“Giang, why does my blonde keep turning orange or brassy? I’ve tried toner. I’ve tried purple shampoo. Nothing works.”
Ladies, if this sounds like you, I want you to know something:
The problem might not be your purple shampoo.
And you might not need another toner.
Sometimes we need to go back and look at what is actually underneath your blonde.
I specialise in blonde transformations at Hair By Giang in Brisbane, including Creamy Blonde Balayage, Dark to Blonde in One Session where suitable, and Colour Correction to Creamy Lived-In Blonde.
One of the biggest problems I see is women trying product after product to get rid of brassiness without understanding why their blonde is becoming orange or yellow in the first place.
Why does my blonde keep turning brassy??
So let me explain it simply.
Why does blonde hair turn orange or brassy?
When dark hair is lightened, it doesn’t immediately become creamy blonde.
As the hair lightens, different underlying warm pigments are exposed.
You may see red, orange, yellow-orange and yellow before reaching a pale yellow blonde.
This is completely normal during the lightening process.
But here’s where the problem can happen.
If you’re trying to achieve a very light creamy blonde but the hair hasn’t been lifted far enough for that target result, there can still be significant underlying warmth.
Then toner is applied over that warmth.
Your hair might look beautiful when you leave the salon.
But as that toner gradually fades, the underlying warmth can become visible again.
And suddenly you’re thinking:
“Why is my blonde orange again?”
Why isn’t toner fixing my brassy blonde?
This is something I really want women to understand.
Toner and lightener do two different jobs.
Toner can neutralise or refine unwanted tones.
But toner isn’t always able to replace the lightening stage required for a significantly lighter result.
If your desired result requires a lighter underlying level than your hair has safely reached, repeatedly toning the hair may temporarily change how the warmth looks without addressing the underlying level.
That’s why you can sometimes feel like you’re going around in circles:
Toner.
Looks better.
Toner fades.
Orange comes back.
Another toner.
Looks better again.
Then the warmth comes back.
At that point, I want to understand why the warmth keeps returning, rather than automatically applying another toner.
Why isn’t purple shampoo removing the orange from my hair?
Purple shampoo is useful, but it has limitations.
Purple is primarily used to neutralise yellow tones.
If your hair is showing stronger orange warmth, purple shampoo alone may not give you the creamy blonde result you’re trying to achieve.
And using more purple shampoo doesn’t necessarily solve the underlying issue.
That’s why I don’t want my clients depending on purple shampoo every few washes just to like their blonde.
Home care should help maintain beautiful colour.
It shouldn’t have to rescue a colour you’re unhappy with.
Does blonde need to be lifted to level 9 or 10?
This depends on the blonde you’re trying to achieve.
If we’re aiming for a very light, clean, creamy blonde, we may need to reach an appropriate lighter underlying level before refining the final tone.
But this is important:
I will not chase level 9 or 10 if your hair isn’t healthy enough to safely get there.
Your hair condition always comes first.
I assess your previous colour, existing lightener, strength, elasticity, porosity and overall condition before deciding how far I believe the hair can safely be taken.
Sometimes we can achieve a major transformation in one appointment.
Sometimes the right answer is:
“Your hair needs more time.”
I’d rather give you that honest answer than compromise your hair just to reach a number on a colour chart.
Can colour correction fix orange or brassy blonde?
Sometimes, yes.
If your hair has uneven lightening, bands, excessive warmth, old artificial colour or different levels throughout the hair, you may need a colour correction rather than another standard toner appointment.
Colour correction isn’t simply putting another colour over the top.
I need to understand:
- Where is the unwanted warmth?
- What colour history is underneath it?
- Which areas need further lightening?
- Which areas need protection?
- How healthy is the hair?
- What blonde are we actually trying to achieve?
- How can we create a more even canvas before refining the final colour?
This is why colour correction can be very different from a normal blonde appointment.
Will my blonde still become brassy after a colour correction?
No hairstylist should promise that blonde can never change.
Toners can fade, and things such as water quality, minerals, heat, UV exposure, products and your home-care routine can influence how blonde looks over time.
But getting the foundation of the blonde right can make a huge difference.
I saw this recently with one of my clients.
She came back to see me after approximately 14 months.
And she said:
“Wow, my blonde still looks beautiful. I still love it.”
What surprised her was that she hadn’t been constantly using purple shampoo.
She told me she might use it around once a month.
Yet her blonde had remained soft and beautiful as it grew out.
For me, that’s what good blonde work should be about.
Not making you dependent on the salon every few weeks.
Not making you constantly fight orange hair at home.
But creating a beautiful foundation and giving you a maintenance plan that works with your real life.
How do I stop my blonde from turning brassy?
If your blonde keeps becoming orange or yellow, don’t automatically buy another purple shampoo.
Ask:
Why is it becoming brassy?
Is the toner simply fading?
Is there stronger underlying warmth?
Was the hair lifted to the appropriate level for the blonde you’re trying to achieve?
Is there previous dark colour underneath?
Are different areas of the hair sitting at different levels?
Could minerals or product buildup be contributing?
Does the hair need colour correction?
And most importantly:
Is your hair healthy enough for additional lightening if that’s what is required?
These are the questions I would want answered before deciding what to do next.
Should I ask my hairstylist to bleach my hair again?
Please don’t simply walk into a salon and say:
“Bleach it again until it’s level 10.”
More lightening is not automatically the answer.
Ask your hairstylist to assess the condition of your hair and explain why the brassiness keeps returning.
If further lightening is appropriate and your hair can safely handle it, that may form part of a corrective plan.
If your hair isn’t strong enough, your stylist may recommend another approach or a staged transformation.
Healthy hair comes first.
Where can I get brassy blonde or orange hair corrected in Brisbane?
If you’re in Brisbane, Queensland and you’ve been struggling with orange, yellow or brassy blonde despite repeated toner appointments and purple shampoo, I may be able to help.
At Hair By Giang in Brisbane, I specialise in personalised hair transformations including:
- Creamy Blonde Balayage
- Dark to Blonde in One Session where suitable
- Colour Correction to Creamy Lived-In Blonde
- Low-Maintenance Blonde
- Healthy Hair Treatment Plans
- Keratin Straightening
- Hair Extensions
But I don’t take every transformation without understanding the hair first.
If you’re looking for a quick appointment, I may not be the right hairstylist for you.
If you’re looking for someone to understand why your hair isn’t giving you the result you want and create a personalised plan for healthier, beautiful, creamy blonde hair, that’s where I can help.
Ready to fix your brassy blonde?
Start with my Pre-Consultation Application.
Send me:
- Photos of your current hair
- Your hair colour history
- Photos of your dream result
- What you’ve already tried
- What you don’t like about your current colour
I’ll review your hair first and determine whether I believe I can help you achieve the transformation you’re looking for.
Hair By Giang — Brisbane, QLD
Specialising in Creamy Blonde Balayage, Dark-to-Blonde Transformations and Colour Correction to Creamy Lived-In Blonde.
Complete the Pre-Consultation Application to get started.