How to Keep Your Blonde From Going Brassy

You leave the salon with bright, cool blonde, and a few weeks later it is looking warm, yellow, or orange. Brassiness is the most common blonde complaint we hear, and the good news is that it is mostly preventable once you understand what causes it.

Why blonde goes brassy

Lightened hair has warm pigments underneath. When the toner that neutralizes them fades, or when minerals in your water and sun exposure build up, those warm tones come back through. It is not that your colour was done wrong, it is just what lightened hair naturally wants to do over time.

The at-home routine that works

• Use a purple shampoo once or twice a week. The purple pigment cancels out yellow. Do not use it every wash, or it can leave a dull cast.
• Wash less, and cooler. Hot water opens the cuticle and speeds fading. Lukewarm water and fewer washes keep toner in longer.
• Protect from minerals and sun. A clarifying treatment now and then removes mineral build up, and a hat or UV protectant helps in summer.
• Book a gloss or toner refresh. A quick salon gloss every couple of months resets the tone without a full colour service.

How we help at Shear Bliss

The biggest factor is proper toning at the salon in the first place. Our colour team lifts your hair fully before toning, so the result holds longer, and we send you home with the right products for your hair. Hally Scharf and Charity McCausland are two of our blonding specialists.

Common questions

How often should I use purple shampoo?

Once or twice a week is plenty. Daily use can leave a dull, over-toned look, so space it out and watch how your blonde responds.

Will a gloss fix brassiness?

Yes. A salon gloss or toner refresh neutralizes warmth and adds shine, and it is quicker and gentler than a full colour service.

Does hard water make blonde brassy?

It can. Minerals build up on lightened hair and pull it warm. A clarifying treatment removes the build up and a shower filter helps.

How soon after colour will it go brassy?

With good care, a well-toned blonde holds for weeks. Hot water, frequent washing, sun, and mineral build up all speed it up.

Book a colour or gloss appointment

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