Color correcting shampoos are available in salons and some big box stores. For blonde hair, use purple shampoo to neutralize brassy yellow and orange undertones. If you're a brunette, use blue shampoo to get rid of red hues. For ashy hair, try a clarifying shampoo that gets rid of cool tones.
Wash with Clarifying Shampoo: This can help fade the color. Wash a few times to see if it lightens. Use a Color Remover: Products like color removers can help remove the gray without damaging your hair too much. If the Gray is Permanent: Lightening: You may need to use a bleach to lift the color. Here's how:
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.
Often, a couple of regular washes can fade these gray tones.
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.)
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.
Purple and yellow are opposites on the color wheel, which means they can be used to counteract one another. Since blonde hair that's turned brassy looks yellow, a pigmented purple shampoo can actually neutralize the yellow hue and take you back to the ashy blonde color you wanted in the first place.
Highlighted hair is often porous and can take on ash tones heavily – the hair then appears greyish or sometimes even silver. When you say your blonde highlights look grey, it is often because they take on a grey-blue tone, sometimes all over and sometimes in patches.
➕ BLEACH WASH: this is the ideal option for an all over blonde that got a bit overtoned. Mixed lightener powder, developer and shampoo and apply to damp hair. Watch it and rinse after about 5-15 mins.
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.
Don't use a leaf blower or a household vacuum to remove the ash. This will only create a cloud of ash that is dangerous for you and your neighbors to breathe. Instead, gently sweep to move the ash off surfaces or use a gentle low-pressure stream of water. Don't wash the ash down the storm drain.
DROP IT will last between 2-10 washes depending on how many drops used. Model Tara uses 2 drops of Ash Blonde added into conditioner.
Ash blonde hair will gradually fade into a lighter or even brighter blonde. However, the cool undertones (blue, ash, violet) in ash blonde hair tend to fade the quickest over time, and when that happens, your ash blonde hair may start looking warm, yellow, or brassy.
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.
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.
"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.
Clarifying Shampoo
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.
If you want to lighten your ash blonde hair, consider using a high-lift blonde dye or a gentle bleach. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully to avoid damage.
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.
Best Toner for Natural Grey Hair
The best toners for blending your lengths in with your natural grey hair are the Wella Colour Charm T18 Lightest Ash Blonde and Wella Colour Charm T14 Pale Ash Blonde.