Brass is the enemy of most Blondes and the constant battle keeps us toning and purple shampooing to remove all signs. What causes blonde hair to revert back to warmth and why does it keep happening even after a toner?

TONER FADE

When we lighten hair, we lift it to a pale yellow and never to white. This is the colour it should be pre toner. The reason why we don't lighten hair to white is that this is the point when hair breaks so we lighten hair to pale yellow and then tone it to a clean blonde by counteracting the yellow. This means that pale yellow undertone is always hiding behind the toner. As the toner fades off with hair washing, this pale yellow tone will present itself after about 3-4 weeks. This is why your hairdresser will recommend a purple toned shampoo, conditioner or treatment to use at the 3 week mark to keep this counteracting colour present. The other alternative would be to visit the salon 3-4 weeks after your blonde colour for a refresher toner. This will help keep your blonde clean and fresh until your next blonding session at the 6-8 week mark.

Click here to read 'WHY TONER IS SO IMPORTANT TO YOUR BLONDE HAIR'

SMOKING

We know smoking is bad for your health and that includes your hair. Smoking can dehydrate not only your skin but your hair as well. The nicotine can cause yellow staining on teeth, nails and yes your hair. The hair will absorb toxins from the air and if you are always around cigarette smoke then the hair will absorb this and have a yellow orange tinge. If your toner is having trouble holding or your hair is never the clean blonde you desire, then it may be time to give up the fags.

HAIR IRONS

Just like an iron can leave a yellow burn stain on your favourite shirt, overuse of hair irons can do the same to your hair. And just like the shirt burn satin, the hair iron burn stain does not come out in the wash. In fact, this discolouration won't even budge with bleach. If you have warmer ends of the hair or gold patches for no reason, it's time to lower the tempurature of your hair irons or put them down all together.

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS

I'm talking polution, smoke, hard water, chlorine etc. As stated before, hair is highly absorbant of the environment it lives in. To help counteract any environmental absorbtion, make sure you use a moisture treatment once a week. Hair that is dehydrated will draw moisture in from any source it can find, including the environment (this is why our hair frizes in the humidity). Hydrated hair will absorb less environmental toxins. You can also use a deep cleansing shampoo once a week, especially if you swim a lot or work outside in a dirty environment.

OVERUSE OR PURPLE TONING SHAMPOO

Toning shampoos, conditioners and treatments are designed for minimal use. Once a week or fortnight 3 weeks after your colour. Anything more or excessively over pigmented products can build up in the hair, causing a dull, murky tone. As this overtoning fades, the red pigment from the purple tone remains, especially at the ends of the hair where the hair is most porous. This remains as a warm, orange tone to the hair with a hint of cool. In the Hairdressing Industry we call this colour 'green/gold' and it's never pretty!

Click here to read 'COULD YOUR PURPLE SHAMPOO BE DAMAGING TO YOUR BLONDE?'

We all know blonde hair takes extra care and maintenance and these tips will hopefully help keep your hair as fresh looking as the day you leave the salon