Yellow tones aren’t the only thing blondes struggle to remove from their hair. Grey tones can be just as annoying. Sure, some might find the grey appealing. However, most will find themselves looking older – and their hair appearing lifeless.
The perfect blonde hair tone is hard to achieve, if not impossible, for those that aren’t blessed with the ideal balance between ashy and yellow tones in their hair.
Even those born with the perfect blonde hair color can find themselves struggling with their hair tone later in life. That’s because hair changes as years go by, and the attractive gold shades in your hair may transition into a dull-looking grey.
Luckily, many methods can help you turn your hair from bland grey to the charming blonde tone you desire.
In this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about how to get rid of grey tones in blond hair.
So, without further ado, let’s check out the causes and solutions for grey tones!
Why Does My Hair Have Grey Tones?
Grey tones are something almost everyone will encounter in their journey to becoming a perfect blonde.
In most cases, grey tones appear when following DIY methods. However, going to a hair salon isn’t guaranteed to give you the perfect color, either.
Sometimes it is what it is, and you’ll have to figure out a way to get the grey tone out of your hair.
Before you choose a method for removing the grey from your hair, you should determine why the grey tone appeared in the first place.
The grey tone may only be temporary, so opting for radical solutions without knowing the cause isn’t recommended. You may end up replacing the grey tones with yellow tones, and we’re sure that’s not what you’re going for here.
Related: How to Wear Grey Hair Without Looking Old?
Toning After Bleaching
Transitioning from a dark color to blond can’t get done without bleaching your hair. The result largely depends on how dark your hair was before the bleaching – and the undertones of your hair.
Yellow and orange undertones are common, and using a toner is likely to fix this issue.
However, in some instances, the toner can give your hair a grey or even blue tone depending on the brand you or your hairstylist have used.
If this is the case, you’re in luck!
You may get rid of the grey tones in just 3-4 washes, meaning you won’t have to use other more radical methods.
Learn More: Can You Mix Toner With Hair Dye?
Ashy Dye
Using an ashy dye could also result in grey tones in your blonde hair.
That might be because you’ve used low-quality dye – or your hair just picks up the ashy tones easily.
If you think that the dye caused the grey tones, the best solution is to wait around 10-15 days and then re-dye it with a more golden color.
We know that waiting sometimes isn’t an option, though – so keep reading for a quicker solution.
Learn More: Does Hair Dye Expire?
Toning Shampoo
Toning shampoos are a must-have for anyone with blonde hair. They help to get rid of the yellow tones and give the hair a final touch.
Nonetheless, frequent use can result in grey tones.
Changing the brand of the toning shampoo you’re using could also cause grey tones, though. If that’s the case, the solution’s pretty simple:
Just stop using the shampoo, and the grey will disappear.
Easy Ways To Get Rid Of Grey Tones In Blonde Hair
Knowing what caused the problem is just the beginning. If a few washes and cutting back on the toning shampoo haven’t got you anywhere – don’t worry. There are other methods that can help you get rid of the grey tones.
In this section, we’ll cover the most popular ones, so keep reading to find out the best solutions for removing grey tones.
Baking Soda
You can find baking soda in almost any kitchen – but it’s used for much more than just cooking. Many use it to whiten their teeth, as a deodorant, odor remover, surface cleaner, and to get rid of heartburn.
Because of its versatility, it’s really no surprise you can use it for your hair, too.
To get rid of grey tones with it, combine one tablespoon of baking soda with shampoo. It doesn’t have to be an entire bottle of shampoo – just enough to wash your hair.
Apply the mix on your hair and spread it gently to cover each strand. We recommend you don’t apply it onto your scalp because baking soda is a base and could disturb the scalp’s natural pH level.
Afterward, make sure to wash all the baking soda out of your hair; the residue could damage the hair follicle resulting in weak hair.
For this reason, we also recommend not repeating the process more than two to three times.
Lemon
You might have already heard that you can use lemon juice to lighten the hair. Many use it to create highlights and give their hair more dimension. And some even use it as an alternative to bleach.
But did you know that you can use lemon juice to get rid of grey tones, as well?
Lemon is proven to be a fantastic solution for grey tones in blonde hair.
All you need to do is mix up lemon juice with your favorite conditioner in a 2:1 dilution ratio and apply it to your hair. Leave it in for at least 2 hours, and then rinse it out. Once you’ve rinsed out the mix, we recommend deep conditioning for the best results.
You can leave it overnight; however, we don’t advise it:
Lemon is acidic and could damage your hair – even though the conditioner acts as a protective shield.
If you’re worried about the lemon damaging your hair, try this method with more conditioner and less lemon juice. If you like how it turned out, you can repeat the process.
Clarifying Shampoo
If you have hard water, you probably already own a clarifying shampoo. Clarifying shampoos are used to remove hard build-up from hair, such as oils, silicones, and similar residues from hair products.
Deep cleansing once in a while can do wonders for your hair and even help you get rid of grey tones. Apply this shampoo once or twice a week to wash your hair – and the grey tones will be gone.
Deep conditioning after every cleansing is recommended if you want your hair to be smooth and fluffy.
We recommend you invest in a high-quality clarifying shampoo because cheap ones are usually full of silicones and don’t do what they’re supposed to.
Also, note that clarifying shampoos are much stronger than regular shampoos, so if you have a sensitive scalp and hair, you should try one of the other methods.
Dandruff Shampoo
Dandruff shampoos contain almost the same ingredients as clarifying shampoos. And because of this, they’re a fantastic option for removing grey tones from your blonde hair.
To avoid frizz and dryness, we recommend you deep condition after using a dandruff shampoo.
Just like it’s the case with clarifying shampoos, there are good and bad dandruff shampoos on the market.
Purchasing a dandruff shampoo from a well-known and verified brand will most likely prove to be a good choice. However, if you’re worried about the ingredients, you can do a little research and then choose the best one – or try another method.
See Also: How to Get Rid of Dandruff Without Shampoo?
Hydrogen Peroxide
You can use hydrogen peroxide as a last resort in DIY methods.
Hydrogen peroxide is a commonly found ingredient in bleach and almost every dye, just like ammonia. It plays the role of a developer – meaning it helps lighten the hair.
You can use it to get rid of grey tones, but be careful:
It’s is a more potent chemical compared to the other methods. If your hair’s already damaged from bleaching and dyeing, we advise against using hydrogen peroxide.
To get rid of the grey tones, mix hydrogen peroxide with your shampoo and apply it to your hair. Let it sit for less than five minutes, and then rinse it out thoroughly. While it sits on your hair, you can use a plastic bag to speed up the process.
Once you’ve rinsed your hair, be sure to deep condition to avoid frizz and dryness.
Visit A Hair Salon
This one is pretty straightforward: If you have complete trust in your hairdresser, maybe you should leave the job of removing grey tones from your hair to them.
See Also: How to Remove Permanent Hair Dye From Grey Hair?
Getting Rid Of Grey Tones In Blonde Hair – Conclusion
Getting rid of grey tones in blonde hair can be a struggle – as with yellow and orange tones.
Fortunately, there are many DIY methods you can try that are proven to be effective in removing grey tones. Baking soda, clarifying or anti-dandruff shampoos, lemon juice – you name it.
And for all of you who don’t consider yourself brave enough to try DIY methods at home, going to a salon is always an option!
Related Read:
