How To Neutralize Red Tones In Hair

You’re probably aware of the struggle to fix brassy hair if you highlight, bleach, or dye your strands. The term brassiness is a general term that covers any hair color with too much warmth. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s one solution to all brassy hair. To properly remove it, it takes some more information to determine the exact type of brassiness you are experiencing. However, “yellow” is a better description for brassy blondes and platinum hair or “orange” for some brunettes. However, if your hair is dark brown or black, it might fade to a reddish hue. This distinction is essential when searching for the right solution. Before we discuss how to reduce red hair tones (because you aren’t just looking at things), let’s first explain why it happens. Bianca Hillier is a celebrity colorist and Olaplex ambassador. She explains that both black and brown hair has an underlying red pigment, regardless of whether it’s been colored or not. Many factors can cause unwanted warmth, such as heat and water. But Richy Kanadamy, colorist and R+Co member, says that an excessive amount of warm pigments causes brassy hair. Bustle says, “When you lighten hair, your natural hair becomes lifted to make way for the new color. It then turns reddish-orange and then yellow.” To preserve your hair’s color and eliminate any reddish tones, you must address brassiness from many angles—expert-backed advice on reducing red hair tones and preventing them from coming back up.

Consult A Professional For Your Color

First, what is the first step? Refer to a professional to help you choose the right color. Kandasamy advises that you start by choosing the right color for your hair. This will eliminate any unwanted brassiness or red pigments from your hair cortex. Hillier recommends that you consult a professional to help you choose the right color.

She explained that “We are experts in color theory.” “If someone wants to dye their hair brown, but they don’t want to deal with the red, then you will need to add more ash to the formula.” A brown at-home dye from the shelf may look appealing to a beginner. But, it would help if you considered all the science in the hair to get the desired results.

Use Heat Protectant

After you have chosen the color you want, you are responsible for maintaining it. It’s essential to protect your hair from heat, especially if you have a color. Stephanie Brown is a master colorist at IGK SoHo. Oxidation can cause hair to turn brassy. Heat is one factor that can lead to oxidation. Brown recommends that you only heat-style your hair when necessary and use a heat protector whenever you do.

Protect Your Hair from the Sun

Protect your hair from more flat irons, curling Irons, and blow dryers. Hillier says that heat, even the sun, can expose hair to warmth. Brown recommends wearing hats to prevent oxidation by UV rays. Hillier also suggests that you use your thermal protector when you are blow drying outside or intend on spending time in the heat. Hillier says that a good thermal protector is essential, regardless of whether it’s a cream, spray, or oil. Hillier’s choice of cocktail: A little Olaplex No. 6 (leave-in smoothing cream) or No. 7 (UV-protected) to protect the skin from the sun and preserve the color.

Wash Your Hair Wisely

It is not surprising that washing hair causes the color to fade. If this happens, expect to see warm tones increase. Your color problems could be caused by everything from water temperature to how frequently you wash your hair. So, it’s worth making changes to your routine.

First, do not use hot water. Instead, use warm or lukewarm temperatures to shower. This will prolong your hair’s color. Kandasamy suggests using specific formulas for color-treated hair to protect it from fading. Only do a little shampooing. Hillier says that while an excellent sulfate-free formula can minimize fading, not all shampoos are capable of preventing it. To absorb oil, wash your hair as often as you have to.

Use Pigmented Shampoo

A purple shampoo may work for blonde friends, but it won’t be adequate to neutralize red tones. It all comes down to color theory. To eliminate unwanted tinges, you must choose the right color to counter them. Purple shampoo removes yellow tones, while blue shampoo cancels them. What happens if you mix red and blue? You get purple. You can get purple if you are experiencing redness.

Brown explained that green is a complementary color to red. “Green is complementary to red, just as purple is complementary and blue is complementary. Brown warns that these shampoos can make hair look muddy. Mix them with regular shampoo once a week. Brown suggests that you experiment with the pigmented shampoo alone if it isn’t strong enough. Remember to condition. These shampoos can be dried, so prepare your hair with a conditioning masque.

For brass tone down, consult a colorist.

This list includes the first step of this list, which was to visit a professional. It’s also the last step. Hillier explained that the color of your hair would fade faster than your natural color. Hillier recommends that you use a gloss or toner with ash- or green-toned tones to make a big difference. It is essential to use the correct toner formulation. Kandasamy says, “You can cover it at home, but it always comes back.” Kandasamy recommends that you see a professional hair stylist to have a toner applied to your hair to reduce brassiness.

One last tip: take photos. Hillier emphasizes the importance of communication. If you show me a picture and tell me that you see red, I can help you control it better.