Figuring out how to keep blonde hair from turning yellow is a pain for blondes (even natural blondes!) but it doesn’t need to be stress you out. With a only a few added steps in your regular hair routine, you can keep yellow tones from appearing in your hair forever. Sound good? So, I’m sure you’re asking, what are the steps?
Using a purple shampoo weekly will cancel out those yellow tones, or if you want to include some toning with some moisture or a reparative treatment, there are a lot of purple hair masks that can multi-task by neutralizing yellow while leaving hair softer (see our recommendations below!)
Washing your hair frequently causes hair color to fade faster. This is particularly difficult for blondes because when blonde hair color fades, the pigment underneath is yellow. Extending the time between washes will keep your hair bright for longer.
The sun is another culprit in causing hair color to fade. Wearing a hat or a hair sunscreen whenever you find yourself in the sun will protect your hair from color fade and damage.
Blonde hair is also susceptible to brassiness due to minerals and other impurities in the water. Getting a shower filter to filter all of that out will keep your hair shiny and golden.
Purple shampoos and purple hair masks have ultraviolet pigment which is important specifically for blondes because purple cancels out yellow. Similarly, blue cancels out orange, which is why there has been a proliferation of blue shampoos on the market to help brunettes get rid of brassy orange tones.
This affordable blonde shampoo from Eva NYC is chock full of moisturizing ingredients to give your hair moisture while it tones your hair. This is great because purple shampoos can tend to be drying. This is one of Eva NYC’s best products so if you’re looking for a purple shampoo at a drugstore price this is a great place to start.
The Unite Blonda Purple Shampoo recently went viral when Hailey Bieber said she used the shampoo, but it’s been long loved by many for the miracles it works on blondes as well as those with grey and silver hair. You only need to use it once a week and leave it in your hair for 60 seconds after lathering to neutralize brassy tones.
For such a popular brand, Olaplex has a pretty tight assortment of products so it really says something that they have a purple shampoo. Beyond neutralizing brassy tones, it also repairs and hydrates after just one use. It contains Olaplex’s patented bond building technology that has made their line famous for bringing damaged hair back to life.
Redken has some amazing shampoos and their purple shampoo is highly rated for its ability to tone blonde hair cooler while also strengthening hair. It makes hair softer and protects your color long after you’ve stepped out of the shower. This purple shampoo should be left on for 3-5 minutes but it works some serious magic on yellow and orange-toned blonde hair.
Don’t let the price tag fool you—this is a very strong purple shampoo that will neutralize the brassiest of blondes. I would even use gloves for this one, but if you’re looking for something that will do the job without having to pay a lot, this purple shampoo from Schwarzkopf will do the trick. It straddles purple and blue (blue neutralizes orange tones) so it works well for those looking to get rid of orange tones in their hair as well.
Kerastase’s blond shampoo uses hyaluronic acid to nourish blonde hair while it tones color. Nearly everyone who has used it swears by this shampoo for the immediate transformation in color. Use this weekly and you’ll never have to worry about brassy blonde locks again.
If your blonde hair looks brassy but you don’t want to risk drying out your hair with a purple shampoo, this Amika purple hair mask is a savior. This hair mask deep conditions as it tones. It is strongly-pigmented, but it will also leave your hair super soft.
The Unite BlondaFix Treatment fixes yellow tones while also repairing and strengthening the hair. If your hair has been bleached and feels dry and dull this is a great mask to restore your health and neutralize yellow tones. It leaves blonde hair silky and shiny and using once a week will keep brassy tones from your hair.
Verb is one of my favorite brands for affordable hair products and this purple hair mask is an amazing multitasker for getting rid of yellow tones while leaving hair soft. It makes a huge difference in one use to make bond hair cooler and hair is noticeably shinier as well.
Keeping blonde hair from turning yellow doesn’t need to be a battle. Incorporating a purple shampoo or hair mask into your regular routine will ensure your hair never turns yellow again. I personally love either following up your purple shampoo with a deep conditioning treatment or using a hair mask to counteract the drying effects of purple shampoo.
