Malibu Treatment for Chlorine-Damaged or Green Hair (and Why Austin Swimmers Love It)
By Golden Soul Salon | October 22, 2026
People tell me the first thing they notice at Golden Soul is the great lighting and tons of live plants, and I love that because hair color tells the truth in good light. If chlorine has left your hair dry, dull, or pulling green, yes, a Malibu Treatment can help. It’s a professional clarifying and chelating protocol designed to lift chlorine, minerals, and buildup so your hair feels cleaner and your color sits right again.
If you’ve been searching “hair salon near me” after a weekend in the pool, Barton Springs, or a long Austin summer, you’re not alone. In South Lamar (SoLa) and Bouldin Creek, I see this a lot: hair that suddenly feels squeaky, looks brassy, or gets that swampy green cast that no purple shampoo can fix.
Green tint and “swimmer hair”: what’s actually happening to your color
Chlorine damaged hair usually shows up as dryness, rough ends, tangling, and that dull, coated feeling that makes your hair hard to style. The green tone isn’t always straight chlorine, either. Pool water can carry metals like copper, and those minerals can grab onto lighter hair and show up as a greenish cast.
Hard-water pockets around Austin can pile on, especially if you already use styling products, dry shampoo, or purple shampoo. Layer enough buildup and your hair stops behaving. Blowouts don’t stay smooth. Highlights look off. Hair can even feel weirdly stiff right after you rinse, like it never fully gets clean.
Real-life timing: A lot of South Lamar professionals want a fast fix after weekend pool runs or festival weekends. Malibu Treatment is one of my go-to options when you don’t have time for an all-day correction, but you need your hair to look normal again.
Why Malibu Treatment works to remove chlorine and mineral buildup (without guessing)
Malibu Treatment is a clarifying salon treatment that focuses on chelating. That’s just a fancy way of saying it helps grab onto chlorine, minerals, and residue so it can rinse out, instead of staying stuck to the hair. When that layer comes off, hair often feels softer, looks brighter, and takes color more evenly.
At Golden Soul, I like this service because it supports good color work. Our description is simple and honest: it’s a color correction treatment that removes unwanted pigments and buildup, and it helps ensure proper color deposition. That matters if you’re trying to tone out a pool-green cast, refresh highlights, or stop fighting that muddy, brassy look.
And I’m not guessing at how much a clean base can change the final look. People come in saying their hair felt lifeless, and after thoughtful color work, they walk out talking about how different it feels. One review that stuck with me described it plainly: attentive listening, then “my hair was lifeless and I walked out with amazing hair, color.” That is exactly the lane Malibu Treatment supports, especially in Austin when chlorine and hard water keep messing with your tone.
“She did A PHENOMENAL color removal job! My hair was blue for nearly 10 years, and she had it blonde in no time.”
a client
What the appointment usually looks like (30 to 60 minutes)
- I’ll take a quick look at your hair history. Pool exposure, lightening, and recent toners all matter.
- We apply the Malibu protocol to help lift chlorine, minerals, and product buildup.
- We follow with conditioning. If your tone needs it, I may recommend an optional toner step so the color looks intentional, not just “less green.”
Is Malibu Treatment the right swimmer’s hair treatment for you in SoLa?
Malibu Treatment tends to be a great fit if you swim regularly, you’ve got that green tint on lighter hair, or your hair feels coated no matter what shampoo you use. It’s also a smart move before a toner or color refresh, because clean hair takes color more predictably.
I do want to be straight with you about one thing. If your hair is extremely porous, recently heavily lightened, or fragile, I take a more careful approach. Sometimes that means a quick in-salon strand test and a stronger conditioning plan, because clarifying is powerful and I’m not interested in pushing hair past what it can handle.
People love our shampoo area for a reason. One client put it best: the hair washing experience is SO relaxing. If you’re coming in already stressed about your hair, that part alone helps you breathe again while I do the work.
Why people trust me with color correction in Austin (and what you’ll notice here)
Color correction takes trust. A lot of our guests are picky, protective of their hair, or coming in after a bad experience somewhere else. I hear over and over that the difference here is simple: we listen carefully, we explain what we’re doing, and we don’t rush you through the chair.
There’s also a vibe piece that matters when you’re trying to fix something stressful. People talk about feeling comfortable right away, and I take that seriously. If you’re in South Lamar, Bouldin Creek, Travis Heights, Zilker, South Congress, or Rollingwood, you’re close enough to make this an easy reset when pool season hits hard.
One detail you can feel: our wash room is described as a “rainforest meditation dreamscape, ” and yes, the scalp massages come up a lot too. When you’re doing a clarifying service, comfort matters.
If you want to talk through green tones, chlorine buildup, or a bigger correction plan, I’d love to see you. Malibu Treatment starts at $35 as an add-on to shampoo and blow-dry. Bring me your hair history, tell me what you’re seeing, and I’ll tell you what I’d do.
Malibu Treatment FAQs I get all the time in Austin
Serving Austin neighborhoods including Travis Heights, Zilker, South Congress, Rollingwood, South Lamar (SoLa), and Bouldin Creek.
Will a Malibu Treatment remove green hair from the pool?
Often, yes. Malibu Treatment is designed to lift chlorine and mineral buildup (including metals that can read green on lighter hair). If the green cast is mostly buildup, you’ll usually see it shift right away. If there’s also leftover toner, dye, or heavy oxidation involved, I may recommend a toner step after the treatment for the cleanest finish.
Is Malibu Treatment safe on color-treated or bleached hair?
Usually, yes, and it’s commonly used in color services for that reason. I’m more cautious with extremely porous, freshly lightened, or fragile hair. If that’s you, tell me what you’ve had done recently and I’ll guide you. In some cases I’ll suggest a strand test and I’ll always follow with conditioning.
How long does a Malibu Treatment take in a salon appointment?
Plan for about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on your hair density, the amount of buildup we’re removing, and whether we’re adding a conditioning step or toner after.
How often can I get a Malibu Treatment if I swim every week?
It depends on your hair’s condition and how fast you build up minerals or chlorine. If you swim weekly, I usually treat Malibu as an as-needed reset, not an every-visit habit. Come in once, then we’ll decide together if you should repeat it on a schedule or just when you notice dullness, green cast, or that coated feeling returning.
What should I do after a Malibu Treatment to keep chlorine out of my hair?
Go moisture-first. I recommend a good conditioner or hair mask, and a sulfate-free shampoo so you’re not stripping hair that’s already been through pool water. If you’re a regular swimmer in Austin, rinsing hair right after swimming and using a swim cap when you can also helps reduce how much chlorine your hair soaks up between salon visits.
Golden Soul Salon | 300 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 | +15122849048 | hello@goldensoulsalon.com