Melanin goes through significant pigmentation changes throughout a person's life. In other words, your hair color doesn't stay the same color. This is why a blond child may become closer to a brunette in their teen and adult years.
Limit the use of heating tools : reduce the use of straighteners, curling irons and hair dryers, excessive heat combined with UV rays can damage blond hair and their natural coloring.
Only 2% of people stay bright blonde into adulthood, and celebrity colorist Jenna Perry confirms that attempting to recapture those youthful hues “is a really big topic of conversation amongst my clients.” Many former towheads turn to bleach, but recreating the exact shade from their childhood can be tricky.
Hair color can fade due to a variety of factors, including frequent washing and styling, using products containing sulfates, added salts, and even alcohols, exposure to sunlight, UVA and UVB rays, and even minerals in your water, chlorine and other chemicals. Here's a deep dive into each cause…
Keep in mind that purple shampoo does not replace your regular shampoo and should only be used once or twice a week. Doss warns that there is such a thing as too much purple. “When you eliminate too much yellow, it visually ends up darker and a lot of people don't want it to look darker,” she says.
To keep your blonde tresses sparkling, we recommend washing your hair with purple shampoo at least once a week, and alternating shampoos throughout the week. If you find that your hair is super brassy, or becomes yellow fairly quickly, try increasing your usage.
Palladino adds that toners aren't one specific product, and you can't go out and just buy a “toner.” Demi-permanent colors, glosses, tinted shampoos, and conditioners can all be considered toners because they all contain pigments that adjust the tone of your hair.
Our top pick for the best hydrating purple shampoo is Kérastase Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo. We also love Verb Purple Shampoo for its nourishing effect from roots to ends. For a formula with bonding technology, consider Amika Bust Your Brass Blonde Purple Shampoo or Olaplex No.
Our favorite color-depositing conditioner is the dpHue Gloss+ thanks to its wide range of shades, easy application, and ability to soften and hydrate hair. For a clear gloss that adds shine to any hair color, we recommend the Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat + Sheer.
USE BLONDE HAIRCARE PRODUCTS
Purple shampoo isn't just for emergencies. Using a toning shampoo 1-2 a week will help you maintain your salon-fresh blonde and prevent brassiness from appearing in the first place.
Limit washing: If you can, reduce how often you wash your hair to retain your hair's natural oils that protect colour. Use dry shampoo in between washes to absorb excess oil. Rinse your hair with cold water: Cold water seals your hair cuticles and prevents colour bleed.
Try a purple shampoo for brassiness
The smaller blue particles leave the hair cuticle first, which is why dyed blonde starts to look a bit orange. Violet or purple pigments compensate, so use purple shampoo a few times a week along with your regular products to help nourish and hydrate your hair.
The best strategy for taking care of natural blonde hair is to avoid chlorinated water. When possible, wear a ponytail or bun when you're in the water or go for full coverage with a swim cap. Also make sure to rinse your hair thoroughly both before and after getting in the pool to minimize chlorine absorption.
If you spend enough time in the sun, your hair will eventually become lighter on its own. But for safer and better results, enlist the help of a commercial hair lightening product, salt spray, or lemon juice.
So, to give your colour the best chance possible to prevent hair colour fade, make sure you're following all the usual rules about looking after the health of your hair: avoid using too much heat when styling, use a gentle, sulphate-free shampoo, and choose your hair dye wisely.
Sulfate in shampoo can cause hair color to fade. You will find many well-known brand shampoos that contain sulfates. The purpose of adding sulfate as an ingredient in the shampoo is for deep cleansing your hair.
Integrating hair treatments, leave in conditioners and heat protectors into your hair regime will help to prevent and repair damage and prevent dull blonde hair. A moisturising blonde conditioner like the Blondage High Bright Conditioner will help to restore the lost moisture in your hair.
Hair stylists often tone bleached or blonde hair to neutralize brassy yellow and orange tones on bleached hair with a purple color. Purple shampoo is a great at-home solution for toning hair and preventing brassiness.
"These tones can turn due to sunlight, washing with the wrong shampoo that doesn't protect colored hair, or a mistake made by a colorist, like not using a toner," says Rago.
If your bleached hair looks more yellow than orange, you'll need a purple toning shampoo to neutralise the yellow. If your hair's turned orange, you'll need a blue toning shampoo to tone the brassiness and get rid of the orange.