, it looks nothing like your typical shampoo, but rather like a body scrub (in fact, it comes in a typical body-butter type of jar). You need to use a spoon to apply the product to your scalp (about a tablespoon per usage), and massage it into your scalp. You’ll be surprised how quickly this solid shampoo turns into a thick foam. Compared to the other products in the list, this shampoo was the most pleasant to use. The product contains sea salt in its ingredient list, which makes it a perfect solution for those with itchy, oily and sensitive scalps. It’s also a perfect product for those days when you go overboard using a dry shampoo—in just one wash, your hair will feel so much cleaner and more hydrated, while your scalp will feel more refreshed and grease-free. Have I mentioned that it also smells delicious? Perhaps the only con of this product is its price: if you ask me, $52 for a shampoo is a bit too much. However, since I already purchased this award-winning product, I’ll keep if for those days when I want to feel very special, not necessarily just for swimming days.

The Chlorine Factor: This shampoo was not the top performer in my chlorine test, but it was close enough to be included in this top five list.

In addition to the above-mentioned top five options, there are a few luxury and budget options that are also worth your attention if you’re seeking an alternative to your regular clarifying shampoo. While not all of them are designed only for chlorine-cleaning purposes, those products will also provide decent and noticeable results for your hair.

Bumble Bumble Sunday Shampoo smells delicious and really detoxifies hair, but there is one con that moved it out of the top five list—the product isn’t suitable for color-treated hair.

Speaking of color-treated hair, Oribe The Cleanse Clarifying Shampoo is one of the best and most luxurious solutions available. While the product description doesn’t state that it’s specifically designed for removing water pollutants, this shampoo really makes your hair glow—from the inside out! I also love the fact that it comes in the form of a mousse, as opposed to a regular liquid shampoo form, and it also contains exfoliating ingredients so you’re not only cleaning your hair but also treating your scalp.

Moroccanoil Clarify Shampoo is another wonderful high-end option that leaves your hair moist, chlorine-free, and shiny. As many other hair products by the brand, this shampoo applies nicely, smells delicious, and makes your hair manageable in a truly luxurious manner. 

Fairy Tales Lifeguard Clarifying Shampoo is a great option if you’re looking for one product for the entire family. It’s gentle and color-safe at the same time, and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals. But you might need to follow up with your regular shampoo if your hair lacks volume or easily gets frizzy.

AquaGuard Pre-Swim Hair Defense is another unique attention-worthy product. In contrast with other shampoos in the list, this product has to be applied before you go swimming. While it has proven its effectiveness in protecting hair from chemicals in water, you still need to wash your hair after swimming, which slightly lengthens the entire chlorine-removal procedure.

Malibu C Swimmers Wellness Shampoo is just another example of a nice-smelling clarifying shampoo. The product did everything as promised—cleaned the chemicals from my hair, helped with detoxifying my hair from product build-up. However, I felt that styling after using this product wasn’t as easy as it is with many other shampoos in this list.