Without fail, just as I'm beginning to come around to my 3-inch, laissez-faire dark roots, I find myself in a florescent-lit bathroom experiencing sheer horror. When did they become so brassy?
While some may be quick to blame a hack dye job, all the pros will tell you—it's par for the lived-in course. Especially if you're a blonde.
To get to the bottom of things, I looked no further than Rita Hazan, celebrity colorist and owner of Rita Hazan, because 1) She's the master behind Queen Bey's golden-goddess strands 🐝 and 2) Her salon is a no-brass zone. Here's what you need to do to nix those orangey tones once and for all.
Stay Out of the Sun
"Sun and pollution can cause hair to go brassy and oxidize," explains Hazan. "UV rays do the same to your hair as they do to your skin. It gets dehydrated and loses its vitamins and nutrients, then you lose the pigment."
To keep your hair from oxidizing, shield it from the elements with a sealing agent that has SPF and UV protection—like Phytoplage's Protective Sun Oil ($30).
"Apply to hair a few times while in the sun and especially after you have been swimming ," she advises.
Gloss Your Hair
Take it from someone who hates adding extra steps to her showering routine, you should be glossing every time you wash your hair as a constant color refresh. But I promise, it's totally quick/painless. And Hazan's new Breaking Brass formula really is as cool as it sounds.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
"Brassiness happens over time so you have to do something that counteracts any environmental problems that occur," explains Hazan.
Knowing that time is of the essence, she formulated her gloss so that it's a quick, 3-minute step in between shampooing and conditioning. Ed Note: I leave it in while I shave my legs.
Watch Out for Water
Fact: The majority of color is lost by simply rinsing your hair with water. But a girl's got to shower, right? If your local water is proving to be at odds with your color, Hazan recommends using a filter, like the T3 Source Showerhead Filter ($130), which removes 95 percent of chlorine AKA dull, lifeless hair's #1 ally.
Use Products That Are Color-Safe
Color Safe = paraben-free, sulfate-free, and complete with UV protection, says Hazan, who formulates her products as just that.
Rita Hazan True Color Shampoo and Conditioner, $26 each; sephora.com.
Be Realistic About Your Color Choice
The truth hurts sometimes..."If your hair gets brassy [to often], go one shade darker because it means your hair is not capable of being that light," says Hazan.
Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.
Lauren is the former beauty editor at Marie Claire. She love to while away the hours at coffee shops, hunt for vintage clothes, and bask in the rough-and-tumble beauty of NYC. She firmly believes that solitude can be a luxury if you’ve got the right soundtrack—that being the Rolling Stones, of course.
-
Zendaya Supports Tom Holland Looking Like Juliet
She made a surprise visit to her boyfriend's big premiere.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Kelly Rowland Breaks Her Silence About Her Viral Exchange at the Cannes Film Festival
“I stood my ground.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Taylor Swift's Louboutin Collection Is Bigger Than You Can Imagine
Look what you made her wear.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Is Colostrum the New Collagen?
Doctors and wellness professionals have a lot to say about TikTok's supplement of the moment.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Published
-
TikTok Is Making "Unsexy" Beauty Products Seem Very Appealing
There's more to worthwhile products than pretty packaging.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Fendi's First Fragrances Are Designed for Fashion Obsessives
It's inspired by one of the character's most beloved bags.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Why Beauty Experts Are Calling Out Youthforia's New Foundation
This isn't the way to do inclusive shades.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
The 32 Best Hair Growth Shampoos of 2024, According to Experts
Rapunzel hair, coming right up.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Published
-
The 20 Best Hair Masks for Damaged Hair, According to Experts and Editors
Healthy strands, here we come!
By Gabrielle Ulubay Last updated
-
How Often You Should Wash Your Hair, According To Experts
Keep it fresh, my friends.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Published
-
The 11 Best Magnetic Lashes of 2023
Go ahead and kiss your messy lash glue goodbye.
By Hana Hong Published