How to Keep Ashy Blonde Hair

Co-authored by Jamie Bushman and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: June 29, 2022 References

Ashy blonde is a beautiful, cool-toned shade that you can get through salon treatments or a careful, at-home dye job. As stylish as this hair color is, it can be a bit tricky to maintain for long periods of time, since the cool, ashy tone tends to fade quickly.^{[1]
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Research source} While ashy blonde hair requires consistent touch-ups, you can keep your hair looking as cool and ashy as possible with the proper hair products and regular maintenance.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Purple Shampoo and Conditioner

1
Lather your hair with purple shampoo. Squeeze out a grape-sized amount of purple shampoo into your hands and work it through your ashy blonde hair. Knead it through your roots, spreading the product all throughout your hair.^{[2]
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Research source} This product helps maintain the cool tones in your hair, and keeps it from looking too bright.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Jamie Bushman
Master Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 15 September 2021.}
- If you tend to have brassy hair, look for shampoos that have blue undertones in them.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jamie Bushman
  Master Hair Stylist
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2021.}
- You can find purple shampoo at most stores that sell beauty products.
2
Let the product sit in your hair for several minutes. Read the label on your shampoo to see how long the product needs to soak into your hair. Depending on the formula, you may need to let the shampoo sit for 5 minutes or so before you can start rinsing it out.^{[6]
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- For some products, you can keep the shampoo in for as long as 10 minutes. Double-check the label just to be safe!^{[7]
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3
Rinse out the purple shampoo thoroughly. Run a stream of clean water through hair, using your hands to work away any of the leftover suds. Continue rinsing until all of the shampoo is out of your hair.^{[8]
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4
Massage a purple conditioner into your hair. Squeeze out a grape-sized amount of purple conditioner into your hands and begin rubbing it through your blonde hair. Try to spread the product through your roots as well as the rest of your hair, so all of your hair gets conditioned.^{[9]
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- You can find purple conditioners at most beauty supply shops. Some brands refer to these conditioners as “brightening treatments.”^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Jamie Bushman
  Master Hair Stylist
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2021.}^{[11]
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  Research source}
5
Wait several minutes for the product to soak in. Double-check the product label to confirm how long the product needs to sit in your hair. Most products need to soak into your hair for several minutes so they can cancel out any warm sections developing in your hair.^{[12]
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- Some products may only need to be left on for 2 minutes, while some may need to be left on for 10 minutes.
6
Rinse out the leftover product. As you did before, knead out any leftover conditioner beneath a stream of clean water. Continue massaging the product out until your hair is free of conditioner.^{[13]
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7
Wash your hair with purple shampoo every third wash. Keep in mind that purple shampoos and conditioners can turn your really cool or purple tones if you use them on a regular basis, which isn’t ideal. Start by washing your hair with these products once every 3 times you shampoo and see how your hair looks. You may need to tweak your purple shampooing and conditioning schedule depending on how ashy or warm your hair looks.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Jamie Bushman
Master Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 15 September 2021.}^{[15]
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Research source}
- For instance, if your hair looks really brassy, you may want to use purple shampoo every other shower.
- You can use a traditional or clarifying shampoo on the days you aren’t using a purple toning product.
- Blue shampoo can also help keep your hair looking ashy.^{[16]
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- You should only shampoo every other day, at most, so you should be using the purple or blue product about once a week to start.^{[17]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jamie Bushman
  Master Hair Stylist
  Expert Interview. 15 September 2021.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Practicing Good Maintenance Habits

1
Clean your hair with a clarifying shampoo on a weekly basis. Squeeze out a grape-sized amount of clarifying shampoo and massage it through your hair. Use this product instead of your traditional or purple shampoo. Work this shampoo through your roots as well as the rest of your hair to get rid of any build-up from your purple toning products.^{[18]
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- You can find clarifying shampoo at most beauty stores.
2
Spray your hair with a dry UV protectant before going out in the sun. Think about your schedule for the day, and if you’re planning on spending a lot of time outside. Grab a can of dry UV protectant spray and spritz it all over the surface of your hair. If you like to spend time outside, this product will keep your hair from lightening.^{[19]
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- You can find this product at most beauty supply stores.
3
Install a filtered showerhead to protect your hair color. Visit your local hardware or home improvement store and see if you can find a filtered showerhead. This type of showerhead helps filter out hard water, which can make your hair look warm instead of having the cool, ashy tones that you want.^{[20]
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- A water filter is not the same as a water softener. A filtered showerhead will only improve the water quality in your shower, but not the rest of your home.
4
Visit a salon when your roots start showing. Keep an eye on your roots, especially if you have a naturally darker hair color. Schedule an appointment about 4 to 6 weeks after you initially got your hair dyed so a salon professional can touch up your hair again.^{[21]
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- If you prefer to dye your hair at home, you’ll still want to touch up your hair around this same time frame.

Expert Q&A

Question

What does purple shampoo do to ashy blonde hair?

Jamie Bushman
Master Hair Stylist
Jamie Bushman is a Master Hair Stylist and the Owner of The Circle Salon, an eco-friendly salon in Chicago, Illinois. With over 22 years of experience, she specializes in cutting hair, styling hair, coloring hair, hair care, waxing, and makeup. Jamie has been featured in multiple publications such as Allure and Elle, and her salon has been recognized as one of Salon Today’s Top 200 Salons. Jamie received her cosmetology training at The Aveda Institute Minneapolis.

Jamie Bushman

Master Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Purple shampoo helps add a tiny bit of color back into your hair. This is really helpful, since ashy tones are the last color to enter your hair and the first to leave.
Question

How can I make my hair more ashy?

Jamie Bushman
Master Hair Stylist
Jamie Bushman is a Master Hair Stylist and the Owner of The Circle Salon, an eco-friendly salon in Chicago, Illinois. With over 22 years of experience, she specializes in cutting hair, styling hair, coloring hair, hair care, waxing, and makeup. Jamie has been featured in multiple publications such as Allure and Elle, and her salon has been recognized as one of Salon Today’s Top 200 Salons. Jamie received her cosmetology training at The Aveda Institute Minneapolis.

Jamie Bushman

Master Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Use purple shampoo every time you hop into the shower. The more you use it, the more ash you get!

Warnings

Avoid products with detergents, salts, and sulfates, as these will make your hair color fade quickly.^{[24]
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Wash your hair with cool or lukewarm water instead of hot water. Hot water can fade your hair color.^{[25]
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Chlorine can fade hair color so you may want to avoid swimming pools.^{[26]
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