How To Fix Brassy Hair

When your hair color takes a turn toward the yellow or penny-hued side – and that is NOT the look you were going for – it CAN be fixed!

Solution 1:  Use Toner
Toner (also known as demi permanent color, glazes and glosses) is one of the best-kept secrets in the fight against brassy hair color.  Toners help to counteract unwanted color.  Toning incorporates the basic color principle that ‘opposite shades cancel each other out. '

Toning is usually done in a salon, although there are at home options available if you cannot make it to your favorite beauty parlor! Toner works to basically tone down the current shade of your hair. Remember...in order for toner to work successfully, the base color of your hair has to be correct. A toner helps to limit brassiness in the hair but it wont’ correct the shade of your base.  If the base color is too brassy to begin with, toner won’t really do much for you.  Keep in mind that using a toner acts as a temporary quick fix…don’t be too surprised if orange or yellow tones start to creep back up on you in a few weeks as your hair color fades.  Remember that clear toners or glosses will not typically soften or correct brassy color…but rather just add shine to your hair!

Solution 2:  Add Lowlights
When your color has taken a turn for the worst…Lowlights may just be your saving grace.  They will help to keep some variation in the hair and help to darken some of the pieces that may have become too light or brightly colored for your liking.  To reverse the look of orange tones, darker color can be added back into the hair.  Darker blonde shades will cool the hair without darkening it too much and the results can be beautiful!  Visit GotBeauty.com for a list of our salon services.

Solution 3:  Wash with a Violet Shampoo
Violet toned shampoos and conditioners, like Kava Sea Lights,Help to balance out orange or yellow tones in the hair since they sit opposite of orange on the color wheel.  They will cancel out some of the brassy or orange tones that are present.

Why Dark Hair Turns Orange When we Color It
If your natural color is dark and you want to lighten it without turning orange, you can ?  The most likely reason why dark hair turns orange is because the hair is over sensitized ( previously damaged from either chemicals or life) and lightened incorrectly.  This is especially the case with highlighting.  If the lightening agent (the color or bleach) is not chosen correctly, or not left on long enough the hair is not lightened past the point of removing the yellow or orange pigment.  Those pigments are exposed and it looks ‘brassy”.  
Of course, I am a HUGE fan of the Salon Experience…. but for those of you who are braving the waters of Home Hair color….here are my tips and tricks of the trade....

Tips and Tricks of the Trade:

    1.   Try and stay within 2 shades of your natural hair color.  

For the most natural looking results, it’s best not to lighten too much too quickly.  Especially when going from very dark to very light…your chances of going brassy is greater.

     2.    Add in Cool Tones

Dark hair has a tendency to turn orange because the undertones of dark hair are red and orange.  A good colorist will use the right formula for your hair and correct the undertones by balancing them out with cooler shades….then your color should not turn orange.  At home, it may be a little more difficult to choose the correct tones to help balance your brassiness.  If you don’t have a basic knowledge of chemistry or the color wheel… stay away from drug store color…. visit a p professional beauty supply to purchase your color so that you are able to get a professional recommendation.

       3.   Bring in Back Ups

Consider using a color gloss in a cool tone to finish off  your color and cool down any remaining warmth you may not want.

Be certain and use a shampoo and conditioner that will preserve your color.  It really DOES make a difference in the wear and tear of your desired color. Also…pick up a toning shampoo or conditioner!  Alternate it with your color preserving shampoo.  This will keep your brassies cool , calm

Worried you can't pull off Barbie pink blush or neon nails? Nonsense. Shocking shades are absolutely wearable if you employ a few easy application tricks:

Super bright blush:

A neutral blush swept across the cheek bones takes the kick out of a bold hue (like teaberry or hydrangea from Pops Cosmetics). Apply the louder color only to the apples of the cheek, where it will give off rosy warmth. 

Loud Lipstick:

To tame a fire engine red lip color, layer a warmer red liner underneath (try Pops Lip Pencil in Brick), then apply the lipstick only on the center of the lips! WaaLaa! A sexy pout suitable for day and night. 

Eye Popping Polish:

Trendy neon lacquer may look pretty, but certain shades can be too out-there for the office, or on anyone who is not a preteen. Dial down the crazier colors with a topcoat of subtle neutral shimmer. The combo will still look hip, but the pairing is a bit more mature.