Remove Yellowing

Q: When I was younger, I had really blonde hair, but it's in my genes for it to turn brown. To my dismay, this year it went much darker than I wanted. I tried using some kind of lightening product (I can't remember the exact name) but at first my hair just went orange. I used it again thinking it would help, but now my hair has this weird straw-yellow color that I really don't like. Is there a product I can use to get rid of this yellowness, or am I going to have to dye it completely to get back to a normal color?

A: What you're experiencing is pretty common when people try to lighten their hair at home. The orange and yellow tones you're seeing are underlying pigments that get exposed during the lightening process. The good news is that there are ways to neutralize that unwanted yellow without having to start over with a completely different hair color.

Your best first step is to try a purple or blue-toned shampoo specifically designed for blonde hair. These products work on color theory. Purple and blue are opposite yellow on the color wheel, so they cancel out those brassy, yellow tones. Clairol's Shimmer Lights is a popular option that many people swear by, and you can find it at most drugstores or order it online. There's also Fanola No Yellow Shampoo, which tends to be a bit stronger, or Matrix Total Results Brass Off.

Start by using one of these shampoos once or twice a week, leaving it on your hair for about three to five minutes before rinsing. Don't use it every day initially because it can be pretty potent and might over-tone your hair, giving it a grayish or purplish cast if you're not careful.

If the purple shampoo doesn't give you the results you're looking for after a few weeks of consistent use, you might need to take a slightly more intensive approach, with a toner. A toner is basically a semi-permanent hair color with a violet or ash base that's specifically formulated to neutralize yellow and orange tones. Wella T18 Lightest Ash Blonde is a really popular drugstore option that works well for yellow hair. You'd mix it with a 20-volume developer and apply it all over your hair, then rinse it out after about 15-20 minutes.

When choosing a toner, you want to pick something that's actually a shade lighter than what your hair currently looks like, which might seem counterintuitive. The violet or ash base in the toner is what does the work of neutralizing the yellow. It's not really about adding more color as much as it's about canceling out the unwanted tones.

If you decide to go the toner route, make sure your hair is in decent condition first. All that previous lightening might have left it a bit dry or damaged, so consider doing a deep conditioning treatment a day or two before applying the toner. And always do a strand test first to see how your hair responds.

If you're still not happy with the results after trying these methods, or if you're nervous about doing more chemical processing at home, it might be worth investing in a consultation with a professional colorist. They can assess the current condition of your hair and recommend the best approach to get you back to a blonde shade you actually like.

©Hairfinder.com

See also:

Hair coloring

Hereditary hair color

Hair that looks yellow after going blonde as a brunette