Blonde hair is bleached hair, and bleached hair wants to go back to warm. So brassiness isn't a sign that something has been done wrong – it's blonde hair's natural state, and that's why the maintenance looks the way it does.
Why it turns yellow
When hair is bleached, the dark pigment is removed in stages, leaving the yellow and orange undertones that were always there. Toning lays a cool shade over them. When the toner rinses out – which it does with every wash – the undertone comes through again. Sun, chlorine, hot water and iron in tap water speed it up.
Silver shampoo, used correctly
- Use KIS No-Yellow Shampoo every third or fourth wash, not every time.
- Apply to damp, not dripping, hair – too much water dilutes the pigment.
- Leave it on for one to three minutes the first time. Evaluate, then increase carefully.
- Rinse and always follow up with KIS No-Yellow Conditioner or a regular conditioner.
Silver shampoo is more drying than regular shampoo. So alternate with a moisturising shampoo and add a hair mask once a week.
When the blonde is in hair extensions
Blonde hair extensions are bleached even harder than your own hair, since they need to reach an even light base. That makes them more porous and more prone to picking up both yellow tones and purple pigment quickly. So use a shorter processing time on the lengths than at the scalp, and keep silver shampoo away from the attachments themselves.
And when it's in a wig
On a human hair wig, silver shampoo works, but be very careful with the timing and keep the product away from the lace and knots. Synthetic wigs shouldn't be treated with silver shampoo at all – the fibre doesn't absorb pigment in the same way and can end up blotchy. Yellowing on synthetic fibre is usually caused by heat, smoke or sunlight and can't be toned away.
Frequently asked questions
Can silver shampoo turn hair purple?
Yes, if the processing time is too long or the hair is very porous. It's almost always temporary and washes out within a few washes with a regular shampoo. Avoid the problem by starting at one minute and feeling your way forward.
Why does a blonde wig turn yellow even though it's hardly been worn?
Light fibre yellows from UV light even indoors, and from heat from radiators or a warm wardrobe. Store the wig somewhere dark and cool on a wig head or in its packaging, and the shade will last considerably longer.
Does silver shampoo help against yellow in grey or white hair?
Yes, and that's often where it's most useful. Grey and white hair lacks pigment and easily picks up yellow tones from the environment. Feel free to use it regularly but with a short processing time, since white hair is the quickest to turn purple.
You'll find our products for blonde hair among hair care and styling.