There’s one particular hair struggle that we hear about every single Summer. It comes with being out in the sun and elements, and it takes a little effort to counteract. Yep, we’re talking about keeping your ‘lites from turning brassy. Whether you’re the blondest blonde or a balayaged brunette, if you prefer to keep your hair cool or even neutral, it’s going to take a little extra work in the Summer. Lucky for you, we’re here to talk you through it.
Let’s spend just a minute talking about what brass is and how it happens. Everyone has warmth in their hair naturally. As hair is exposed to lightener and color, the warmth shows up in your balayage and highlights. Glazes, or toners, are what hairstylists use to combat the natural warmth when your preferred tone is cooler or more neutral than the level to which your hair naturally lifts. Which brings us to our tips for banishing brass through the summertime.
First up, don’t even THINK about skipping out on glazes during the summer months. The number one way to combat brassy tones throughout the warmer months is by coming in regularly for toning services. Glazes last an average of 4-6 weeks, but could be even less if you swim or spend a lot of time in the sun. We highly recommend scheduling out your glaze services if you want to keep your color the tone that you love.
We also recommend keeping your hair OUT of the sun and water as much as possible. Hats are your best friend, and the less you expose your hair to the summer elements, the better for your hair color.
If you can’t make it into the studio for your glazes, or if you want to maintain your color in between appointments, we highly recommend a purple or blue toned shampoo.
Color toned shampoo does not typically have the capacity to correct your color, but it will contribute to maintaining the tone of your hair. If you’re wondering what the heck blue shampoo is (we know purple is pretty well known), blue toned shampoos are typically for cancelling brass in either brunettes or natural silver hair.
Brass in the Summer may be inevitable, but there are definitely ways to counteract it and maintain the tones you love. Schedule your regular glazes, invest in an awesome color-toned shampoo, and keep your hair out of the sun! And if you have any questions about your hair tone and how to maintain it, ask your stylist at your next visit!
