How to Fix Blue Lagoon Hair
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland is a one-of-a-kind place ~ & it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country! Though it’s expensive compared to other nature baths, it’s still an “Iceland Must” because: there’s no place like it. The only problem is: if you plan to get your hair wet….you need to know how to fix Blue Lagoon hair! Unless you like having horse hair….
Want to dunk your hair in waterfalls like this?! If yes, then keep reading & find out how to save your hair!
And knowing how to fix Blue Lagoon hair before getting in the water is crucial ~ as is bringing the proper shampoo & conditioner WITH YOU. Grocery stores in Iceland are scarce, expensive, & product selection is slim. So bring your own supplies ~ or deal with horse-hair like I did for two weeks! NOT fun!!
Find Out How to Fix Blue Lagoon Hair…
The Blue Lagoon
Okay, so you’re at the Blue Lagoon & you figure ~ you’re only here once in a lifetime, right?! Why not get your hair wet?! I totally get it. That’s exactly how I felt. Coming straight from the airport at 6AM with a bunch of other tourists: I was groggy, tired, & ready to soak. And not only did I soak…I dunked my hair ALL IN that water, letting it soak for hours.
So…What Happened to It?
My hair turned into HORSE HAIR. It became stiff, brittle, impossible to brush (for WEEKS), tangled, coarse, & basically ~ a complete pain in the arse. My hair is naturally thick & wavy, but usually feels pretty soft. Not the case anymore: it felt like complete straw. The mangiest horse you’ve ever seen?? That was me. I wore my hair in a bun for the rest of my time in Iceland & never took it down.
Hair in bun. Case in point.
Why Does the Lagoon Ruin Your Hair?
First off, the Blue Lagoon says the water won’t ruin your hair. In fact, they tell you that the minerals in it are actually good for your hair. Which may be true. However, when you’re ripping chunks out of your hair while trying to comb it ~ that’s probably not ideal!
High levels of silica found in the Blue Lagoon are responsible for making hair unruly & coarse. Which is ironic, because typically, silica is good for skin & hair. Silica is a naturally-occurring mineral found in our bodies, that helps to maintain bone & tissue health. It also helps maintain collagen, which gives skin elasticity & keeps hair strong.
At the Blue Lagoon though, you can basically think of silica this way:
Silica = Stiff Hair!
I wondered if the water affected everyone’s hair similarly. On my second visit to the Lagoon, I went with two friends. I’m blonde, & they’re both brunettes ~ but the feel of our hair is very different. And the conclusion: we ALL got our hair wet, & we ALL had stiff hair afterwards.
The Blue Lagoon says to use their conditioner to help your hair recover. Problem is ~ it didn’t work for any of us.
Three of us got our hair wet. Three of us used the Lagoon’s conditioner. And we still had stiff hair.
Why Don’t Regular Conditioners Work?
Short answer: because they have protein in them. Any shampoo or conditioner with protein in it will interact with the silica in negative ways. Meaning: it won’t fix the problem.
Check your shampoo & conditioner before to traveling to Iceland: if they have protein in them, likely they WON’T fix your Blue Lagoon hair.
What Products Actually Work?!
Any shampoos & conditioners WITHOUT protein! If you carefully study labels at the drugstore, you’ll realize this is hard to find. Most have some kind of protein: soy, silk, rice, hydrolyzed ~ you name it. And believe me, none of these will help you at the Blue Lagoon.
Most shampoo & conditioners have protein in them. Shea Moisture’s Frizz Defense line is organic, shown above, does NOT contain protein, & it smells like HEAVEN.
How to Fix Blue Lagoon Hair
in 3-Steps:
Step 1) Bring Clarifying Shampoo. This will remove ALL minerals (& silica) from your hair. At home, I got the best results with a charcoal shampoo. Charcoal actually pulls out unwanted materials from your hair. Once I used this shampoo, my hair actually felt normal for the first time in weeks!
Step 2) Use Regular Conditioner WITHOUT Protein!! Read labels carefully. If there’s any protein in your conditioner, it will react with the silica. Herbal Essences Color-Safe Conditioner is one of the only conditioners I found with zero protein in it.
Step 3) Bring a Great Deep Conditioner & Leave it in Overnight. It must have ZERO protein in it, like Neutrogena’s Deep Recovery Mask. Leave in for at least 3-5 minutes ~ or overnight, & really let it soak in. After, your hair should feel soft again, not like horse hair! If you prefer organic (without parabens), try Shea Moisture’s Frizz Defense. It has no protein in it & smells like heaven ~ & is great for wavy hair.
And That’s It!
We figured out how to fix Blue Lagoon hair! Yay!!!
Charcoal Shampoo
Protein-Free Conditioner
Deep Conditioner
How to Fix Blue Lagoon Hair
Thanks for reading this guide…I hope it keeps your hair from breaking like mine did! If you’re looking to stay by the Blue Lagoon, read this article on nearby hotels ~ or check out the cozy Northern Lights Inn, which is about a mile away.
Read Next: 20 Photos to Inspire Your Iceland Trip
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Have you been to the Blue Lagoon? Did it wreck your hair, & if so, did my recommendations help fix it? Let me know in the comments@!
Oh my gosh!!! We went to the Blue Lagoon just a few weeks ago & ALL of us had terrible problems with our hair! We used the shampoo & conditioner from the Blue Lagoon, & it didn’t work for us either. After reading your article, we realized that there was protein in ALL of our products! So we stopped using them temporarily. The charcoal shampoo & Shea Moisture’s Anti-Frizz deep conditioner worked perfectly!!! I left the Anti-Frizz in overnight, & the next day my hair finally felt normal again. Thank you so much!!
Ha Sondra, I feel your pain ~ believe me!!! My hair was sooo horse-y & coarse after the Lagoon. Really glad this info helped you & your friends! Happy travels : ) xoxo Noelia
What a timely article! My three best friends & I just returned from the Blue Lagoon & our hair is a WRECK!! (We all dunked & swam in it for hours). The conditioner at the lagoon didn’t work for us. Hair is still stiff! Your article popped up #1 on google, so we’re literally headed to a grocery store right now to look for shampoo & conditioner without protein in it!! Too bad we didn’t read this first!
Ha Alice! Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know ; ) I hope you found some protein-less shampoo & conditioner in Iceland! xoxo Noelia
Wanted to add my two cents: I’ve found a new favorite conditioner, thanks to your article. I’m an African-American woman, and have had coarse, curly hair all my life. I originally found your article after traveling to the Blue Lagoon, where it did indeed “wreck” my hair. I struggled for a few weeks, then gave Shea Moisture’s Anti-Frizz conditioner a try (combined with the Charcoal Shampoo). It fixed my Blue Lagoon hair, but it’s also my go-to conditioner now; it really works for my hair type. Thanks so much for the article.
You’re welcome, Diana! I’ve been in love ever since i first discovered the Shea Moisture line ~ it’s ideal for curly-haired women like us. So glad you found this article & thanks for writing! xoxo Noelia
Here’s a funny thing: I was just at the Blue Lagoon, and got talking to a group of women near the mud mask area. We were all discussing what we’d heard about the Blue Lagoon wrecking hair, and I just had to write and tell you: HALF the women I was talking to had read this article! Too funny! Most of the ones who’d read the article came prepared, and brought shampoo and conditioner with NO protein in it. I did as well (the Shea Frizz Defense + Charcoal Shampoo), and after leaving the Frizz Defense in overnight, I had no issues. I just thought you might want to know how popular your article is around the world! Thanks so much, Laura.
Laura ~ thank you for writing, that is HILarious!! It’s crazy to me, but that article is one of the most popular I’ve ever written, which is kind of shocking! Obviously, this is an issue lots of people have, & it seems that LOTS of people are visiting the Blue Lagoon ALL the time! Ha thank you so much for sharing, & thanks for reporting back on the Shea Moisture ~ glad it helped! xoxo Noelia
Iceland seems lie a beautiful country.
It is, Beth!
I am so nervous! Leaving tomorrow for Iceland and the Blue Lagoon is our first stop. I just got a keratin treatment and CANNOT get my hair wet at the Blue Lagoon. I am going to wear it up and put on TWO shower caps! Do you think I’ll be OK? I assume there isn’t a lot of splashing going on…
Was wondering if I should wet my hair first, leave conditioner in it, put it up in a bun, and THEN put on my shower caps. OMG…I am so VAIN!!! I am embarrassed!
Please advise!
Haha…Janet, you aren’t vain ~ you’re SMART!! Since you’ve just gotten a keratin treatment, I would definitely NOT get your hair wet at the Lagoon. If I were you, I’d wash it, put conditioner IN prior, & then cover it with a cap. Your photos may not be as cute ~ but in the long run, you’ll be SO happy!! And no, there is NOT a lot of splashing going on at the Lagoon (the water is HOT ~ that wouldn’t be nice)! Plus, the Lagoon is HUGE, so you always have room to escape any “rowdy” crowds ; ) And I’d think one shower cap will be fine ~ two might be overkill! Haha GOOD LUCK!! Tell me about your visit!! xoxo Noelia
Thank you SO much for your reply. A friend just agreed with you. She said wet hair is somehow stronger, and the conditioner will obvi give it additional protection.
Thanks again!
Of course!! Let me know how it goes ~ I’m so excited that you’re visiting Iceland, & now you can enjoy the Lagoon with ZERO worries! Haha xoxo
Oh. My. God. I wasnt in the blue lagoon but in the Mývatn Lagoon which is quite the same thing and my hair is wrecked. And by wrecked i mean terribly much destroyed. I have bleached hair and cried all the night after our visit. This was last week and i dumbass thought that protein is now the right Choice and bought an expensive Kerastase Treatment i did since we are back home on Sunday – but it didnt got any better!! Tomorrow i will immediately try out your Tipps. Do you think it will Work after all the stuff i did till now and after 1,5 weeks after the visit?!?! Oh gawd, i’m sooo glad i found your article – bit late, but i have hope again! Thanks from Germany!!
Oh no, Stephanie!!! I SO feel your pain. What a bummer that you got the Kerastase Treatment ~ usually, that would be amazing…just not in this case. Honestly, that crap was in my hair for over TWO WEEKS in Iceland before I got home ~ & the shampoos/conditioners in the article DID work for me, even after all that time. I also have bleached blonde hair, & I lost some baby hairs while in Iceland: but overall, my hair did come back to normal. There’s HOPE!! Haha i just hope you can get these specific products in Germany?? Please let me know! If not, SCOUR the ingredients, & don’t use ANYthing with protein in it (shampoo or conditioner). My fingers are crossed for you, & please write back & let me know if this works for you!! Good luck! Noelia
Dear Noelia,
I can’t believe what happened today. You saved my life. Thank you for publishing your experience!! Today I bouhht stupid cheap Shampoo and a hair mask without Protein.
Additionally I checked my silver Shampoo i usually use, and with surprise it had no proteins in it! So I washed my hair two times with it and after that, I used the cheap shampoo ….. and what can I say I really have no words….!!! I was able to blow dry my hair within minutes! Yesterday I looked like a Tumbleweed and after one treatment without Protein I look like a normal person again! I am so so so glad and happy and I have really have no words to explain how good and relieved I feel!! Thank you thank you thank you thank you! I have hope it will be better and Better, although I lost some hair. THANKS!!!! <3 <3
Stephanie ~ YAYYY!!! You literally just made my day!! I’m SO glad this worked for you ~ & good thing it’s a cheap fix! SOooo happy for you ~ thanks for taking the time to write back! xoxo
Hi there! I was so nervous about the Blue Lagoon & what it would do to my hair….SO glad I found your post & all the helpful comments! My hair was pretty wrecked after being in the Lagoon, & I can now safely report back: I used the combo of charcoal shampoo, plus the Frizz Defense moisturizer from the Shea Moisture line, & finally my hair is back to normal!! What a relief. Thanks so much fortaking the time to write this article.
Yes, of course!! I just re-ordered the Frizz Defense for myself (even though I’m not at the Blue Lagoon!) ~ & it’s one of my all-time favorites for wavy-haired gals. SO nourishing, & minus all the chemicals! Glad it helped you, Melissa! xoxo Noelia
Hello. I am going to the blue lagoon in a couple of weeks and have been worrying about what to do with my hair.
Do you think it would be best to wet/wash my hair before i go in and leave in some conditioner? (If so which conditioner is best) and would i still need to use the products in your article when getting out of the lagoon? Or just rinse out the conditioner?
Thank you in advance, Sophie xx
Hi Sophie! Thanks for your question. So, before you go in the Lagoon ~ they ask that you shower first (showers are right before Lagoon entrance). My friends & I all washed our hair first, & put the Lagoon’s conditioner in it (I don’t know if it has protein in it or not). Even leaving their conditioner in, we still had problems. SO, you could try bringing your own protein-free conditioner & using it like a “mask” for you hair. Let me know if this works for you! If it does, then you may not need to use additional products when you get out. Or just wear your hair up in a bun if you REALLY don’t want to take any chances! Lmk how it goes for you & enjoy Iceland! xoxo Noelia
Thats great! Thank you for your advice. I think i will buy the shea moisture frizz defense conditioner. I noticed that my local store doesnt sell the masque version, but they have the conditioner in a pump bottle. Do you think this one will still work to leave in at the blue lagoon? (I think its protein-free, ingredients are confusing!) Also it says it is for thick and wavy hair, i have quite fine and straight hair. Do you think this matters? xx
Hi Sophie! I imagine that the ingredients are virtually the same in the two versions ~ but I’d give the pump one a quick peek to make sure there’s no protein in it. It should be ideal to leave in at the Lagoon. And I don’t find it to be a “heavy” conditioner (but I DO have thick, wavy hair) ~ if you’re really worried about that, give the Triple Moisture a try. But whatever you do, write back & lmk how it goes! I’d love to hear how the Lagoon affects thinner, straight hair vs. wavy : ) Good luck! xoxo Noelia
Slightly off topic, but did you rent a car when you went to the Blue Lagoon? And where would be the best place to rent cars from? Thanks, Alex
Hi Alex! The first time I went to the Lagoon, I did not rent a car ~ I just took a bus from the International Airport. But the second time (with friends), we did have a rental car. The easiest place to get the rental car would be at Keflavik International Airport, if that’s where you’re flying into. xoxo
I was just at The Blue Lagoon. I have bleached blonde hair and was there for about 8 hours sumbmersing my hair in the water. I saw they suggested the conditioner but I do keratin treatments and figured I’d be okay since I brought along nice pureology brand shampoo and conditioner. I was WRONG. My hair was WRECKED! I cried to my husband because it was sooo bad. I could barley brush it out and my conditioner didn’t do anything. I went through a whole bottle. Desperate I googled and this article came up! I’m still in Iceland but tomorrow I’ll be on the hunt for a protein free shampoo and conditioner! Never realized protein was in so many shampoos and hair products. Thank you so much for this article!! It’s a life saver!!
Hi Kara!! SO glad you found this article too…& you sound EXactly like me on my first trip there! I went through a whole bottle of conditioner too ~ but it didn’t do a dang thing! I still couldn’t get a comb through my hair. Please let me know if you find a protein-free shampoo/conditioner in Iceland!! The selection at their markets is pretty limited, so I’m curious to know if they have that. Good luck!!! Enjoy the rest of your trip! xoxo Noelia
Hello Noelle!
I use henna on my hair to color and condition it. I am quite worried how the waters of Blue Lagoon will react with my hennaed hair! Just worried that the water might turn my hair into an outlandish alien color!
In any case, I have already stocked up on the hair products recommended by you! Any additional advice/suggestions are very welcome (in fact, needed!!).
Thanks
Hi Pallavi! This is the first time I’ve had someone who uses henna ask this question…I’d probably need to ask my hairdresser to get the best answer?! But honestly, if I were you ~ I’d probably try NOT to get my hair wet at the Blue Lagoon! That would be your safest bet. From what I know of henna, I don’t think it lasts as long as regular dye ~ so I’d be careful with that. I don’t want you to get some weird alien color either! Ha worst case, if you get a little bit of your hair wet, use protein-free shampoo/conditioner. Lmk how it goes! xoxo
I’m going to the Blue Lagoon in one month and I’m trying to get all prepared since it’s only the first stop in my Europe trip. I’d love to not kill my hair for the remainder of my trip.
Here are my questions:
1) Does the Herbal Essences “color me happy” line shampoo have protein in it? I’m wondering if I could do that instead of the charcoal shampoo –which might strip my hair from it being freshly dyed before the trip.
2) The Shea frizz defense leave in stuff you recommended, is it alright for fine silky hair? I do not have thick wavy hair at all..
Thanks!
Hi Hannah! Totally understand ~ that would suck to have crappy hair for a month! Here’s your answers: 1) Herbal Essence’s “Color Me Happy” shampoo does NOT have protein in it, as far as I know, & 2) The Frizz Defense would definitely be too rich for everyday use ~ but if you’re planning to use it only occasionally as a deep conditioner, then it would probably be fine. It would also be ideal to put on BEfore you enter the Blue Lagoon, to provide a thick barrier of protection for your hair while there. Hope that helps!! xoxo Noelia
Any recommendation for someone with dyed hair? I have a hair appointment tomorrow to colour my hair before my trip – don’t want grey hair in the photos! I’m worried that it will be washed out and ruined with a clarifying shampoo.
Hi Audrey, thanks for your question : ) I have highlights & lowlights in my hair, & none of the products mentioned here will remove your color. The clarifying/charcoal shampoo is removing impurities, etc. ~ NOT hair color. Double-check with your hairdresser on this, or if you’re really concerned, put your hair up in a high bun & don’t get it wet! Good luck! xoxo Noelia
I dyed my hair right before my trip last month too. I kept my hair up, and the charcoal clarifying shampoo did the trick, I didn’t even struggle with horse hair. 🙂
Thanks for adding your experience, Hannah! xoxo
Hi! I’m in Iceland now and am suffering from the dreaded “blue lagoon hair”!!! Came across your article and am trying to salvage my hair for the rest of the trip. I probably have to get my sister in law (who is meeting me in Germany in a few days coming from California) to bring me products. The charcoal shampoo isn’t available on amazon with fast enough shipping- any other suggestions? What about “SheaMoisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Deep Cleansing Shampoo”? Or should I get herbal essences shampoo? I can get the other stuff you suggested- neutrogena mask and herbal essences conditioner.
Hey Jennifer ~ I feel your pain! So I just looked up the ingredients in the Shea Moisture African Black Soap shampoo, & it does NOT have protein in it, so that should work just fine! The key is to use products with ZERO protein in them, so scour the ingredient list. If you get the other two conditioners in addition to that, you should be back to normal! Please let me know how it goes!! xoxo Noelia
Thanks so much for the response and for checking. I’ll let you know how to goes in a few days!
Of course! I’m curious to know how that African Black Soap works!
LOVE the Frizz Defense by Shea. I have thick, curly hair that got RAVAGED by the Blue Lagoon – leaving that stuff in overnight did the trick. THANK YOU!!!
YES!!! I love that stuff too, it’s a great deep conditioner!
Hi! I’m glad I found your article…I thought I’d read everything Blue Lagoon hair related! I didn’t know about the protein issue. My concern is that I have tape in hair extensions and I’m wondering what all this might do to them?? I plan to load on conditioner and keep it up but the thought of the extensions falling out or who knows what on my first day is nerve wracking… Anyone have any tips or warnings? I’m going straight from the airport at the end of May and want to be prepared! Thanks!!
Hi Alisha! Sooo..I don’t know much about tape-in extensions ~ but they sound a bit..fragile?! Something to keep in mind: just being in the Blue Lagoon environment is really steamy, so I’m not sure how that will affect the tape. I would keep your hair up FOR SURE; definitely don’t get it wet!! And then bring one of the recommended shampoo/conditioners just IN CASE you get your hair wet & need to remove and/or condition your hair. You may also want to bring a baseball cap to wear over your hear so that the steam won’t affect the extensions. Hope that helps!! Good luck : ) Noelle
Good suggestion! Thank you!
You’re welcome! If you remember ~ lmk how it goes at the Lagoon! It will help other people who have extensions know what to expect! xoxo
Will do!
Thx ~ have a great time!