For those of us who color our hair, brass can be a real pain in the…wallet. The goal is to have your cool blonde or brunette tones stay exactly how they look when you walk out of the salon, right? But often those warm tones seep in, and before you know it, you’re looking orange as the sun, ready to head back to the chair for a touchup. Well, it turns out there’s a way to combat brassiness and hold your color for longer. We turned to Alexandra K. of Crush Salon in Los Angeles to give us the 411 on how to fix brassy hair.
What Causes Brassy Hair
First, consider why brassiness starts in the first place. “It’s caused by harsh chemicals—like ammonia found in hair color—exposing your underlying pigment,” Alexandra says. Your underlying pigment is the base color beneath the tones that meld together to form your more obvious natural hair color. For example, very dark brunettes actually have a red underlying pigment. When choosing hair color, your colorist is no doubt taking this into consideration. If warm tones are lurking in your underlying pigment, he or she needs to know how to expertly break that base.
Preventing Brassy Hair
In order to prevent your hair color from turning brassy, Alexandra recommends a low-pH or ammonia-free hair color along with a proper color formulation recommended by a professional. Chances are if you’re repeatedly encountering brassiness soon after a color, your colorist should try a different product—or you should try a different colorist. But do note, if you’re highlighting or lightening darker brunette locks, you may need to put in the work for extra upkeep. Alexandra recommends turning down the heat on styling tools and staying away from UV rays. “Wearing a hat and using a leave-in sun protection spray will protect hair from the sun,” she says.
Products That Lessen Brassiness
There are a handful of products that help to stave off brassiness after color treatment, and it all starts in the shower. “Be sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo (or hair care products designed for color-treated hair) to maintain your more ashy tones and keep the hair from turning brassy,” Alexandra says. With the right colorist, smart color choices and innovative color-protectant products, preventing and removing brassiness can be a breeze. Here are our top picks to help you get started:
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Buy now with Dermstore 1. Philip B. Icelandic Blonde Shampoo
Buy now with free deliveryPhilip B. is renowned for botanical hair treatments, and its Icelandic Blonde Shampoo will not disappoint. This unique formula of botanicals and oils tones the hair while also protecting and strengthening. Plum extracts neutralize warm tones while grapeseed oil nourishes and time-released botanicals moisturize. Simply massage into clean, wet hair, let sit and rinse.
Tip: Use as needed and alternate it with the other shampoos and conditioners. Use a fine tooth comb to evenly disburse the product through hair for best results. -
Buy now with Dermstore 2. Philip B. Icelandic Blonde Conditioner
Buy now with free deliveryMuch like Philip B.’s Icelandic Blonde Shampoo, the conditioner deeply moisturizes the hair while toning and strengthening. The key to preventing brassy hair is in the plum extract which provides cooling pigments to counteract your warm underlying pigment. After shampooing, apply and let sit for one to three minutes.
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3. dpHUE Cool Brunette Shampoo
Buy now with free deliverydpHue’s unique shampoo formula employs blue pigments to reduce brassy tones in color-treated hair. Silk proteins and flower extracts gently cleanse while increasing the shine of your cool-toned highlights. Massage into wet hair and leave on for up to five minutes before rinsing. This toning shampoo can be used once a week or as often as you feel it’s needed. Note, the pigments can be a bit drying daily use is not recommended.
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4. dpHUE Cool Brunette Conditioner
Buy now with free deliveryMuch like its complementary shampoo, dpHUE’s Cool Brunette Conditioner reduces brassiness and increases luster. The results are in the alpha hydroxy acids and plant-based emollients, which promote new hair growth, hydration and shine in brunette or black hair. Massage through damp hair after shampooing and let sit for two to three minutes, then rinse. This product can be used weekly or as-needed, but not intended for everyday use.
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Buy now with Dermstore 5. R+Co SUNSET BLVD Blonde Shampoo
Buy now with free deliveryR+Co’s formula works wonders on blonde and gray hair, reducing brassy tones with natural mineral pigment. Coconut acid gently cleanses the scalp of impurities without stripping natural oils that give your hair its shine. Fans of this product love the “Serious Gaze” fragrance which has hints of juniper berry, rhubarb and violet. Work this shampoo through wet hair from root to tip and let sit for one to two minutes.
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Buy now with Dermstore 6. R+Co SUNSET BLVD Blonde Conditioner
Buy now with free deliveryMuch like its complementary shampoo, R+Co’s SUNSET BLVD Blonde Conditioner uses natural mineral pigment to further reinforce cool ashy tones and prevent brassiness. Simultaneously, comfrey extract detangles while balm mint protects color and sunflower-seed extract repairs damage. Simply work through from roots to ends daily or as needed.
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Buy now with Dermstore 7. Sachajuan Silver Shampoo
Buy now with free deliveryFormulated specifically for gray and blonde tones, Sachajuan’s Silver Shampoo washes away impurities while decreasing brassy pigments in your strands. UV filters and algae-derived carrageenan extracts nourish and preserve hair, unveiling sleek and lustrous strands. The purple pigmented shampoo works to neutralize brassy tones and should only be used once a week.
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Buy now with Dermstore 8. Sachajuan Silver Conditioner
Buy now with free deliveryAfter cleansing your hair with the Silver Shampoo, tone down warm hues while building up a protectant layer to further preserve your color for the long haul with a little conditioner. Sachajuan’s formula offers algae extract to nourish while the brand’s Ocean Silk Technology promotes a healthy shine. Similar to its shampoo counterpart, the Silver Conditioner should be used no more than once a week.
