“Help my hair has a yellow tint.”
So you’ve decided to begin the grey blending process and now your hair has a yellow tint. Here are a some reasons why. Previous artificial hair color, the age or length of the hair. The extent of porosity. Hard water and mineral deposits. Sun and or heat can reveal underlying pigment. That pigment is always a warm color, think yellow, orange or red.
You’ve probably been coloring your hair for years and now you want to quit coloring it. Outside of cutting it off, you will need to strip it out using bleach and or a color remover. When this process is complete, yellow or warm tones are revealed. This happens to every one and every strand no matter how light or dark the hair. This doesn’t mean it was done poorly. It is the science behind hair color.
The lightening process ALWAYS reveals warmth. This is the reason toning is going to be the new color service that will be required over the next several months to achieve and more importantly maintain the cool, silvery, grey tone. A little side note here: when hair color is warm, it reflects light, when it is cool/ash or silver it absorbs light. That is why cooler tones can appear darker than warmer tones. Cool toned colors are smaller molecules meaning they will shampoo out or fade in the sun quicker than warm tones will fade. It is so important to seal in or protect this new color by using color safe shampoos, conditioners, adding purple shampoos, moisture masques, heat protectants and hats to your routine all in an effort to extend the life of your newly acquired grey blend.
The quest for vibrant, long-lasting hair color can sometimes be marred by an unwanted shift towards yellow tones. However, understanding the true purpose of toners and color maintenance products can greatly improve your hair’s color longevity.
Toners, as their name implies, are designed to specifically correct the warmth or coolness of a color, fine-tuning it to your desired shade. They can counteract brassy or yellow undertones, for example, and leave you with a more nuanced, realistic color. On the other hand, shampoos and semi-permanent color products are formulated to maintain this corrected tone once the toner has been applied. They help keep the color from fading away prematurely, allowing you to enjoy your carefully crafted hair colors for a noticeably longer period.
While no color is truly foolproof, recognizing the critical role that toners and color maintenance play can significantly minimize yellowing, gray blending, and other unwanted color shift. By being intentional about using the right products in tandem, you can extend the beauty and vibrancy of your hair color, ensuring your locks stay healthy and fashionable for months to come.
What products or lifestyle changes have worked for you to extend the life of your grey blending service?
