Gray hair is inevitable, and is part of the natural aging process. Gray hair, just like other fairer hair colors, has the tendency to get brassy tones.
Yellow tones in gray hair, can be caused by hard water, heat styling or environmental factors, some of which we can’t control.
However, there are things we can do to remove unwanted yellow tones in our gray hair.
Why Is My Gray Hair Turning Yellow?
Even though gray hair looks naturally cool and silvery, it can start turning yellow for several surprising reasons.
As we age, the pigment in our hair fades, as well as hair strands becoming more porous and susceptible to unwanted brassy undertones.
Often, the reason our gray hair becomes more yellow, is because of build-up from hair products we use, smoke or hard water clinging to the hair’s cuticle and staining it.
Environmental factors like pollution, UV exposure and even chlorine can affect the brightness of gray hair (both natural and dyed gray hair).
Heat styling with curling irons, straighteners or hairdryers can worsen discoloration when used frequently without heat protection products.
What You Can Do To Prevent Yellow Tones From Appearing In The First Place
It all starts with your haircare routine, and the products you use. Wash your hair regularly to remove pollution, sweat and product build-up, always rinsing thoroughly to reduce the chance of the product build-up happening in the first place.
If possible, try and reduce the temperatures on your hot hair tools, like your flat iron or hair dryer, as it’ll cause less hair damage, but also reduce the chance of unwanted yellow, brassy undertones.
Always use a heat protection spray too, like the Lee Stafford Poker Straight Heat Protection Spray (my personal favorite), as it’ll give you your hair some much needed protection when using any hot hair tools.
It might sound boring, but, if you smoke, quitting will help keep your hair from turning yellow, and wearing UV protection sprays on your hair, when outside, will also help prevent brassy undertones on your gray hair.
How To Remove Yellow Tones From Gray Hair
If you’ve noticed yellow tones in your gray hair, there are some at-home things you can try to banish the brassiness, and make your gray hair shine.
Use A Purple Shampoo and Clarifying Shampoo Regularly
Using a purple shampoo once or twice a week helps neutralize unwanted warm tones, to give you a brighter and cooler gray tone.
You can alternate your shampoo routine, to include a purple shampoo, alternated with a clarifying shampoo to remove deeper product build-up and mineral deposits your regular shampoo and hard water can leave behind.
Applying purple shampoo to damp hair, smooth it to the ends, and leave it on your hair briefly (not too long, or you’ll end up with a noticeable lilac tint).
Switch To Sulfate Free Hair Products
Many traditional shampoos contain sulfates that strip natural oils and roughen the hair cuticle, leaving gray hair dry and more prone to holding onto yellow tones.
Over time, this repeated dryness can make discoloration appear stronger and harder to manage.
Choosing sulfate-free products helps maintain moisture while cleansing hair more gently.
Ingredients such as coco-glucoside or sodium cocoyl isethionate can help you to remove dirt and build-up without aggressive foaming.
As a result, gray hair often feels softer, looks smoother, and maintains a cleaner, cooler tone with less frizz and color disruption.
Install A Shower Filter To Reduce Hard Water Buildup
Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron can collect on gray hair over time, causing it to look dull, feel rough, and develop a yellow cast.
Using a shower filter helps to reduce these deposits by improving the quality of the water before it reaches your hair.
With fewer minerals coating the strands, toning products and purple shampoo tend to work more effectively and last longer.
Many shower filters are easy to attach to an existing showerhead and require minimal maintenance.
Protect Hair From Sun Exposure
Ultraviolet rays can oxidize the hair, especially during prolonged time outdoors or peak daylight hours, making protection an important part of maintaining color.
Lightweight UV-protective sprays designed for hair can help limit this damage and are easy to use throughout the day.
Areas such as the part and hairline tend to be the most exposed and benefit from extra coverage.