Why Can Some Hair Turn Green and What You Can Do About It
Coloring your hair can create a beautiful, refreshed look, but sometimes unwanted tones appear after a few washes. Many people notice their hair turning slightly green, orange, or brassy, even after a professional coloring session.
This happens when pigments in the hair react to minerals, chlorine, or fading dye molecules over time. Lightened and color-treated hair is especially vulnerable to these changes because its cuticle layer is more porous and absorbs external elements easily. Understanding what causes these tones is the key to preventing them.
With the right aftercare routine, protective habits, and occasional toning, you can maintain your color’s depth, shine, and balance without worrying about it fading into dull or unnatural shades.
Understanding Hair Pigments and Colour Theory
To understand why hair changes color after dyeing, it helps to know how pigments and color theory work. Every strand of hair contains a natural mix of red, yellow, and blue pigments that together create your base tone.
When hair is lightened, these natural pigments are stripped away, exposing underlying warm shades such as gold, orange, or red. Hair color products rely on the color wheel to neutralize or enhance these tones. For example, blue cancels out orange, and purple neutralizes yellow. When the balance is disrupted by fading, oxidation, or mineral buildup, unwanted hues can appear.
The condition of your hair also plays a role, as porous or damaged strands absorb pigments unevenly. Understanding these relationships helps you choose the right products to maintain consistent, balanced color over time.
Why Hair Turns Green After Coloring?
Here are some common reasons why your hair may turn green after coloring:
Exposure to Chlorine and Pool Water
One of the most common reasons for green hair is chlorine found in swimming pools. Chlorine binds with metals such as copper and iron, which are often present in pool water. When these metal particles attach to lightened or porous hair, they create a greenish film that alters the color’s appearance. Blonde and light ash tones are particularly susceptible because their pale base makes the green tint more noticeable.
Mineral Buildup from Hard Water
Hard water contains high levels of minerals like copper, calcium, and magnesium. Over time, these deposits build up on the hair shaft and react with leftover dye pigments, producing a dull green tone. Using a shower filter or chelating shampoo helps remove these minerals and protect the hair’s natural balance.
Chemical Reactions from Ash-Based Dyes
Hair dyes with ash or cool undertones often contain blue or green pigments. When applied to hair with leftover warm tones, the result can shift toward green instead of neutralizing brassiness. This happens because blue tones mixed with yellow or gold undertones create green. Ensuring proper color balance before applying ash-based dyes helps avoid this issue.
Porous or Damaged Hair
Bleached or over-processed hair has an open cuticle that easily absorbs minerals, chemicals, and even environmental pollution. This porous texture allows unwanted elements to penetrate deeper, causing uneven tone changes. Regular conditioning and protein treatments help strengthen the cuticle and reduce absorption.
Improper Aftercare Routine
Failing to use color-safe products or skipping post-color treatments can make the hair more vulnerable to oxidation. This process gradually alters the dye molecules, resulting in greenish or muddy tones. Proper aftercare, including pH-balanced shampoo and weekly treatments, keeps color vibrant and stable.
Why Hair Turns Brassy or Orange?
Before diving into the reasons, it's essential to understand how hair color works. Hair coloring involves lifting natural pigment or depositing dye molecules that penetrate the cuticle and bind with hair proteins. The final result depends on factors like natural hair color, current condition, and chosen dye shade. Here are the top causes of brassy and orange hair.
Fading of Cool Pigments
After coloring, especially when lightening dark hair, the cool pigments that neutralize warm undertones gradually fade with each wash. The natural red and orange pigments inside the hair shaft begin to show through, creating a brassy appearance. This is particularly common in shades like blonde, light brown, and balayage highlights.
Frequent washing, sun exposure, or the use of harsh shampoos accelerates pigment loss, leaving the hair looking overly warm and uneven. Using a sulfate-free shampoo and applying a color-protecting mask helps maintain cooler tones for longer.
Effects of Heat and UV Exposure
Excessive use of heat styling tools and prolonged sun exposure can break down the dye molecules that maintain hair color. Ultraviolet rays oxidize pigments, while flat irons and curling wands dry out the cuticle, allowing warmth to resurface. Over time, this combination strips away cool shades, leaving a copper or orange tint. Wearing a hat outdoors and applying UV-protective hair products can reduce this effect significantly.
Natural Warm Undertones Reappearing
Every hair type contains natural underlying pigments. Darker hair has red and orange bases that become visible when the artificial color fades. If the hair is not properly toned after lightening, these underlying shades can dominate the final result. Using the correct toner or gloss treatment immediately after coloring is crucial to balancing warmth and achieving a natural, neutral finish.
Water Quality and Product Choice
Hard water and mineral-rich environments can cause color distortion, contributing to brassiness. Minerals like iron and copper cling to the hair and react with color pigments, especially on porous strands. Additionally, shampoos containing alcohol or strong cleansers strip away color protection, exposing warm undertones. Installing a shower filter and choosing color-safe, hydrating products helps maintain tone clarity and prevents brassy or orange discoloration over time.
How to Prevent Green or Brassy Tones
Aside from using color-safe and hydrating products, there are a few other steps you can take to prevent green or brassy tones in your hair.
Use Filtered or Soft Water
Hard water is one of the leading causes of unwanted green and brassy tones. Minerals such as copper, calcium, and iron accumulate on the hair shaft, dulling color and altering tone. Installing a shower filter or using bottled water for rinsing helps minimize buildup and maintain the purity of your shade.
A weekly chelating or clarifying treatment can further remove mineral residues, restoring shine and preventing color distortion.
Protect Hair from Chlorine and Saltwater
Swimming pools and seawater contain chemicals and minerals that easily bond to lightened or porous hair. Always wet your hair with fresh water before entering the pool and apply a leave-in conditioner or oil barrier to protect it from chlorine.
After swimming, rinse immediately and follow with a gentle, color-safe shampoo to neutralize any residue. These small steps can make a big difference in preserving tone accuracy.
Choose Color-Safe Hair Care Products
Using the wrong shampoo or conditioner can quickly strip hair of its cool pigments, revealing brassiness. Opt for sulfate-free, pH-balanced formulas that cleanse without removing color. Look for products specifically designed for color-treated hair with ingredients such as keratin, argan oil, or amino acids. A purple or blue shampoo once a week also helps counteract yellow and orange tones, keeping your color looking fresh and cool.
Minimize Heat and Sun Exposure
Heat styling tools and UV rays accelerate color fading by opening the hair cuticle and breaking down dye molecules. To prevent this, limit the use of flat irons and curling wands, and always apply a heat protectant before styling. When outdoors, use a UV-protective spray or wear a hat to shield hair from sun damage. Consistent protection will help preserve tone and shine.
Maintain Hair Health and Moisture
Healthy hair retains color more effectively. Regular deep-conditioning treatments strengthen the cuticle, reducing porosity and preventing external elements from altering pigment balance. Incorporate hydrating masks, leave-in conditioners, and serums into your routine to keep strands smooth and resilient.
Schedule Regular Toner Refreshes
Even with good care, hair color fades over time. Visiting your stylist for a toner or gloss every few weeks helps restore vibrancy and rebalance cool pigments. Professional toners neutralize unwanted undertones and lock in shine, ensuring your color stays bright and beautifully maintained.
Hair Color for Professionals: How to Stay Bold While Looking Polished
When choosing a vibrant hair color for a professional setting, balance is key. Opt for sophisticated shades with depth, such as deep burgundy or soft copper, which convey personality while maintaining elegance.
Strategic placement, like balayage or peekaboo highlights, allows for creative expression without overwhelming your look. Coordinating the color with your skin tone and wardrobe ensures a harmonious and polished appearance that complements your professional image.
Ultimately, hair health is paramount. Healthy, glossy hair looks more refined, so regular glossing treatments and nourishing masks are essential.
A smooth, well-styled finish enhances even bold colors, making them look sophisticated. By blending creativity with these considerations, your hair can become a signature of confidence, helping you stand out for your skills and style.
Correcting Green or Brassy Hair
Correcting green or brassy hair requires the right balance of cleansing, toning, and restoring moisture. For green tones, start with a clarifying or chelating shampoo to remove mineral buildup and chlorine residues that cause the discoloration.
A red-toned color mask or warm gloss treatment can help neutralize the green tint since red sits opposite green on the color wheel. If the discoloration is stubborn, a salon professional can apply a corrective toner that restores the original shade safely.
For brassy or orange hair, use purple or blue shampoos designed to cancel out yellow and orange hues. These toning products should be used once or twice a week depending on the hair’s level of brassiness.
Regular deep-conditioning treatments are also essential to replenish lost hydration and strengthen the cuticle. When home remedies aren’t enough, professional toning or glossing services can effectively rebalance your color and bring back a smooth, vibrant finish.
Professional Maintenance Tips
Schedule Toner Appointments Regularly
Visit your stylist every 6 to 8 weeks for a toner or gloss to refresh color and neutralize unwanted tones.Use Salon-Recommended Products
Professionals know which shampoos and conditioners preserve your specific shade best. Using their recommended products extends color longevity.Balance Moisture and Protein
Alternate between hydrating and strengthening treatments to maintain healthy, resilient hair that holds color evenly.Trim Ends Consistently
Regular trims prevent split ends and keep color-treated hair looking polished and fresh.Avoid Overprocessing
Consult your stylist before lightening or recoloring to avoid overlapping chemical treatments.Book Deep Conditioning Sessions
Professional masks or steam treatments help restore shine and seal color for lasting vibrancy.
FAQs
Why does hair turn green or brassy after coloring?
Brassy hair refers to unwanted warm tones that appear when color pigments fade or when the coloring process exposes underlying warm pigments. Lightened hair, especially blonde or platinum, often reveals yellow tones or brassy orange hues because hair naturally holds warm pigments beneath the surface.
How can I prevent brassy hair from appearing?
Use purple shampoo or blue toner to neutralize yellow undertones and counteract brassy tones. A pre-shampoo mineral remover helps eliminate buildup, while limiting UV light and hot tools protects your hair and preserves the desired shade.
What helps fix brassy hair once it appears?
Apply a hair toner or clarifying shampoo to get rid of brassy or yellow tones. Regularly wash your hair with cool water and follow with a hydrating routine to maintain natural oils.
Can styling habits affect color-treated hair?
Yes. Frequent heat styling with curling irons or blow dryers fades color pigments and enhances unwanted warmth. Use heat protectants, avoid excessive styling, and consult a professional colorist to maintain cool-toned blonde or brunette shades without brassy buildup.
Conclusion
Green or brassy tones after coloring are common but completely manageable with proper care and understanding. These unwanted shades usually appear due to minerals, chlorine, fading pigments, or lack of moisture.
By choosing color-safe products, protecting hair from water and heat exposure, and scheduling regular maintenance, you can preserve your shade’s clarity and vibrancy. Simple habits like using filtered water, toning treatments, and deep conditioning make a significant difference.
Working with a skilled stylist ensures your color remains balanced and radiant. With the right approach, you can enjoy long-lasting, healthy, beautifully toned hair without worrying about dullness or unexpected color changes.
Salon Haze is an award-winning hair salon in Vancouver, Kitsilano area. We are specialists in colour and style. If you are considering a new colour or style for your hair, contact us, and we’ll talk you through all the options to ensure your choice of colour reflects your personality and complexion.
Call today for a free consultation with one of our stylists. We have the best hairdressers and the best hair colourists in Vancouver. Call now at 604-620-9986 or email us at service@salonhaze.com.