HOW TO FIX AND PREVENT BRASSY HAIR: 10 TOP TIPS
What is Brassy Hair?
Of all the dreaded hair woes, brassiness ranks high on the list. Brassy hair is caused by an overabundance of warm pigments in your hair, usually caused by bleaching and the hair coloring process. Brass usually shows up as yellow or orange tones in blonde hair and orange or red tones in brunette hair.
Brassy hair is caused by an overabundance of warm pigments in your hair, usually caused by bleaching and the hair coloring process.
When you lighten your hair, your natural hair color is lifted to make room for the new color. Because all hair has some measure of underlying warmth, the removal of your natural hue makes yellow, orange or red tones more evident. These tones become visible when bleaching does not fully remove the underlying pigment. While brassy hair is a common hair coloring side effect, there are things you can do to get rid of the brass and show off your cool, bright new color.
How to Fix Brassy Hair
The key to correct brassy hair and reaching your desired hair color is in the toning. Hair toning is the process of adding small amounts of pigment to your hair in order to get rid of brassy tones and allow the cooler tones to shine. Often, toner is added by a professional at the salon, but here is how you can tone your hair at home as well as fix brassy hair through other ways:
1. Use a Color-Correcting Purple Shampoo
Yellow and violet are opposites on the color wheel, so purple is used to cancel out overly warm, brassy tones. Purple shampoo is a toning hair product that can be used at home. Invest in a purple shampoo to help crush brassy tones for a cooler, brighter blonde.
Brunette hair can also benefit from a toning shampoo. If brassy orange tones are coming through in brunette hair, you can use a blue shampoo. Blue and purple shampoo have the same purpose – to get rid of brassy tones – but are specifically formulated for different colored hair.
2. Try a Color-Refreshing Gloss
Ask your stylist to use a sheer glaze on your freshly colored blonde hair to lock in the tone and prevent fading or discoloration. Doing so can seal in your color for an extra four to six weeks. For refreshing your color at home, try a color-refreshing gloss to neutralize brassy blonde hair and reveal a brighter blonde.
3. Shower Smart to Avoid Brassiness
High mineral levels in water can cause hair to turn brassy. Hard water deposits color-tainting minerals onto your tresses while simultaneously locking out moisture. Consider cutting back on the amount of time you wash your hair weekly, and if your water is particularly hard, you may wish to invest in a water filter that sifts out the minerals. Worried your hair will look dirty? A bun or braid paired with a spritz of dry shampoo should do the trick.
4. Deep Condition for Shiny, Healthy-Looking Hair
It may seem simple, but the more healthy, soft, and supple your locks are, the less likely your color will fade or turn. This can be accomplished by using a deep conditioning hair treatment. After treating your blonde locks to a hair mask, seal your style with a hydrating, shine-infusing gloss. Just be sure that the gloss is either clear or properly pigmented to cancel out brassiness.
5. Stick to Color-Treated Hair Products
Using a color-depositing toning shampoo every time you wash your hair can cause your hair to start to take on that color, such as your blonde hair taking on a slight purple tint from purple toning shampoo.
However, you do want to use products – especially shampoos and conditioners – that are specifically formulated to maintain your colored hair and are safe to use on dyed hair. For blondes, try a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to keep your hair vibrantly colored and healthy.
How to Prevent Brassy Hair
In addition to products and treatments you can try for getting rid of brassy tones in your hair, you can also take steps in your day-to-day life that will prevent brassy hair and keep your color looking vibrant longer.
1. Choose the Best Blonde for You
Instead of going with a single-process all-over blonde color, have your colorist work in highlights and lowlights versus coloring every strand. This minimizes the potential for a whole head of brassiness. Remember, the closer your hair's final color is to its natural color, the less room there is for the color to turn. We recommend that you don’t lighten your hair beyond two shades from your natural color. Ash is also a good color option as it helps to combat brassy tones and keep your hair color cooler.
2. Protect Your Blonde from UV Rays
Exposing your hair to excessive sun exposure can dry out your hair and fade your blonde color. When your hair is exposed to oxygen and UV rays, your hair's underlying warm tones are revealed, and — before you know it — brassiness abounds. If you can't stay out of the sun, try wearing a hat to protect your locks or a UV-protectant spray to avoid unwelcome brassiness.
When your hair is exposed to oxygen and UV rays, your hair's underlying warm tones are revealed, and — before you know it — brassiness abounds.
3. Shower with Cool Water to Prevent Fading
It may be a tough pill to swallow, but rinsing your hair with cool water is better for preserving your color. Instead of pumping up the heat, use a cool rinse to close the cuticle cells. This has the added benefit of locking in moisture and helps the cuticle to lay more smoothly and appear glossier and shinier.
4. Protect Your Hair From Chlorinated Pools
Chlorine is not your hair’s friend. This chemical is notorious for stripping your hair of natural oils and leaving it dry and brittle. The more damaged the hair becomes, the more susceptible it is to turning brassy. To counteract this problem, try dousing your hair with bottled water before jumping in the pool. Your hair will soak up any sort of moisture, so give it clean, non-chemically altered water first before you swim. When you’re finished in the pool, shampoo and condition your hair immediately to undo the potential damage. Better yet, try to stick to saltwater pools if it's an option.
When you’re finished in the pool, shampoo and condition your hair immediately to undo the potential damage.
5. Wash Your Hair Less
Every time you wash your colored hair, the pigment and toner fade. Eventually, the warmer brassy tones will come through again. While this is inevitable at some point, washing your hair less can slow down the process. Try to allow more time in between washes to keep your hair bright and vibrant for longer.
Now you’re ready to crush that brass and live your best hair-colored life! Check out more John Frieda tips for blonde hair here.
