How to Fix Brassy Blonde Hair

Counteract brassiness in blonde hair by using a toner.

Hair can look yellow, orange or brassy, and be stripped of pigment, after bleaching. But achieving a perfect blonde shade can be done in just a few steps. Using a toner with a purple or blue base a day after bleaching can counteract the color and get rid of unnatural tones. White, silver and platinum are popular toner shades and will look good on almost everyone.

Things You'll Need

• Petroleum jelly
• Gloves
• Toner
• 2 oz. 20-Volume developer
• Plastic bottle
• Towel
• Shampoo
• Conditioner

Instructions

1. Shampoo hair with a conditioning shampoo and towel-dry.

2. Apply petroleum jelly around your hairline and back of neck to prevent staining. Wrapping a towel around your neck and wearing an old shirt will also help.

3. Mix your toner with developer according to the package directions. Many use the 1:2 ratio, meaning for every 1 ounce of toner, they use double the amount of developer. Using 20-volume developer is ideal for toners because it deposits only and doesn't require any lifting of color or pigments.

4. Apply the toner mixture to damp hair. Leave on for five to 10 minutes and rinse out. If your hair is already light blonde and you're using a toner with a purple base, leave it on for only five minutes.

5. Apply a deep conditioner and leave on for about five minutes. Rinse out, towel-dry and style as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many shampoos for blonde hair; they contain ingredients to help get rid of brassy and yellow tones. They can be found at salons and beauty supply stores.

References

• Style Hair Magazine: Hair Toner: Toning Hair Tips and Techniques