Brassy hair is a common hair color problem many people face. It occurs when the hair starts looking more golden or orange than your natural hair color. This brassy tone usually happens when the hair is chemically lightened through hair coloring treatments like bleaching or highlighting. The bleach removes pigment from the hair strands, making the underlying warm tones more visible. While this brassy hue may be desirable for some, many want to combat it to get back to their preferred shade. This leads to the popular question – can peroxide remove brassiness from hair? Let’s find out.
What causes brassy hair?
Brassy hair occurs due to the following reasons:
- Using bleach or hair lightening products – Bleach reacts with the melanin in your hair, removing pigment. This reveals the natural red/orange undertones in hair that appear brassy.
- Sun exposure – The sun’s UV rays can cause the melanin in your hair to fade overtime, making brassiness more visible.
- Mineral deposits in water – Hard water with minerals like iron, copper and chlorine can deposit on hair strands, leading to brassiness.
- Heat styling – Frequent heat styling using hot tools can strip your hair of moisture and color, bringing out brassiness.
- Product buildup – Using many products without clarifying can cause product buildup that makes hair look brassy.
- Growing out color treated hair – When previously color treated hair grows out, a stark difference between the cooler toned colored hair and warmer toned regrowth often occurs.
How does peroxide work on hair?
Peroxide is the active ingredient in bleach and hair lighteners. It works by:
- Oxidation – When peroxide is mixed with an alkali, oxygen is released. This oxygen interacts with the melanin in hair, removing pigment.
- Lightening – As more pigment is removed, the hair lightens and natural undertones surface.
- Damage – High volumes of peroxide can damage hair cuticles, making hair porous and dry. This leads to further brassiness.
By removing pigment, peroxide fades both natural and artificial color. This lightening action helps strip away brassiness and brighten hair.
Can peroxide remove brassiness?
Yes, peroxide when used correctly can help tone down brassiness by:
- Lifting underlying pigment – Peroxide lightens hair overall, letting you color hair ash to neutralize brassiness.
- Lowering pH – Peroxide opens cuticles for toner deposit & lowers pH for cool toned dyes.
- Preparing for toner – Peroxide pre-lightens so toner deposit is maximized for neutralizing brass.
- Removing artificial pigment – It fades both natural and artificial brassy dye buildup.
However, misusing peroxide can damage hair and induce more brassiness. Moderation is key.
Using peroxide to get rid of brassiness
Here are some methods to correctly use peroxide for brassy hair:
Bleach bath
Mix a diluted bleach bath with:
- 1 part lightener powder
- 2 parts developer or peroxide
- 2-3 parts shampoo
Apply for 15-30 mins. Rinse and tone.
Highlighting
Apply lightener just on highlights for 6-25 mins. Will lighten hair overall.
Full lightening
Apply lightener all over hair for 30-45 mins. Will brighten hair and remove brassiness.
Low peroxide toner
Use 5 or 10 volume peroxide to make a toner. Helps neutralize brass mildly.
| Method | Volume of peroxide | Processing time |
|---|---|---|
| Bleach bath | 10-20 volume | 15-30 mins |
| Highlighting | 20-30 volume | 15-45 mins |
| Full lightening | 20-30 volume | 30-45 mins |
| Low peroxide toner | 5-10 volume | 15-30 mins |
Risks of using peroxide on brassy hair
While peroxide can help with brassiness, overuse comes with risks like:
- Dryness – Peroxide is very drying for hair.
- Damage – Overprocessing causes breakage, frizz and split ends.
- Increased porosity – Cuticles lift and don’t close fully, causing more brassiness.
- Irritation – Peroxide can irritate the scalp.
To minimize damage:
- Do a patch test before using peroxide
- Strand test hair to gauge required timing
- Use the lowest volume peroxide needed
- Space out perms and coloring treatments
- Deep condition after using peroxide
- Avoid overlapping lightener
- Apply coconut oil to protect hair and skin
Other ways to fix brassy hair
While peroxide can help remove brassiness, overuse can damage hair. Some other fixes include:
Use an anti-brass shampoo
Opt for a purple shampoo once or twice a week. The violet pigments will neutralize brassiness and keep hair ash.
Try a toner
Apply a pre-made toner or mix your own with:
- Color depositing conditioner
- Semi-permanent dye without peroxide
- A small amount of peroxide
- Blue or violet dye
This will neutralize brass tones without lightening.
Use a gloss treatment
A clear gloss with violet tones will coat hair and tone down brassiness.
Switch hair products
Clarify hair and switch to a SLS-free shampoo. Use a good conditioner and mask to keep hair moisturized.
Protect hair from sun
Use hats, scarves and hair sprays with UV filters to minimize sun exposure leading to brassiness.
Conclusion
To conclude, peroxide when used correctly can help minimize brassiness in hair. Being a bleaching agent, it removes pigment from hair to lighten and brighten it. However, excessive use damages hair.
It’s best to use other methods like toners, glosses, anti-brass shampoos and hair masks before trying peroxide. This allows you to fix brassiness more gradually and gently. Use the lowest volume developer needed and take safety precautions when using peroxide. Consistent haircare and limiting chemical treatments can also keep brassiness at bay for long-lasting color.