Darker Hair for Blonde Women

Woman with short, dark blonde hair
Photo: Rade Kovac/Shutterstock
Q: I'm a natural blonde with light blonde hair on top and a medium blonde underneath. I wanted to dye my hair to match the medium blonde color that I have. I was told that natural blondes can't dye their hair because we lack green pigment and any color other than blonde will turn my hair green. Is that true?
 
A: Well, fortunately for the millions of hairdressers out there, what you were told is patently false. Otherwise, we’d lose out on tons of business from blonde women who want darker hair! While it is true that blonde hair doesn’t have "green" pigment, this is simply because green pigment isn't naturally occurring in human hair at all.
 
Natural hair color is formed through a combination of two types of melanin: pheomelanin (responsible for red and golden-yellow shades) and eumelanin (responsible for brown and black shades). The ratio and concentration of these two pigments determine your exact natural shade.
 

Why Blonde Hair Can Turn Green

So, why do some blondes end up with green hair after dyeing it darker? Two main reasons:
 
• Mixing Blue and Yellow: Many cool or ash brown and blonde dyes have a blue/green color base. If you put a cool-toned dye over light golden-yellow hair, basic color theory kicks in: Blue + Yellow = Green.
 
• Skipping the "Filler": Darker hair shades naturally rely on underlying warm red and orange undertones to look rich and natural. Very light blonde hair lacks these underlying warm tones. If you try to go significantly darker in one step without first replacing those missing warm base pigments (a process stylists call "filling" or pre-pigmenting), the dye will absorb unevenly and look dull, hollow, or muddy-green.
 
If a green cast does happen, it can be corrected using a red-based toner or dye to neutralize the green.
 
The bottom line? Don’t hesitate to change your hair color! Visit a local salon and talk to a professional about what you want. A skilled stylist will know how to properly tone your hair to match your natural medium blonde underneath, giving you an even color without any surprising green hues.
 
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See also:
 
Hair colors and coloring
 
Hair color with signs of a greenish hue
 
Swimming pools turning hair green