Poolside Hair Rinse Tea
A rinse for after the last lap: brewed green tea carries the pool smell away, aloe vera gel adds slip as it goes, and glycerine leaves the lengths less straw-like.
You will need
- 2 cups brewed green tea
- 1 tbsp aloe vera gel
- 1 tsp vegetable glycerine
The ritual
- Brew two cups of green tea, then leave it to cool completely.
- Whisk in the aloe vera gel and glycerine until no lumps remain.
- Shampoo as usual at the pool and squeeze the water out.
- Pour the rinse slowly over the lengths, catching it in a jug to repeat.
- Leave three minutes, then rinse with cool water and condition as normal.
Why these ingredients
- 2 cups brewed green tea
- Mildly astringent and faintly tannic, it rinses away the film the pool leaves behind and takes the smell with it.
- 1 tbsp aloe vera gel
- Adds slip so a comb moves through wet hair without dragging, and stops the rinse feeling purely watery.
- 1 tsp vegetable glycerine
- Holds a little water in the lengths as they dry, which is what keeps them from feeling like straw.
Easy swaps
- 2 cups brewed green tea → brewed black tea for dark hair, or chamomile tea for fair hair.
- 1 tbsp aloe vera gel → a tablespoon of your usual conditioner, stirred in well.
- 1 tsp vegetable glycerine → a teaspoon of honey, dissolved in the tea while it is still warm.
Keep it clean
Mix with freshly washed hands and clean, dry bowls and spoons. If a recipe is stored, use a jar or bottle washed in hot soapy water and dried completely, and never dip wet fingers into the batch.
Storage & when to let go
Three days covered in the fridge. It is tea and water with no preservative, so make it in small amounts.
What to expect — honestly
Hair rinses out cleaner, combs more easily and stops smelling of the pool. The effect lasts until you next wash. It will not mend split ends or reverse the way regular swimming dries hair out over months.
Common questions
Will it get the chlorine smell out?
Largely, especially alongside a proper shampoo. The smell clings to the hair surface, and a generous rinse with something mildly astringent shifts most of it.
Can I reuse tea bags I have already brewed once?
Better to use fresh ones. A second brew is weak and mostly water, and what the tea brings is the entire point of the rinse.
This recipe is shared for general cosmetic enjoyment, not medical advice — see how we research and write in our editorial policy and the full safety guide.
