How to Fix Bleached Hair That Turned Yellow

If your bleached hair has turned yellow, try using purple shampoos, conditioners and colour-depositing masks, which help to neutralise unwanted warmth for a cool, bright, brass-free result.

But take note: different levels of yellow tones require different approaches, and sometimes professional help is needed to refresh a brassy blonde. So, let's look at why bleached hair turns yellow in the first place, how you can fix it at home, and when it's time to head back to the salon…

Why Does Bleached Hair Turn Yellow or Brassy?

Bleached hair turns yellow or brassy when the underlying warm pigments are exposed, whether that’s due to an incomplete lift or your toner gradually fading away. Here’s how to tell the difference between the two.

• Yellow immediately after bleaching: This can be a normal step in the lightening process, and your follow-up toner will usually eliminate any unwanted warmth. But if, even after toning, your finished blonde is darker or warmer than you hoped, this could be a sign of an incomplete lift. Your colourist may need to assess whether further lightening is needed.
• Yellow that appears weeks later: This is due to fading colour, and happens when the cool pigments in your toner start to disappear, exposing the yellow warmth underneath. It happens gradually, in between salon visits, and purple shampoo can usually help you restore the coolness at home.

Diagnose Your Brassy Hair: Pale Yellow vs. Yellow-Orange Tones

Not all brassy hair looks the same. While some bleached hair can start to shift pale yellow, darker shades of blonde or light brown may fade to a golden or orangey tone. Brassiness occurs when the underlying pigment in your hair is exposed as your toner fades, and the shade of blonde your hair has lifted to will determine how much warmth is shown underneath.

Pale Yellow Tones

What it looks like: A very light yellow, like the inside of a banana skin.

Common in: Lighter blondes, including icy, ashy or platinum shades.

The cause: When your hair is bleached to a very light blonde, most of the darker natural pigment has been lifted out, exposing the pale yellow underlying pigment. Often, a toner will be applied over the top to personalise your shade, but as this fades, the yellow can be revealed again.

Fix it with: Violet toning products, like a purple shampoo. Because violet sits opposite yellow on the colour wheel, it has a neutralizing effect.

Yellow-Orange Tones

What it looks like: A more golden yellow, sometimes shifting towards orange.

Common in: Warmer, darker blondes, including honey, golden or caramel shades.

The cause: To achieve a darker blonde, your hair isn't lifted as far as it would be for a vanilla or platinum blonde shade, meaning more of the underlying warm pigment remains. During the lightening process, this warmth is exposed. Your colourist will usually tone it, but as the colour fades, golden and orange tinges can reappear.

Fix it with: Purple shampoos and conditioners if the brassiness is yellow or golden. If it's more of a true orange colour, head to your nearest Wella salon for professional toning.

What Does Toner Do for Bleached Hair?

Bleach and toner are a match made in hair heaven. First, bleach (or lightener) lifts your hair to the desired level, then hair toner lets your colourist personalise your shade and correct any unwanted warmth. But toner isn't just used straight after bleaching; it can also be used to correct your colour if and when it fades. So, if lightened hair starts to look yellow or orange, you can head back to the salon for a toner refresh, which will neutralise unwanted warmth without the need for more lightening.

Should I Bleach My Hair Again If It's Yellow?

Not necessarily. If your blonde was initially cool but has become yellow weeks later, this is due to fading colour. More bleach isn't the answer; try a purple shampoo instead, like ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo. But if your hair looks warmer than you wanted straight after lightening and toning, speak to your colourist rather than trying to bleach it yourself. They can assess your hair and recommend the next best steps.

How to Fix Yellow Bleached Hair at Home

If your blonde looked cool when you left the salon but has gradually turned yellow in between appointments, at-home toning can help to refresh the shade. Here's how:

1. Consider a Clarifying Shampoo for Dulling Build-Up

If – and, honestly, only if – you think brassy tones are due to a build-up of styling products, chlorine, hard water minerals and/or pollution, your blonde hair may be fixed with the help of a clarifying shampoo. A deep cleanser will rinse away any dulling residue, so your bleached hair looks less coated and your blonde may appear brighter and cleaner.

This one comes with a big disclaimer, though. If yellow tones are visible due to the fading of your toner, a clarifying shampoo could actually strip away more of the pigment, potentially exposing more of the underlying yellow tone. Only use clarifying if you're sure build-up is behind that coated, brassy look. Otherwise, a purple shampoo is your safest option for neutralizing any unwanted warmth.

2. Wash Yellow Hair with a Purple Shampoo

Purple shampoo is one of the most effective fixes for yellow hair, as its violet pigment neutralises yellow tones, giving your blonde a cooler, fresher appearance. It's your first step when brassiness shows up, and it's really easy to use, too. The key is finding a formula that not only tones, but also gives bleached hair the extra care it needs to look and feel healthier.

We created ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo for exactly this reason. It's a 3-in-1 formula that tones with neutralizing pigments, moisturises with B5, and offers protection against metal build-up with Glycine and Metal Purifier. The metal part is important because copper and iron in the water you wash with can distort your hair colour. By removing these metals, you give your blonde hair its best chance of staying free from brassiness.

Simply massage ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo into wet hair, smooth the lather from root to tip, then leave it on for 3-5 minutes (depending on your desired level of toning). Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, and yellow, brassy tones will be history.

3. Follow Up with a Purple Conditioner

If your purple shampoo alone has achieved the level of toning you want, follow with a regular conditioner. We love ULTIMATE COLOR Conditioner for moisture and protection in one. But if you're dealing with intense yellowing, follow ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo with ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Conditioner, which will add an extra layer of cooling, along with a boost of moisture. Its lilac pigment softly counteracts any remaining yellow undertones, working in 3-5 minutes to gently brighten bleached hair.

4. Use a Tone-Depositing Hair Mask

Purple shampoo isn't your only option for neutralizing yellow tones at home. If you prefer a gloss-like treatment, a colour-depositing mask can also help to cool things down. Choose one with a lilac tint, like Color Fresh Mask in Lilac Frost. Wash hair with a colour-safe shampoo first, like ULTIMATE COLOR Sulfate-Free Shampoo, squeeze out excess water, then apply the toning treatment evenly through hair. Leave it on for up to 10 minutes, depending on the level of brassiness you're dealing with, then rinse thoroughly. Your bleached hair will look salon-fresh and ready to style.

How to Prevent Brassiness After Bleaching Hair

If your hair is freshly bleached, and you want to keep it looking that way, follow these steps to prevent yellow undertones from rearing their head...

1. Don't Overwash Your Hair

Every time you wash your hair, colour molecules become more vulnerable to fading. So, if you tend to wash daily or every other day, try to stretch out the time between shampoos. Of course, scalp health comes first, so if your roots feel oily quickly, it's important to wash as often as you feel your hair needs it. It's all about finding a routine that balances the health of your scalp with the longevity of your hair colour.

How you wash your hair is important too. Make sure you:

• Use a colour-safe shampoo, like ULTIMATE COLOR Sulfate-Free Shampoo. The gentle cleanser is the start of a regimen to achieve colour vibrancy for up to 10 weeks*, so bleached hair looks brighter for longer;
• Concentrate shampoo at the roots of your hair and let the lather run through the lengths for a gentler cleanse;
• Rinse with lukewarm water only – not hot or cold. Hot water can strip out colour molecules, while cold water doesn't effectively remove your shampoo lather.

2. Use Purple Shampoo As a Maintenance Step

Don't only use purple shampoo when yellow pigments appear – use it to prevent them by making it part of your washing routine. “I would advise using ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE once or twice a week,” says Wella Professionals Creative Director ANZ Renya Xydis, “as it will reduce brassiness and add moisture.”

3. Choose your 'Regular' Shampoo Carefully

For your 'regular' shampoo, choose one that respects the particular needs of bleached hair. If it feels in good condition and colour maintenance is your priority, a sulfate-free shampoo, like ULTIMATE COLOR Sulfate-Free Shampoo will help to maintain your blonde hair. But, if strands are showing signs of damage after lightening, choose a colour-safe, bond-repairing formula. ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo fits the brief; a creamy, delicate cleanser that gently removes impurities without compromising sensitised strands.

4. Switch to Leave-In Hair Masks

Bleached hair often needs some extra help in the hydration department, so add a moisturizing treatment to your wash day routine. Although it's called a hair mask, ULTIMATE COLOR Miracle Leave-In Mask can be used every time you wash your hair. It reduces hair's exposure to water by cutting out a rinsing step, so your hair colour is protected for longer. Plus, it keeps hair soft and beautifully moisturised, giving strands up to 4x more resistance to breakage**.

5. Protect Your Hair From Heat and UV Damage

Both UV rays and hot tools can cause your hair colour to lift, causing yellow and brassy tones to gradually be exposed. So, you need two types of protection: a heat protectant and UV shield. You'll find both in ULTIMATE REPAIR 5-in-1 Protective Leave-In. The delicate cream also offers protection to your hair against breakage, frizz and mechanical damage – three key concerns you want to avoid after lightening your hair.

Fix Yellow Tones in Bleached Hair: FAQs

What Colour Cancels Out Yellow Hair After Bleaching?

Purple toning products help to cancel out yellow hair after bleaching. This is because violet sits opposite yellow on the colour wheel, meaning the two tones combined have a neutralizing effect.

Why is My Hair Still Yellow After Using Purple Shampoo?

If your hair is still yellow after using purple shampoo, the formula may have needed longer to work, or the intensity of brassiness could require extra toning with a purple conditioner. It's important to look carefully at undertones, too; if they veer more orange than yellow, salon advice may be needed to tackle the stubborn warmth.

When Should I Tone My Hair After Bleaching to Avoid Yellow Tones?

Toner can be applied straight after your hair has been lightened, and your colourist will custom-mix a shade that ensures yellow tones aren't visible.

Does Fixing Yellow Bleached Hair with Toner Damage Your Hair Further?

Most toners are gentle on your hair and will cause no-to-low extra damage to bleached strands. If you're concerned about condition, speak to your Wella colourist about your toning options. They may recommend a zero-damage SHINEFINITY gloss to personalise your shade without compromise.

Keep Yellow Tones at Bay with Wella Professionals

At home and in the salon, Wella Professionals keeps your bleached hair fresh, bright and brass-free. Find your nearest Wella salon for professional toning, or cool your colour down at home with these brass-busting solutions...

* With regular use of Ultimate Color regimen from salon to home.

** Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.