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WHAT IS BRASSY HAIR?
Photo Credit: @redken_colorfactory
To lift dark hair, bleaching with a mix of ammonia and peroxide is usually a necessary part of the equation. When hair is bleached, melanin, a dark brown to black pigment, gets diluted in a process known as oxidation. After bleaching, the next step is usually to apply your haircolor, which deposits artificial pigment onto your locks while removing some of your natural color. Brassy haircolor becomes a problem when bleaching or lifting doesn’t get rid of all the underlying pigment in your hair, giving the warm tones an opportunity to reveal themselves. For lightened blonde hair, the underlying pigment is yellow, and for lightened brown to black hair, the underlying pigments are orange to red.
When the brassiness starts creeping up, think of it as your natural hair telling you, “Hey, remember us?” When brassiness occurs, that also means that among the red, yellow and blue color molecules your hair dye contains, the blue ones have made a faster departure, leaving—you guessed it—just the warm tones. Since the blue color molecules are smaller, they’re broken down easily and fade quicker with every wash. Unfair! Fortunately, you have several options when it comes dealing with brassy hair, in terms of both fixing brassiness once it appears and preventing it from happening at all.
HOW TO GET RID OF BRASSY HAIR
Unwanted brassy tones can appear in any hair color, affecting those with both color-treated and natural hair. To fix brassy hair, you need to understand what it is your hair needs. The simplest way is to picture the color wheel. Whatever tone you want to cancel out, you'll need the pigment located directly opposite on the color. Using the unwanted tones complimentary color will help neutralize and tone your hair. Once you've identified your unwanted tones, read on to learn how to fix brassy hair at hair and when you need the help of your stylist.
1. ADD A PURPLE OR BLUE TONING SHAMPOO TO YOUR REGIMEN
Need an at-home brassy hair fix? This is where toning shampoos come in. Formulated with purple, blue and other pigmented formulas, these shampoos help cancel out brassy tones that appear in between your coloring appointments. Think of this as your at-home toning solution. Based on the color wheel above, you can see most blondes struggling with unwanted yellow tones will need a purple shampoo like Redken's Color Extend Blondage, while brunettes with orange and red tones will need a blue-tinted shampoo. Our color-depositing shampoos will remove unwanted brassiness while cleansing and strengthening hair. This toning shampoo should be used 1-2 times per week in
SHOP PURPLE SHAMPOO2.USE SHAMPOO FOR COLOR-TREATED HAIR THE
Overusing a color-depositing hair product may end up turning your hair blue or purple, so you should only use it once or twice a week. The rest of the time, be sure to use color-protecting hair products that preserve your color and vibrancy. Sulfate-free haircare products are best for color treated hair as sulfate is known to fade haircolor. We recommend Redken’s Color Extend Magnetics line made specifically for color-treated hair. This sulfate-free collection is gentler than regular shampoo and conditioner and is formulated to protect and nourish your hair while preventing color fading.
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3. TRY AN ANTI-BRASS PURPLE HAIR MASK
To maintain strong, bright blonde hair, you'll need a complete haircare regimen to strengthen and help neutralize the brassy tones that can start to appear in between salon appointments. In addition to purple shampoo and conditioner for daily care, integrating an ultra-pigmented purple hair mask like Redken's Blondage Express Anti-Brass hair mask can help transform your blonde from brassy to cool and bright in just 5 minutes. For even more options, check out our range of color-depositing masks to achieve icy, rose, and honey tones at home. These masks are a great way to enhance or refresh your hair color in only 5 minutes.
SHOP PURPLE MASK
4. HEAD TO THE SALON FOR A PROESSIONAL
If you've had your hair lightened or colored, chances are you've had a toning service. Toner is a gentler form of haircolor that gradually fades over time, allowing you to experiment with new colors without commitment. Also known as a demi-permanent color, hair gloss, or glaze, toners are also used by colorists to correct and cancel out unwanted yellow, orange and red tones in hair. If you've noticed your haircolor fading between appointments or can't seem to kick brass to the curb, it's probably time to head back to the salon. Getting a professional gloss service between color treatments will make your color last and look fresh longer. Redken’s Shades EQ Gloss Service, which is often used as a toner for brassy hair, will correct or enhance your hair color with results lasting up to 6 weeks. On top color correcting, a Shades EQ Gloss boosts shine, conditions hair, and balances hair pH for healthier looking and feeling strands. Plus, this toning service takes as little as 20 minutes—a perfect quick fix for brassy hair!
SEE THE ANTI-BRASS MASK IN ACTION
HOW TO PREVENT BRASSY HAIR
The key to living brass-free is avoiding it altogether. While maintaining salon-fresh color is made harder by environmental factors and pollutants, there are plenty of things you can do to take care of your new color. To prevent brassy hair and extend your haircolor, follow these tips.
1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT HAIRCOLOR FOR YOU
Photo Credit: @denisesuzanne_
Select a cool haircolor, like one with the word “ash” in the name, since it’s less likely to turn brassy than one that’s warm. If you gravitate toward warmer shades, don’t worry; there are plenty of lighter haircolors, such as greige blonde, that provide a nice balance of warm and cool tones. Need a place to start? Talk to your stylist about your concerns and get their recommendation. Looking for some cool-toned or warm haircolor inspiration? Browse through @Redken on Instagram for a reference photo to share with your stylist.
2. PROTECT YOUR HAIR FROM THE SUN & POOL
We know, we know: how can you say no to the pool and soaking up some rays? But if you want your haircolor to stay put, it’s best to stay away. The chlorine commonly found in swimming pools can strip your hair dry, leaving your locks dull and damage-prone. And when hair becomes damaged, your haircolor will have a harder time staying in place, meaning more opportunities for brassy haircolor to show up. Sun exposure can also do a number on your haircolor by making it fade faster and making brassiness more visible. So the next time you go outside, make sure you cover up or use a hair sunscreen.
3. INVEST IN A SHOWER FILTER
Washing your hair with water that leaves a large amount of mineral deposits, including chlorine and iron, is bad news for colored hair since the buildup is drying and the chemicals could end up fading your haircolor, leading to another opportunity for brassy hair to reveal itself. A shower filter can help cut down on the mineral deposits, so your haircolor stays around for longer.
4. USE BLONDE HAIRCARE PRODUCTS
Purple shampoo isn’t just for emergencies. Using a toning shampoo 1-2 a week will help you maintain your salon-fresh blonde and prevent brassiness from appearing in the first place. Redken’s Blondage line the perfect option to build your blonde haircare routine around.
SHOP OUR BEST-SELLING ANTI-BRASSY HAIR PRODUCTS
BLONDAGE SHAMPOO
Pigmented shampoo for toning brass from blonde hair
UPGRADE TO 500ML OR 1L FOR MORE WASHES AND SAVINGS.
BLONDAGE SHAMPOO
Pigmented shampoo for toning brass from blonde hair
UPGRADE TO 500ML OR 1L FOR MORE WASHES AND SAVINGS.
BLONDAGE EXPRESS ANTI-BRASS MASK
Pigmented hair express mask to tone brass in blonde hair
BLONDAGE COLOR DEPOSITING MASK FOR ICY BLONDE HAIR COLOR
Pigmented hair mask to preserve and enhance cooler, platinum tones
BLONDAGE COLOR DEPOSITING MASK FOR HONEY BEIGE BLONDE HAIR COLOR
Pigmented hair mask to preserve and enhance warmer golden tones
BLONDAGE COLOR DEPOSITING MASK FOR ROSE BLONDE
Pigmented hair mask to preserve and enhance rose tones
BLONDAGE TRIO
Blondage Shampoo, Conditioner & Express Anti-Brass Mask
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