Brassy hair can be challenging. Those warm orange and yellow tones that crop up after you colour your hair are often frustrating to see, but it’s not too difficult to neutralise them or even prevent them entirely, when you use the right products!

Generally, we think of brassy hair as an issue that pops up when dark hair is dyed blonde, but that’s not always the case. If your hair has been highlighted, or simply lightened to brown, you can get brassy hair too – so, whether you’re blonde or brunette, it’s something to bear in mind. 

There are a number of different products you can use to help manage brassy hair, from purple conditioner to hair oil, but how do they work? And why are they all purple?

The answer is simpler than you might think. On a standard colour wheel, purple is roughly opposite yellow and orange, making them opposite colours. By applying purple products to your hair, you can cancel out, or neutralise, the warmer tones you want to remove – it’s as easy as that!

However, by looking after your hair you can reduce the likelihood of developing these unwelcome warmer tones too – here’s how to tackle brassy hair.

If you’re able to, it’s best to stay out of the sun when your hair has just been coloured. Those hidden brassy tones may appear if your locks are exposed to the UV rays, so it’s best to at least wear a hat or use a spray. Avoid chlorine too, as it may damage and dry your hair out, making it more likely to become brassy.

When in the shower, try showering with cool water for a change – hot water may not preserve your colour as effectively. Meanwhile, showering with hard water (i.e., water with a high mineral content) can also make your hair turn brassy, as the minerals it contains have colour-changing properties, which isn’t ideal. It might be tricky, but spending less time washing your hair, or buying a water filter, can really help!

Managing brassy hair can be made simple too. Our Colour Protect range of products are all formulated to be used in conjunction with our Excellence Cool Crème range of box dyes too, so colouring your hair has never been easier! 

Try our Colour Protect Anti-Brassiness Mask for some extra nourishment – you can use it alongside purple shampoo as part of your haircare routine. It has a rich texture, while the highly pigmented formula is effective even on darker bases to help manage and repair brassy hair. With purple toners and a UV filter, orange and yellow tones are neutralised straight away, while the mask helps provide care to your hair also. You only need to use it once a week, applying on damp hair after you use purple shampoo. Just leave it on for five minutes before rinsing off.

Also to be used weekly is our Colour Protect Anti-Brassiness Purple Conditioner. Like the mask above, it neutralises unwanted brassy tones while keeping your hair nourished – just massage into highlighted blonde, brunette or grey hair once a week, leaving it in for a couple of minutes before rinsing. 

After using the above products, you might decide to try the Colour Protect Purple Anti-Brassiness Hair Oil. It contains a unique Purple Oil formula which not only neutralises brassiness but also nourishes and soothes hair, making it perfectly smooth. You should apply two or three drops to damp or dry hair, before combing and drying your hair with your hairdryer and styling as normal. You can leave it in your hair too – there’s no need to rinse. Ideally, you should use the product every two to three days, especially after purple shampoo and conditioner, or our Anti-Brassiness Mask.
Need to get neutralise brassy hair? Just check out L’Oréal’s Elvive range, right here.