How to Get Yellow Tones Out of Grey Hair

When yellow tinges appear in grey hair, a few solutions can help to remove them: a purple shampoo for brassy tones, a clarifying shampoo for dulling buildup, and professional salon care for stubborn warmth.

So, which solution is right for you? Let's explore exactly why grey hair turns yellow, at-home steps to remove unwanted warmth, and how to know when it's time to seek professional advice...

Why Does Grey Hair Turn Yellow?

First, you need to know why hair turns grey. This happens when hair follicles start to produce less melanin, the pigment responsible for your hair color and a natural defense against oxidative stress. Without melanin, your hair can become more fragile and quick to absorb tone-distorting stressors, including metals, pollutants, UV rays, heat styling, cigarette smoke and product buildup.

Any one of these factors can soon take grey hair from a sophisticated silver tone to flat and dull, with undesirable yellow tinges that make it look anything but luminous. But you don't just have to live with it – and you also don't have to say goodbye to your grey. With the right at-home treatments and salon care, natural greys can look luminous once more.

How Violet Pigments Neutralize Yellow Tones

The color wheel holds the answers to reversing almost any unwanted tone in your hair. The rules are simple: colors that sit opposite one another can swiftly cancel each other out. Blue cools down orange hues, green knocks out red undertones, and purple neutralizes yellow tinges, which is why purple-toning products can be so effective for brightening yellow hues in grey hair.

Key Ingredients That Remove Brassiness From Grey Hair

Not just any purple shampoo will get grey hair looking its glossiest; choose one that's intensely neutralizing, as yellow tinges can hold fast in hair that's lacking melanin. You also want moisture to counteract the dryness common in grey hair. Because it's not just melanin your follicles produce less of; sebum production also slows down, leaving strands coarse and wiry.

So, look for these purple shampoo ingredients:

Neutralizing Pigments

You want an intensely violet pigment to neutralize yellow tones in grey hair. ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo goes one step further, combining neutralizing pigments with activated charcoal for effective toning.

Expert insight: “Charcoal has a cool ash tone and helps create a more balanced neutralization, helping counteract warm undertones for a more refined blonde,” says Katharina Liebner, Senior Manager of Product Development at Wella Professionals.

Anti-Metal Complex

Metals from the water you wash with can accumulate on hair, impacting the color and condition. To prevent future yellowing, choose a purple shampoo with anti-metal technology, like the Metal Purifier in ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo.

Expert insight: “[Metal Purifier] helps to detox the hair from color distorting metals, helping to optimize color results and protect hair integrity,” says Katharina Liebner, Senior Manager of Product Development at Wella Professionals.

Moisturizing Vitamins

To counteract the dryness that can occur in grey hair as sebum production slows down, choose a purple shampoo that’s packed with moisturizing ingredients. ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo is powered by B5 for hydration, so you get softening and toning in one formula.

Expert insight: “B5 helps to replenish and lock in moisture from scalp to ends, helping to maintain colored hair for a healthy look and feel,” says Katharina Liebner, Senior Manager of Product Development at Wella Professionals.

Why Grey Hair Can Respond Differently to Toning Products

Natural grey hair has no (or very little) melanin left, which can affect how toning products behave when applied to your hair. So, you might find that violet-tinted products, like purple shampoos, work quickly or appear more intense on grey and white strands. For this reason, we recommend leaving the lather on for the shortest time recommended on the bottle.

If you're using ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo, this would be three minutes – just enough time to balance out yellow tones. Try this at first, then if you feel your hair needs more intensive toning, increase to four or five minutes next time. It's better to start slow, then adjust if you need to.

Try These At-Home Solutions...

Use Purple Shampoo to Neutralize Yellow or Golden Tones

Choose one formulated with activated charcoal for cool results. ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo is ideal, combining neutralizing pigments with moisturizing B5 to restore silky softness to grey strands. Simply massage it into damp hair, leave the lather on for 3-5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Follow with ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Conditioner for added moisture and toning.

Wash with a Clarifying Shampoo to Remove Product Buildup

Sometimes, brassiness is just an illusion; a dull, coated finish caused by the buildup of product residue. If you suspect oils are stealing your hair's shine, use a clarifying shampoo to effectively detox strands. Apply it on an as-needed basis to remove buildup and restore brightness, without over-cleansing your hair.

Look for Hair Care with Chelating Anti-Metal Technology

Metals in the water you wash with can affect the tone of grey hair, which might be why you keep seeing yellow tones appear. So, follow a hair care regimen that contains anti-metal technology. ULTIMATE SMOOTH is a great choice, as the range features Metal Purifier, plus Squalane and Omega-9 to leave greys looking healthy, nourished and shiny.

Maintain Color-Treated Greys with a Pigmented Mask

When you're not in "fix it" mode – meaning yellow tones aren't currently visible – a color-depositing mask makes for ideal grey-enhancing maintenance. Try Color Fresh Mask in Pearl Blonde or Lilac Frost for a subtle refresh of cool, luminous tones while conditioning your hair.

Go to the Salon When...

• You want more than just a fix. If you want to remove yellow tones and explore a new take on grey, your colorist can mix up a corrective toner that gives you the silver shade you've always wanted. From salt ‘n’ pepper tones to sheeny pearl tones, they can customize your color to complement your desired look.
• You want a longer-lasting solution for yellow tones. A professional can assess your hair and choose a toner or gloss to neutralize unwanted warmth with longer-lasting results.
• Unwanted warmth appears orange or red. Purple-tinted products are designed to counteract yellow or golden tones, while more stubborn orange or red warmth may require a professional toning session.
• Your hair needs more than maintenance. If yellowing persists despite regular at-home care, your colorist can determine whether the issue is mineral buildup, underlying warmth or another cause, then recommend the right treatment for you.

How to Use Purple Shampoo on Grey Hair

Let's get into your full purple shampoo routine. Follow these steps to remove yellow tones in under five minutes...

1. Use purple shampoo as needed. First assess your grey hair to see if yellow tones or golden warmth are visible. If it's a yes, swap your 'regular' shampoo for purple shampoo.
2. Massage your chosen formula (we love ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo) into damp hair. Make sure the lather is worked through every strand, from roots to ends.
3. If it's your first time using Onyx Shampoo on your grey hair, leave the lather on for no more than three minutes. If you feel your hair needs it, you can increase it to four or five minutes next time.
4. Rinse the lather thoroughly with lukewarm water, then follow with your favorite conditioner or hair mask. ULTIMATE SMOOTH Step 2 Intense Mask is a beautiful choice for grey hair, as it amps up shine through silver strands.

Get Yellow Out of Grey Hair: FAQs

What Causes Grey Hair to Turn Yellow?

When natural grey hair turns yellow, it's usually caused by environmental stressors such as UV rays, hard water, metal buildup and air pollution. Heat styling and product buildup can also cause dull, warm tones to appear.

What Does Purple Shampoo Do to Grey Hair?

Purple shampoo neutralizes yellow tones in grey hair without lifting, bleaching or dramatically altering your natural silver base. Be sure to use it on an as-needed basis, only when unwanted warmth appears.

What Does Toner Do and Does it Work on Grey Hair?

Toners can be used to neutralize unwanted warmth in your hair, while also personalizing your color to achieve your dream shade of grey. Unlike purple shampoos, which target brassiness without altering your color, a salon toner will provide more targeted color correction for a customized result.

Does Hydrogen Peroxide Take Yellow Out of Grey Hair?

No, hydrogen peroxide is not designed to take yellow out of grey hair, and we don't recommend you try it, as it may cause damage to fragile grey strands. Instead, use moisturizing purple shampoos, like ULTIMATE COLOR BLONDE Onyx Shampoo, which will tone unwanted yellow hues while locking in moisture from roots to ends.

Does Purple Shampoo Damage Grey Hair?

No, purple shampoo doesn't damage grey hair. The violet pigments work on the surface only, gently correcting the color without altering the internal structure of the hair shaft.

Keep Grey Hair Bright and Brass-Free with Wella Professionals

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