How to Get Rid of Brassy Hair

Dealing with brassiness in blonde hair, whether you're a full blonde or have highlights or balayage, is a common challenge. Those warm orange and yellow tones can quickly detract from your desired look. But what causes this brassiness, and how can you prevent it? And, once it appears, how do you effectively eliminate it?

What is Brassy Hair?

Brassiness refers to the undesired presence of yellow and orange tones that can emerge in bleached or dyed blonde hair. During the coloring process, the hair cuticle is raised, releasing underlying green pigments and leaving behind red tones through oxidation. If not properly neutralized or maintained, these warm red tones can intensify, resulting in a brassy appearance. Various factors such as exposure to sunlight, hard water, or certain hair care products can contribute to brassiness. While most commonly associated with blonde hair, these orange undertones can also manifest in gray or dyed brown hair. To counteract brassiness, incorporating a color-correcting purple or blue shampoo into your hair care routine is essential.

What Causes Brassy Hair?

Bleaching your hair:

Regardless of the skill of your hairdresser or colorist, bleaching or using hair dye increases the likelihood of brassiness. This predisposition stems from the fact that all hair contains some underlying warm tones. When you remove your natural pigment through bleaching or dyeing, these warm tones become more visible, leading to the appearance of brassiness.

Your products:
Sulfates are a well known culprit for stripping hair colors and contributing to brassiness. To safeguard your color-treated hair, switch to a sulfate-free shampoo. This is important for maintaining vibrant hair color and preventing brassiness.

Hard water:
Hard water is abundant in mineral content and can exacerbate brassiness in your hair. The minerals present in hard water can accumulate in your hair over time, contributing to the unwanted warm tones associated with brassiness. Also, hard water can impede the absorption and penetration of moisture into your hair, potentially leading to dryness and further exacerbating color-related issues. Incorporate a clarifying shampoo into your hair care routine in order to remove the mineral buildup from your hair, and to get better results when combined with a toning shampoo/conditioner.

Spending too much time in the sun:

Excessive sun exposure can have detrimental effects on your hair, including drying it out and causing your to color fade. When your hair is exposed to oxygen and UV rays from the sun, it becomes dehydrated and loses vitamins and nutrients. This dehydration and nutrient depletion can lead to a loss of pigment in the hair, resulting in oxidation and the development of brassy tones. To protect your hair from these effects, shield it from excessive sun exposure and to use protective products that contain UV filters when spending time outdoors.

Swimming:
Swimming in both chlorine and salt water can have damaging effects on your hair. These waters strip the hair of its natural oils and disrupt the integrity of the hair shaft. As a result, the hair cuticle becomes exposed and weakened, leading to a rough texture and making it prone to damage and breakage. Additionally, the exposed cuticles reflect light poorly, causing the hair to appear dull, dry, and brassy. To minimize these effects, it's essential to protect your hair before swimming by applying a leave-in conditioner or wearing a swim cap. After swimming, rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water and follow up with a moisturizing conditioner to help restore hydration and nourishment to your strands.

Smoking:

If you or someone you live with smokes, it's likely that your hair may develop an ashy or brassy tone. The brassiness resulting from smoke exposure is due to a yellowish film that is absorbed into your hair. This film can dull the natural color of your hair and give it an unwanted yellow or brassy appearance. To minimize the effects of smoke on your hair color, consider limiting exposure to smoke-filled environments and implementing a regular hair care routine that includes clarifying shampoos to help remove residue and restore vibrancy to your locks.

How to Fix Brassy Hair:

Install a shower filter:
Installing a shower filter can be a game-changer for the health of your hair and skin. Acting as a barrier, a shower filter effectively reduces harmful elements, such as hard minerals and gunk, that can lead to issues like brassy hair. By removing these impurities, a shower filter promotes healthier hair and skin, helping to maintain moisture balance and prevent dryness and irritation. The best part? They're an easy DIY install, requiring no major plumbing tools. With a shower filter in place, you can enjoy the benefits of cleaner, fresher water every time you shower, leading to healthier, more vibrant hair and skin.

Shower with cold water
The temperature of the water you use to rinse your hair can significantly impact its color retention. Hot water, in particular, is notorious for stripping away the hair's natural oils and exacerbating brassiness by opening up the hair cuticle, increasing its porosity. This heightened porosity allows minerals from hard water and environmental pollutants to penetrate the hair shaft, contributing to unwanted warm tones. To preserve your hair color, it's best to use cool water when washing your hair. If you can't resist hot showers, consider finishing with a blast of cool water as the final rinse. This will help close the hair's cuticles, resulting in glossier strands with diminished brassiness.

Refresh your toner

Toners work by neutralizing unwanted warm tones and restoring balance to your hair color. Typically, the pigment delivered with toning lasts around three to four weeks, providing long-lasting results. You can opt to tone your hair at home using specialized products or seek an in-salon treatment from your stylist for professional-grade results. Whether at home or in the salon, incorporating a toner into your hair care routine can help you achieve the desired shade and maintain a vibrant, brass-free look.

Incorporate a purple shampoo into your routine

These shampoos contain crushed purple pigments that work to neutralize yellow tones in the hair. Since yellow and purple are opposite each other on the color wheel, the purple pigment effectively cancels out the brassiness, leaving your hair with a cooler, more neutral tone. If you're incorporating a purple shampoo into your hair care routine, start by using it alternately with your sulfate-free shampoo on a weekly basis. You can gradually increase the frequency as needed to maintain your desired shade and keep brassiness at bay.

Protect your hair

Using hair products with SPF can help shield your hair from UV damage and prevent color fading and brassiness. Remember to reapply these products to your hair periodically while spending time outdoors, even if you plan to wear a hat for added protection.
Pools are notorious for causing blondes to turn brassy due to the presence of chlorine. Chlorine strips the hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry, brittle, and more susceptible to damage. The more damaged the hair, the more likely it is to develop brassiness. To minimize the effects of chlorine on your hair, try saturating it with bottled water before entering the pool. This will help your hair absorb less chlorine by filling it with non-chemically altered water. After swimming, be sure to shampoo and condition your hair immediately to undo any potential damage and maintain its health and vibrancy.