Why can’t my hair stay the same colour blonde all year round and why it turns yellow and brassy

Platinum, creamy, sandy, ash, golden, dirty and honey are just some of the stunning shades of blonde that our client’s request, and we honestly LOVE them all. There is no denying, fresh blonde locks are an absolute show stopper.  But, as any blonde knows, having these beautiful hues takes work. It is a MUST that you take loving care of your hair, and treat her right. 

Now that winter is well and truly upon us, you may have noticed more, that your beautiful blonde colour is starting to fade and throwing those yellow and brass tones. Dry winter temperatures cause blonde locks to generally fade faster than other hair colours, as the hair is generally more fragile. 

There are two main reasons why blonde hair turns yellow/brassy. The first one is that the toner used to achieve your beautiful hue has washed out, unfortunately they don’t last forever. And the second is the lighter your hair the more porous it is, and the more your toner is going to fade because porous hair doesn’t retain moisture well.  Plus your natural hair colour may naturally have those brassy and yellow tones. Purple shampoo is a non-negotiable for blonde hair. On the colour wheel, yellow and violet are opposites, so purple is used to cancel out those overly warm tones. The Kerastase blond absolu range available in-salon provides deep ultra-violet care for lightened or highlighted hair. It hydrates sensitised hair, protects hair from oxidation, instantly neutralises brassiness and boosts colour luminosity for bright shiny blonde hair. Find the blonde care routine designed for your blonde hair here.

We are only too happy to talk you through the best at home care plan, specifically tailored to you. But we cannot stress enough, that you must be using purple shampoo to help maintain your colour, and the Kerastase range is by far the best on the market. 

Environmental factors also play a role in the upkeep of your colour. I know one of my guilty pleasures is indulging in a steaming hot shower, particularly in winter. But, unfortunately for our hair this isn’t the best thing to be doing. When washing and conditioning your hair, where possible use cool/warm water, as this helps close the cuticle cells and has the added benefit of locking in the moisture. Other top tips for maintaining your optimum colour include not over washing your hair, maintaining a good diet with lots of good fats and even if you are trying to grow your hair, make sure you are having it regularly trimmed.

It is imperative that throughout winter you are implementing a deep conditioning treatment/hair mask to prevent dryness, as dryness generally = colour fading (resulting in brassy, golden and yellow tones). This is a step in your hair care routine that is a non-negotiable if you want to maintain your colour and the integrity of your hair.  The Kérastase Discipline Maskeratine Masque is a smooth-in-motion masque for sensitised to very sensitised and damaged hair. This high concentration rinse-out conditioning formula provides shine and fluidity. It is a great all-round mask for blondes. 

We often get asked in the salon why can’t my blonde colour stay the same all year round? Obviously, we want to be delivering and providing you with the best colour for you each visit, but we also want to maintain the integrity of your hair. If you are taking great care of your hair, generally year-round we can keep your ideal colour. But if you are looking to rejuvenate and give your hair some extra love through the winter months, we sometimes recommend our clients to try balayage, bronde or some low lights, to try out some different hues, but also give your hair a slight break, whilst still being a blonde. Winter is a great time to experiment if you feel like trying a different shade of blonde. 

We LOVE blonde hair and pride ourselves on being blonde colour specialists. Our two top takeaways for maintaining those beautiful blonde locks are ensuring you are using a deep conditioning hair mask or treatment, along with a purple based shampoo and or conditioner. Please reach out if you have any questions or are needing product advice on how to best care for your beautiful blonde hair, we are only too happy to help. 

We look forward to welcoming you into the salon!