Why Does My Hair Go Brassy?

A client awaits a hair transformation at the salon.

Intro

If your blonde, balayage, or highlighted hair keeps turning yellow, orange, or warm far too quickly, you’re not alone.

Brassiness is one of the most common frustrations I see in the salon and it usually has more than one cause.

What “brassy” hair actually means

Brassy hair is hair that reveals unwanted warm tones (yellow, gold, orange) after colouring.

This happens when the cooler pigments that balance warmth fade or were never strong enough to begin with.

The most common reasons hair goes brassy

• Natural underlying pigment showing through

• Toner fading faster than expected

• Hair that has been over-lightened

• Using the wrong shampoo or hard water exposure

• Previous box dye or uneven colour history

Why purple shampoo alone doesn’t fix it

Purple shampoo can help maintain a tone, but it cannot correct the structure of the colour underneath.

If the base isn’t balanced properly, brassiness will always return.

The professional approach

In the salon, brassiness is treated by assessing:

• The underlying level

• Porosity differences

• Front vs back hair behaviour

• Whether a shadow, fill, or corrective toner is needed

  
  

This is why two people with “the same blonde” can need completely different solutions.

If your hair keeps going brassy despite using the right products, a professional assessment may be needed to rebalance the colour properly. Book a Colour Consultation