WHY HAIR TURNS BRASSY
There's literally nothing more annoying than having your dream blonde colour created only to watch it become brassy a few weeks later!
There are a few common culprits that cause warm brassy tones to sneak into blonde hair. One of the most significant factors is the porousness of platinum hair. Lifting hair colour leaves your follicle more susceptible to soaking up minerals and pollutants and product residue. Depending where you live, the water in your shower might be depositing minerals in your hair! If you live in an area known for hard water, consider investing in a water softener to minimise water deposits.
Brassy tones also tend to become noticeable as toner begins to wears off. After a salon colour service, toner works to counteract any orange or yellow shades that result after lifting. Over time, toner fades, making a purple or blue shampoo essential to prevent brassy hair!
BEST PRODUCTS TO BEAT BRASS
Pureology Strength Cure Blonde
The Strength Care Blonde collection by Pureology is a toning system designed to neutralise brassy tones in blonde and lightened hair. Including sulfate-free vegan formulas, this system not only helps maintain flawless colour but also helps to improve the health of chemically processed hair.
Best for: Bleached or highlighted hair in damaged condition.
Schwarzkopf Blond Me Tone Enhancing
L'Oreal Professionel Blondifier Neutralising Range
A favourite amongst the Le Beauty staff, the Blondifier range from L'Oreal Pro actually hydrates hair while keeping blonde tones beautiful and brass-free. Many purple shampoos are extremely pigmented and drying, the Blondifier range is neither. This range is designed with a medium pigment level for regular colour maintenance. Formulated with acai berry extract, this professional formula gently cleanses to maintain moisture in lightened hair.
Best for: Blondes craving a hydrating shampoo with mild-medium toning results.
Davroe Blonde Senses
Combat brassy tones in blonde or grey hair with Davroe's Blonde Senses system. This Australian-made range neutralises unwanted tones to leave blondes fresh and vibrant. With a vegan formula, natural ingredients and no sulphates, Davroe is suitable for sensitive scalps.
Best for: Blondes seeking an Australian-made toning system with natural and vegan ingredients.
Pro Tip: The Davroe Blonde Senses range is available as a trio pack. Buy the toning shampoo, conditioner and ends repair treatment together and save!
Matrix Total Results So Silver
For maximum toning power, look no further than the Matrix So Silver collection. Formulated with Antioxidants, this conditioner strengthens damaged and porous hair leaving you with a brilliant shine.
Best for: Platinum blondes seeking a highly-pigmented purple shampoo and conditioner.
Pro Tip: Buy together to save. The Matrix So silver shampoo and conditioner are available as a duo pack!
PRO TIPS TO KEEP YOUR BEST BLONDE
1) Be mindful of the sun
The warmth of the sun can change more than just your skin colour. Ironically, the sun darkens skin while lifting hair colour. This is due to our skin cells being alive whereas our hair is not. The sun bleaches and lightens melanin in your hair. As hair is already dead, it will remain lightened until new hair grows in. By contrast, skin is alive and responds to sun damage by growing more melanin and ultimately darkening.
While hair lightening might not sound like a bad thing, sunshine is notorious for bringing warm tones to blonde hair. Whenever possible wear a hat in direct sunlight to prevent your blonde from turning brassy.
2) Stay careful around chlorine
Chlorine is a bleaching agent, meaning it can alter hair colour. We suggest minimising the amount of time you spend in the pool, and when you do dive in, make sure to rehydrate with a hair mask when you get home.
3) Keep up with colour treatments
BONUS tip: Ask your stylist about including a bond-protecting system in your service. Colour bonding treatments help to protect each strand of hair during the lightening process. You've likely heard of Olaplex, one brand of bond builder. We carry three alternative and competitive systems - OSMO Chromaplex, Matrix Bond Ultim8, and HiLift Cureplex.
