How to Keep Blond Hair From Getting Brassy

Stay out of the sun to keep your blond hair brilliant.

If you color your hair blond, then you know how easily it can become brassy. Brassiness can result from exposing your hair to elements in water and can be due to sun exposure. Keeping your color a brilliant blond can be tricky, but with a few changes in your routine you can keep your blond hair beautiful.

Instructions

1. Change the water you use to wash your hair. Some treated water and well water can contain iron, which shows up as brassiness in blond hair. Use bottled or filtered water to wash your hair. Install a water softener in your home, filter water in a water filtration jug or use bottled water to wash your hair.

2. Use a violet shampoo once a week. Use violet shampoo as you would a regular shampoo. The color in the shampoo will offset the brassiness in your blond hair and make it look blond instead of orange. Do not use violet shampoo more than once a week or your hair will grab the color and end up a purplish color.

3. Avoid the sun. The sun oxidizes color and will turn blond hair brassy. Wear a hat if you do go in the sun or try a sun protection spray made for blond hair.

4. Use a clarifying shampoo once a week if you swim in chlorinated pools, live in an area with hard water or must be exposed to the sun. Clarifying shampoos remove deposits from your hair and can help keep your blond hair looking bright. Use a clarifying shampoo after you have been exposed to the sun or to treated or hard water.

Tips & Warnings

• Clarifying shampoos and sun protection sprays are available at drug stores.

References

• Beyond Jane; How to Treat Brassy Blonde Hair; Kristie Leong, MD.; January 2008
• Daily Glow; Caring for Blonde Hair Shades: Choosing Shampoos and Conditioners; Jody Morse