Brassiness in hair is a common issue many people struggle with. It occurs when the hair starts to take on a reddish, orange, or yellow tone, giving it a “brassy” look. This is often seen in blondes, brunettes, and redheads after chemical services like hair dye or bleach. The discoloration happens because the melanin in your hair gets stripped away, allowing the underlying warm pigment to show through. So can using a clarifying shampoo help remove brassiness and keep your hair color looking fresh?
What Causes Brassiness in Hair?
There are a few key culprits behind brassiness in hair:
- Chemical services like bleaching or dyeing – This strips away melanin and allows warmer undertones to surface.
- Sun exposure – The sun’s UV rays can oxidize and fade hair color over time.
- Hard water – Mineral deposits from hard water can build up on hair and make it appear brassy.
- Pollution/environmental factors – Things like smoke, smog and chlorine can deposit color-altering particles onto hair.
- Product buildup – Leftover residue from hair products can make hair look dull and brassy.
How Does Clarifying Shampoo Work?
Clarifying shampoos are specially formulated to deep clean the hair by removing product buildup, hard water deposits, minerals, chlorine, and pollution particles. They contain stronger surfactants than regular shampoos to break down and rinse away these substances from the hair shaft and scalp.
Some popular active ingredients in clarifying shampoos include:
- Citric acid – Helps dissolve and remove mineral deposits
- EDTA – Binds to and removes metals and minerals
- Sodium laureth sulfate – Powerful cleanser that penetrates and lifts away impurities
- Tea tree oil – Natural cleansing and purifying agent
Using a clarifying shampoo every so often can help keep hair clean and free of dulling buildup. But can it also fix brassiness specifically?
Will Clarifying Shampoo Remove Brassiness?
While clarifying shampoo is great for stripping away product residue, hard water minerals, and other impurities, it doesn’t contain pigments or toners that can actually neutralize brassiness or change the undertones in your hair.
However, by deep cleaning your hair, a good clarifying shampoo can help reveal and enhance your true hair color. It removes any deposits that may be muting or “dirtying” the tones of your hair.
Think of clarifying shampoo like cleaning a piece of jewelry – it will remove tarnish and buildup to make the original colors shine, but it doesn’t change the actual pigments of the metal or stones.
How Often Should You Use Clarifying Shampoo for Brassiness?
When trying to combat brassiness, using a clarifying shampoo once a week can help maintain your hair color and keep it looking vibrant. However, take care not to overdo it.
Clarifying too often – more than 1-2 times per week – can strip away the hair’s natural oils and cause dryness. It’s best to alternate between a moisturizing shampoo and a clarifying shampoo each time you wash.
You may also want to leave the clarifying shampoo on for 3-5 minutes before rinsing to allow the ingredients more time to work.
Other Ways to Fix Brassy Hair
While clarifying shampoo offers a deep clean, it likely won’t completely eliminate brassiness on its own. Here are some other effective tactics:
- Use a toner – Color depositing toners are specially formulated to neutralize brassiness. Purple toner offsets yellow, while blue toner corrects orange tones.
- Try a gloss treatment – Clear glosses contain pigments to tone and enhance hair color between salon visits.
- Use a colored conditioner – Tinted formulas lightly stain the hair to camouflage brassiness with each use.
- Do a bleach bath – Lightening up hair another level helps lift out the underlying warm pigment.
- Get a professional color correction – Your stylist can determine the right type of toner, gloss or color service to neutralize brassiness.
Preventing Brassiness Between Clarifying Treatments
To help maximize the results from your clarifying shampoo and keep brassiness at bay longer:
- Rinse with cool water – Hot water opens the cuticle allowing more brassiness to surface.
- Shampoo less often – Frequent shampooing can cause color fade. Limit to 2-3 times per week.
- Use sulfate-free products – Formulas without sulfates are gentler on color.
- Apply a UV protectant – Spray hair with a product containing UV filters before going in the sun.
- Deep condition weekly – Nourish and protect hair from fading and oxidation.
The Best Clarifying Shampoos for Brassiness
Not all clarifying shampoos are made the same. Look for ones that are specifically formulated to preserve hair color and fight brassiness. Some top options include:
| Brand | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Redken | Color Extend Magnetics | – Citric acid to remove mineral deposits – EDTA to extract metals – Vegetable protein to reinforce hair |
| Joico | Color Balance Purple Shampoo | – Purple toning pigments – Quinoa extract to strengthen hair |
| ALTERNA | CAVIAR Anti-Aging Brightening Blue Shampoo | – Blue pigments counteract brassiness – Hyaluronic acid & vitamin C for hydration |
| Klorane | Shampoo with Espresso Extract | – Natural espresso tones down brassiness – Protects color from fading |
DIY Clarifying Shampoo Recipes
You can also make your own clarifying shampoo at home with just a few simple ingredients:
Baking Soda Clarifying Shampoo
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap
- 1 cup water
Mix ingredients together until dissolved. Apply to wet hair, massage into scalp, and rinse. The baking soda removes buildup while the castile soap cleans. Use 1-2 times per week.
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
- 1 part apple cider vinegar
- 2 parts water
After shampooing, pour mixture over hair. The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar helps remove residue and clarify hair. Rinse out after 1-2 minutes. Use 1-2 times per week.
The Takeaway
While clarifying shampoo can’t alter the actual pigments in your hair, its deep cleaning properties help remove dulling buildup that may be contributing to brassiness. Using a clarifying shampoo about once a week, along with other toning products and techniques, can help keep hair color vibrant and brass-free.
However, be careful not to over-clarify, as this can lead to dry, damaged hair over time. Alternate clarifying shampoo with moisturizing formulas and utilize other methods like glosses, colored conditioners, and professional toning services as needed to fight brassiness.
With a consistent haircare routine using clarifying shampoo and color depositing products, you can keep your hair looking shiny and free of unwanted warm, brassy tones.
