How do you fix highlights that are too ashy?

Author: Chauncey Dickinson  |  Last update: Saturday, August 30, 2025

Ashy Hair Color Correction
  1. Use A Clarifying Shampoo. If you have ashy hair and want to tone the color down, then clarifying shampoos will do the trick. ...
  2. Wash Your Hair Regularly. ...
  3. Use Lemon Juice. ...
  4. Use Warm Colors. ...
  5. Color Remover To The Rescue. ...
  6. Bleach Wash. ...
  7. Hair Gloss For Those Ashy Tones.

How to make ashy highlights warmer?

Add warmth. This can be done in a salon by adding a gloss or toner onto the hair. But if you're looking to solve your ashy issue at home, reach for a color-correcting treatment, like the Better Natured Color Refreshing Crème in Rose Gold.

What color cancels out ash?

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.

How do you fix over toned highlights?

Make sure you get washed immediately after you notice you have over-toned those locks! Most toners are not permanent, therefore eventually, after several washes, the 'cool' tones will fade. If you want that toner gone quicker, 2-3 washes with a clarifying shampoo will start to remove the blue, grey or purple stains.

How do you neutralize highlights?

Use a Purple or Blue Toner: If your highlights are too light and brassy, using a toner can help neutralize unwanted warmth. Purple toners counteract yellow tones, while blue toners counteract orange tones. Application: Mix the toner according to the instructions and apply it to the highlighted areas.

HOW TO TONE DOWN BLONDE HAIR

How to remove ashy tones from hair?

Wash that Ash Right out of Your Hair

You can also try a clarifying shampoo. Also known as purifying or detox shampoos, clarifying shampoos remove color and product buildup for an extra-deep cleanse. (Do not use a color-safe clarifying shampoo; the idea here is to wash out as much color as possible.)

What to do if you don't like highlights?

How to Get Rid of Highlights: An Expert Guide
  1. 01 of 05. Add Lowlights. Want to tone down the intensity of your highlights, while still keeping some dimension? ...
  2. 02 of 05. Shadow Root or Color Melt. ...
  3. 03 of 05. Use a Darker Gloss or Toner. ...
  4. 04 of 05. Cut Off the Highlights. ...
  5. 05 of 05. Use Permanent Color.

How to lighten toned highlights?

Steps
  1. Shampoo your hair with a clarifying shampoo as soon as you get home. If it's a toner that has made your highlights too dark, you may be able to remove some of it by giving your hair a quick wash. ...
  2. Use dish soap as a shampoo for extra color-stripping power. ...
  3. Try a purple shampoo if your highlights are brassy.

Does purple shampoo strip toner?

This is because it can strip the toner out of the hair! Instead, wait until your toner has faded completely before fixing any brassy tones with a purple shampoo.

Do highlights get lighter after a few washes?

Do Highlights Get Lighter After a Few Washes? In some cases, highlights can get lighter after a few washes and fade over time.

How to fix hair that's too ashy?

Ashy Hair Color Correction
  1. Use A Clarifying Shampoo. If you have ashy hair and want to tone the color down, then clarifying shampoos will do the trick. ...
  2. Wash Your Hair Regularly. ...
  3. Use Lemon Juice. ...
  4. Use Warm Colors. ...
  5. Color Remover To The Rescue. ...
  6. Bleach Wash. ...
  7. Hair Gloss For Those Ashy Tones.

How to fix ash blonde highlights that look gray?

Simply washing your hair can help fade the grey tones, so can washing with a clarifying/cleansing shampoo. Cleansers remove colour and product buildup, but do go easy with these, as using them too much can cause the hair to dry out.

Why does my ash blonde hair look green?

If you have little or no warm pigments in your hair, the ash colour can give your hair a green tint. The same can happen when your hair is bleached or de-coloured. Here too, the problem is that there is little or no warmth left in the hair and thus no red pigment that can neutralise the green/blue pigment in the dye.

How can I look less ashy?

Say Goodbye To Ashy Skin

Be sure to drink lots of water and run a humidifier at night. In addition, wear sunscreen daily, exfoliate weekly, and don't forget to take lukewarm showers and baths (or don't soak too long in your hot one). To properly care for your ashy skin, having the right skincare products is essential.

How do you darken ash highlights?

Darken your highlights by applying toner and developer. For a quick fix, try using a colored dry shampoo or color-depositing shampoo to even out the tone. A gloss treatment, semi-permanent, or permanent hair color gives more drastic, longer-lasting results.

How do you keep ash blonde hair Ashy?

For ash blonde hair, the single most important rule is to always use a shampoo and conditioner set that's designed to maintain light tones. Thanks to the innovations of hair science, stylists have come up with a solution to keep brassy, yellow shades from ruining your perfect platinum.

What happens if I leave purple shampoo in my hair for 30 minutes?

If you leave purple shampoo in your hair for 30 minutes, the risk of over-toning increases significantly. While purple shampoo is designed to neutralize brassy or yellow tones, leaving it on for an extended period can lead to overly cool or even purple-tinted hair, especially for those with light or porous hair.

What will remove toner from hair?

Start by washing your hair with a strong clarifying product, such as clarifying shampoo, dandruff shampoo, baking soda, or dish soap. If you need a slightly more powerful solution, try removing the toner overnight with lemon juice.

When should you not use purple shampoo?

"You want to stop using it two weeks before any lightening service. The purple shampoo can cause build up making the hair look dull and darker if overused." This makes the lightening process more difficult to create a seamless blend.

Can highlights be toned down?

What to do with highlights that are too light? First things first, try a toner. While your highlights may seem too bright, it could be that you're actually seeing undesired tones in them, and a toner can help level things out.

How to fix over toned hair fast?

One effective remedy is the use of clarifying shampoos or treatments to help remove excess toner and buildup from the hair. These products work by gently stripping away unwanted color deposits and restoring the hair's vibrancy.

How do you get rid of brassy tones in highlights?

  1. ADD A PURPLE SHAMPOO TO YOUR REGIMEN. Need an at-home brassy hair fix? ...
  2. TRY AN ANTI-BRASS PURPLE HAIR MASK. ...
  3. HEAD TO THE SALON FOR A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION. ...
  4. CHOOSE THE RIGHT HAIRCOLOR FOR YOU. ...
  5. PROTECT YOUR HAIR FROM THE SUN & POOL. ...
  6. INVEST IN A SHOWER FILTER. ...
  7. USE BLONDE HAIRCARE PRODUCTS.

Can you correct bad highlights?

To fix, go back in and apply lightener to more strands, trying to not overlap onto previously highlighted areas. Solution to Too Light “white” Locks: Tinting back is a process the pros use to apply permanent hair color to the scalp area and shaft to the ends to create warmth and balance throughout the hair.

How to undo highlights in hair?

5 Expert Methods for Removing Highlights From Hair
  1. Lowlights. You can quickly eliminate your highlights with lowlights to tone them down and keep the dimension. ...
  2. Using a Dark Gloss or Toner. ...
  3. Cut The Highlights Out. ...
  4. Do an All-Over Color.

How do you fix dull highlights?

8 Foolproof Ways to Brighten Dull Hair
  1. Remove product build-up with a clarifying shampoo. ...
  2. Neutralize brassy tones with a purple shampoo. ...
  3. Try applying a color-depositing conditioner. ...
  4. Boost hydration with a luminous hair mask. ...
  5. Book in for a glazing or glossing service. ...
  6. Apply a hair oil before and after styling.

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