About Brian & Jon

Our Story

Vitamin C Solutions was founded in 2020 by lifelong friends Brian Kirkvold and Jonathan Foss. Their friendship began in 1988, when Jon had recently graduated from St. Olaf College and Brian was an Age Group swimmer on his way to competing at Kenyon College. Both went on to become All-American collegiate swimmers, and their love for swimming continues to this day. Brian recently swam around Key West, and Jon competed in the Masters World Championships. Together, they’ve raced around the globe—from sprint events to Ironman triathlons.

After spending countless hours in chlorinated pools, Brian and Jon realized that standard soaps and shampoos were ineffective at removing chlorine from skin and hair. The bond chlorine forms with your skin is simply too strong for typical cleansers. This is why the chlorine smell lingers even after a shower. They discovered that an antioxidant like Vitamin C is the only substance capable of breaking this bond.

Using a colorimetric chemical test, Brian and Jon tested every chlorine-removal shampoo they could find. In this test, a reagent causes chlorine in water to turn pink. When their patented products are added, the water returns to clear, demonstrating the conversion of chlorine to chloride ions. To date, no other shampoo or conditioner achieves this effect.

This breakthrough led to the creation of Vita C After Swim. Working with a Minnesota-based laboratory, they developed a shelf-stable form of Vitamin C Shampoo capable of neutralizing chlorine on skin. Their products were formulated without sulfates, parabens, or preservatives, making them safe and gentle for all skin types while still effectively removing chlorine.

Most recently, they introduced an aerosol version of the body wash, using a purer form of Vitamin C combined with Honeywell HFO-1234ze as a propellant. This innovation creates a whipped-cream-like texture while preserving the stability of Sodium Ascorbate and Ascorbic Acid in an oxygen-free environment.

Brian and Jon are passionate about both science and swimming, and for the first time, there is a product that truly removes chlorine from skin. They use these products daily and believe in them wholeheartedly—solving a long-standing problem for swimmers and parents everywhere.