Brassy banned
You can prevent your blonde locks losing their lustre with some helpful tips from these hair care experts, writes
EVERY blonde knows that, of all the hair disasters likely to strike between salon appointments, developing unwanted brassy locks might just be the worst.
Even if you shell out a small fortune getting the perfect creamy colour at the hairdressers, just a few short weeks later, your hair can often turn an undesired shade as your icy tone fades fast.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent and fix an attack of the brassy blondes. Here’s what the experts say...
TIP 1 Shampoo only once
Lather, rinse, repeat. It’s a mantra many of us follow in the shower but all that double cleansing could be stripping your hair of its precious colour – and with no real benefit to its cleanliness.
“Keeping the beautiful work your stylist created as long as possible starts with shampooing less,” said Michael Shaun Corby, global creative director of Living Proof (livingproof. com). “I always advise shampooing once, not twice, because you don’t need it.”
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Lightening Shampoo, £6.99.
TIP 2 Dry hair immediately out of the shower
You might think leaving your locks to naturally air dry is the best way to keep your blonde in top condition but experts say this is the first mistake many people make.
“The longer the hair is wet, the more the [blue] molecule is prone to fall out of the hair,” said Corby.
“Rather than waiting, get your hair dry straight out of the shower using a hairdryer and spray in lots of heat protection.”
Davines Melu Shield Heat Protection Spray, £26.10 for 250ml.
TIP 3 Skip straighteners
It’s tempting to recreate those perfect loose curls you left the salon with but if you want your blonde to go further, it’s a good idea to limit your use of heated tools.
“Excess heat can cause blondes to go brassy, especially if your colourist uses a toner,” said Katie Hale, head of colour at Charles Worthington (charlesworthington.com). “The more heat used, the more it effects the cuticle, which strips out any toner or anti-brass shampoos used on the hair.” Slipsilk hair scrunchies, £39 for a pack of three.
TIP 4 Go for a colour refresh
“Pop in to see your colourist for a ‘colour refresh’,” said Hale. “This usually involves applying a glaze to remove any brassy tones and amp up cooler ashy tones.”
Hair toner can help correct or personalise your colour, to control brassiness and keep hair looking healthy. The blonde toners used by hairdressers usually come in a purple colour, since the violet reduces yellow tones and eliminates brassiness. A silver shampoo or home toner can help keep your colour in peak condition between appointments too.
Living Proof Colour Care Whipped Glaze, £24.
TIP 5 Change your shampoo game
“Use a clarifying shampoo, such as the A’kin Moisture Rich Wheat Protein Shampoo (£14.40 for 500ml, lookfantastic.com) on the hair once a week,” advises Hale. These shampoos remove the build-up of pollution or product (like dry shampoo) that coats the hair and makes it look dull.
Drying sulphates are chemicals used as foaming agents to form a lather in many shampoos but they can strip hair of their natural oils, so look out for sulphate-free options, which are kind to colour-treated locks.
As a general rule, most experts recommend washing your hair every two to three days and although opinion is divided on the matter, the majority say washing too much can cause hair breakage. “Wait for three days before you shampoo and maybe even make it four, if you can,” says Corby.
Bumble and Bumble Gentle Shampoo, £22.50
TIP 6 Dry shampoo is your best friend
A decent dry shampoo will remove all the excess oil, sweat and odour built up in the strands, leaving you with fresh, clean hair.
“You want to spray, wait for 30 seconds and then brush it out,” is Corby’s go-to technique.
Living Proof Prefect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, £18 for 198ml.