Neutralizing Red Tones in Hair
Whether the salon chair is your home away from home or a future adventure awaiting your curiosity, chances are you have heard the term brassy tossed around. Brassiness in hair simply means too much warmth. As a blonde, this may appear as a yellow tone, an orange tone for some brunettes, or even red tones for those with black or dark brown hair. It is a pain point that all hair colors may fall victim to, but luckily, there are successful ways to get rid of brassy hair and rock the locks you’re after.
Where Do Red Undertones Come From, and How Can I Prevent Them?
Hair color is determined by the amount of pigment called melanin in your hair. An abundance of one type of melanin, eumelanin, gives people black or dark brown hair, whereas an abundance of another type, known as pheomelanin, results in red hair undertones.
Preventing these brassy or red tones from overwhelming your locks starts with protection. Exposure to the sun, UV light, heat, or chemicals such as chlorine can cause your hair color to oxidize, appearing discolored. So, embrace hat hair – poolside – and always use a heat protectant before you whip out your flat iron.
Exposure to the sun, UV light, heat, or chemicals such as chlorine can cause your hair color to oxidize and appear discolored.
But even with protection, red tones are notoriously stubborn. This is where the color wheel comes in. You use the one across from it to neutralize a certain color on the color wheel. So, in the event of red hair undertones, green and blue-green will be your go-to. This can come in the form of a toner or shampoo, but we’ll talk more about that later.
Getting Rid of Brassy Hair for Blondes
If you’re blonde, your goal is probably to eliminate brassy hair. This happens when your color starts to fade, or the warm undertones shine through a little too much, giving your blonde hair a yellow or orange look. The first step in avoiding brassiness is to choose a neutral blonde color and skip the “warm blonde” hair dyes. Then, using our color wheel technique, use violet shampoo and conditioner to offset any yellow tones that try to come through.
Neutralizing Red Undertones for Brunettes
Whether it’s been a few weeks since you’ve seen the salon chair or your natural locks have been basking in the summer sun, brunettes may start to see red hair undertones for many reasons. Whatever the reason, there are luckily a few ways to counteract this. For those who dye their hair, the first step to neutralizing red tones would be to avoid a “warm” or auburn dye and look for a cooler color with blue tones. Like blondes using a violet shampoo/conditioner, brunettes benefit by using a blue-tinted shampoo and conditioner to knock out stubborn red tones.
For those who dye their hair, the first step to neutralizing red tones would be to avoid a “warm” or auburn dye and look for a cooler color with blue tones.
Keeping Your Hair Color Well-Maintained
- Choose a salon-quality hair dye. Don’t be fooled by smaller price tags or seemingly easier dye process of lesser quality products – you will pay for that in the long run with corrective color and upkeep.
- Protect your delicate locks from the sun and heat. The sun exasperates the brassiness and red tones for both blondes and brunettes, so use a hat, minimize heat exposure, and utilize a heat protectant whenever you use heat tools.
- Utilize a brunette or blonde hair gloss. Glosses are a great way to restore your color’s vibrancy and tone between salon visits. They can be used weekly and give your hair a healthy, refreshed shine—all from the comfort of your home!
Overall, fighting brassiness or red hair undertones may seem overwhelming, but don’t let that deter you from taking the leap toward your dream color. Choosing the right color, taking some easy preventative measures, and using the right maintenance products will help you achieve–and keep–your color looking cool.
