Blue based colors and toners are good at killing yellow-orange and will tone down hair very well. Use Ugly Duckling's blue based ash blonde colors (anything ending in "1b"). Aim for level 6 to 8 if you are looking to down down brassy hair. For extra strong "orange killing", you can squeeze in some Ash Blue Additive.
Vinegar Rinse: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water, apply it to the hair, leave it for a few minutes, and rinse. This can help tone down brassiness. Chamomile Tea Rinse: Brew strong chamomile tea, let it cool, and use it as a rinse after shampooing. It can brighten blonde hair.
If you're seeing yellow more than you' are seeing Orange, use a violet-based shampoo. Violet is light purple and purple neutralizes yellow. These types of shampoos have direct dyes in them that stain over the top of the hair. The more often you use them the more direct dye is overlaid on the hair shaft.
During the lifting process, a mixture of ammonia and bleach, along with peroxide, is applied to the hair and allowed to process until the existing color is either diluted or removed. Then tones are added back into the now bleached hair in order to give it the desired color.
Use Purple Shampoo and Conditioner
If you are seeking an at-home solution, start with purple shampoo and conditioner. "Purple shampoo is great for neutralizing yellow or brassy tones by balancing them with cool pigments," shares Korab.
One option is to re-bleach the roots to lift them to a lighter level before toning again. You need to get them to that very pale yellow - think the inside of a banana. This will help to ensure that your favourite toner can effectively neutralize any remaining yellow tones and match the rest of your hair perfectly.
PURPLE/VIOLET PRODUCTS
Purple/Violet Shampoos are super popular with blondes, and for good reason. They allow you to stay in control of any yellow tones that might appear without drastically changing your hair colour. Tint Department also stocks Purple/Violet Masks.
If you have light brown or golden blonde hair, there's no need to reach for the bleach: you can achieve an ice blonde hair colour without it. Simply choose a dye like Garnier Nutrisse Natural Light Ash Blonde, Shade 9.13 and you're ready to go!
“Purple shampoo works best to eliminate yellow, which is the unwanted tone that tends to pop up over time on bright blondes,” says Zanoni. While blue shampoo can still benefit hair, she adds that it's best used on brunettes who wish to eliminate orange tones.
As a 2nd step, I use L'Oreal Excellance - 9A shade - light Ash Blonde to achieve platinum hair color. Ash cancels the yellow. But make sure to only apply the ash product on the hair that you bleached that are yellow. The ends of your hair are usually much light and will absorb the ash color much quicker than the roots.
Purple toners are the best for brassy blonde hair! As a blonde, if you're seeing brass you're likely seeing unwanted yellow - and purple counteracts this.
For example, blue neutralizes orange, green balances red, and purple tones down yellow hues. That means, in order to target yellow, you need a touch of violet in your formula.
The professional toners used by your stylist tend to be more richly pigmented than toning shampoos used at home – however, purple shampoo (for blondes) and blue shampoo (for brunettes) are ideal to maintain a bright, ashy or cool colour in between salon visits.
You want the hair cuticle to be open for toning. Towel-dry hair to about 65 - 75% dry then start toning. Usually color & bleach is on dry hair, even toners and colors that do not require developer; however toner that uses developer is recommended on towel dried hair.
If your hair turned yellow after bleaching, you can apply the following on your hair: the red petals of hibiscus, purple shampoo, henna, and apple cider vinegar. Then, you can prevent that brassy tone from returning by making some changes to your hair care routine.
When deciding how to tone yellow hair to ash, try using a violet shampoo first. As purple is the opposite of yellow on the colour spectrum, the shampoo's purple pigment draws out the yellow brassiness from your blonde, neutralises those unwanted tones, and makes your colour look cooler, healthier and more vibrant.
Product Buildup: Product buildup is another culprit, as the residue from shampoos, conditioners, and styling products can accumulate on the hair, weighing it down and contributing to blonde hair darkening. This is especially noticeable in lighter hair shades, where even a slight change in color can be quite apparent.
Purple shampoo is a toning shampoo used for all shades of blonde hair to help preserve its color and keep locks looking healthy and vibrant. The shampoo essentially acts as a color-correcting toner for your hair without you ever having to step foot in a salon.
If you've got a warm golden blonde or caramel hair color, using purple shampoo and a toning conditioner treatment biweekly should be enough to keep brass at bay and those golden undertones shimmering.
Q: For folks who don't want ashy hair color, is it hard to fix? A: It's super easy to fix. When formulating your shade, your colorist will likely use a copper or golden tone to counteract the ash.