Skip to Content

Bleached Hair Turning Green? Fix It Fast With Toner, Dye and Purple Shampoo (2024)

This site is supported by our readers. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through links.

what to do when bleached hair turns greenYou’re a bottle blonde who’s saying peace out to green locks! We’ve all been there. One day your hair’s a perfect shade of sunny blonde, the next it’s looking more Shrek than chic.

Before you freak, chill. Going green’s no reason to hulk out when there are easy fixes to get your hair back to blonde bombshell status.

Let’s nip Kermit in the bud and get that yellow brick road back shall we? Grab some toner or purple shampoo and let’s make green eggs and ham a thing of the past.

With a splash of color correction, we’ll have your hair looking hotter than Miss Piggy’s on Oscar night.

Trust us, blondie. We’ll forget all about this green mishap and get you back to blondes have more fun.

Now let’s roll up our sleeves and fix this froggy fiasco!

Key Takeaways

  • Use color-protecting shampoos and deep conditioning to maintain the integrity of bleached hair.
  • Avoid chlorinated water to prevent green tones. Apply pre-swim protection.
  • Red-based dyes or purple shampoo can help fix green tinted bleached hair at home.
  • Seek professional toner and color correction services for safe, effective removal of green tones in bleached hair.

Why Does Bleached Hair Turn Green?

Why Does Bleached Hair Turn Green
Your platinum locks can turn to slimy seaweed overnight, as if chlorine were a wicked sea witch casting a spell. Don’t let your blonde hair dreams become a green nightmare. That slimy green sheen is likely caused by a chemical reaction between the minerals in your hair and the chlorine in pools.

Copper is a common culprit. As you soak in the pool, the chlorine interacts with copper, magnesium and other mineral deposits causing oxidation and a greenish tint.

While your inner mermaid longs to frolic in the sea, too much time in chlorinated water can lead to major discoloration disasters. Next time, coat your mane in coconut oil before diving in to shield your strands.

And be sure to give your hair some deep conditioning TLC with avocado masks to restore its health and protect your vibrant blonde.

A little proactive haircare will keep Poseidon’s curse at bay.

Preventing Green Tones in Bleached Hair

Preventing Green Tones in Bleached Hair
Bleaching your hair often leads to an unflattering greenish tinge. However, there are simple tips to avoid green tones in bleached hair. First, use a violet-based toner immediately after lightening to neutralize brassiness.

Purple shampoos and conditioners also help reduce yellow tones. When rinsing, use cool or lukewarm water rather than hot, which intensifies green hues. Importantly, deep condition regularly to improve integrity and shine. Lastly, avoid chlorine and copper exposure that encourage greening.

With proper aftercare, you can keep your blonde free of undesirable green tones.

Avoid Chlorine

Avoid immersing color-treated hair in chlorinated water to prevent greenish discoloration. Soaking hair before swimming helps prevent chlorine absorption. Consider wearing a cap or using a pre-swim oil to create a barrier.

Regularly using a chelating shampoo removes mineral buildup from chlorine. Deep condition weekly and hydrate strands to maintain integrity. Ultimately, limiting pool time protects color-processed hair against unwanted green tones from chemical exposure.

Use Color Protecting Shampoo

You’ll want to opt for a color-safe shampoo like the Redken Color Extend Magnetics line to help prevent green tones from developing in bleached hair. For example, Sarah started using the Redken magnetics shampoo and conditioner after getting her hair lightened, and it’s kept brassiness at bay.

Utilizing a specially formulated shampoo for color-treated hair is key to locking in tones and preventing unwanted discoloration issues such as green hues in bleached strands.

Fixing Green Tones at Home

Fixing Green Tones at Home
Got that washed-out green look after lightening? Don’t freak out. Grab some red-based dye and purple shampoo to cancel unwanted green pigments fast.

Red Toned Dye

To counteract the green, reapply a red-based dye matching your natural hair color. Using a semi-permanent hair color in mahogany or auburn tones will help cancel out the green and restore warmth to your hair.

Select a shade that is not drastically different from your current base color. Warm brunette and red tones act as color correctors, neutralizing and camouflaging the green. Avoid permanent dye options. Go easy on heat styling and deep condition your hair weekly for healthy hair that retains color better.

Purple Shampoo

Use a purple shampoo 2-3 times a week. Let the shampoo sit on damp hair for 5-10 mins before rinsing. Alternate with a hydrating shampoo to avoid dryness. Apply a conditioning mask after to replenish moisture.

Though not as strong as a salon toner, purple shampoo can help cancel out brassy green tones. When used right, it brightens blonde and eliminates dullness without compromising lightened hair integrity.

Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar

Apply a mixture of baking soda and apple cider vinegar to wet hair, avoiding the scalp. Then, rinse thoroughly to neutralize unwanted green tones. This DIY treatment helps remove green discoloration from bleached hair by clarifying and lifting out the green pigment.

Mix a tablespoon each of baking soda and apple cider vinegar into a paste. Work it through damp hair and leave for 5 minutes. Then, rinse. The baking soda opens the hair cuticle so the vinegar can penetrate and lift out the green.

Repeat 1-2 times per week. This natural method helps remove green tones without drying out your hair.

Professional Fixes for Green Hair

Professional Fixes for Green Hair
Want to banish the green for good? Book a salon appointment for an expert toner or color correction service. A professional colorist has the skills to customize the right toner or dye to neutralize those stubborn green pigments.

With the proper toner, dye, or color correction, they can get your hair back to the perfect blonde in no time.

Toner

You’ll likely need three toning sessions with purple shampoo over a few weeks for the best results removing the green. Toners work by depositing pigment to neutralize unwanted undertones like green. Choose a toner formulated for blonde or bleached hair in a violet, blue-violet, or purple shade.

Apply the toner evenly throughout damp hair, process for the recommended time, and rinse it thoroughly. Repeat toner applications as necessary until the green tint is canceled out. Toners are gentler than re-coloring for green hair correction.

Color Correction

You may want to see a professional colorist to remove the green hue. A skilled stylist can assess your hair’s condition and undertones to determine the right course of action, such as:

  1. Using a red-hued gloss to neutralize green.
  2. Applying a color remover to strip the tint.
  3. Toning with a violet-based product.
  4. Doing a full color correction with new dye.
  5. Recommending at-home maintenance products.

Trust an expert for the healthiest fix to your green hair woes. They can transform your color beautifully and safely.

Swimming and Green Hair

Swimming and Green Hair
Keep soakin’ your mane before takin’ a dip so the chlorine can’t wreak as much havoc. I’ve seen the green monster rear its ugly head on many a blonde head after too much time in the pool without protection.

Hydrating and saturating those strands before diving in helps keep the chlorine from penetrating and oxidizing. Consider some natural remedies like baking soda or apple cider vinegar rinses to remove any mineral buildup left behind.

If that doesn’t do the trick, make an appointment with your colorist. They’ll know how to send that swimmer’s green packin’ for good.

With the right prep and products, you can keep rockin’ those platinum locks all summer long without fear of hulkin’ out. Prevention is key, but we got your back if the mean green appears. Let’s keep that blonde beautiful.

Is Your Hair Healthy?

Is Your Hair Healthy
Unhealthy hair with damaged cuticles is more vulnerable to turning an undesired green hue, as weekly deep conditioning helps maintain the integrity needed to avoid this issue.

  • Deep condition once a week
  • Use a hydrating mask
  • Reduce pool time
  • Apply a protective product before swimming
  • Install a shower filter

Maintaining your hair’s health through hydration, protecting it from mineral buildup, and caring for the cuticles will help prevent the oxidation that causes that stubborn green tint.

When to Seek Professional Help

When to Seek Professional Help
Sit cringing as that sickly green takes over your once beautiful blonde locks. Don’t panic.

First, assess the overall health of your hair. Dry, porous hair readily absorbs green-inducing minerals. Schedule a consultation with a professional colorist for an expert hair health assessment. They can troubleshoot factors contributing to the green hue and suggest tailored color correction options to restore your gorgeous blonde.

With their advanced training in lightening techniques, a pro can safely lift out the green without further damage. Leaving discolored locks in their hands avoids worsening the issue with DIY dye jobs. Though pricier, salon solutions like toner and treatments banish unbecoming green for good.

Let the experts work their magic so you can rock your golden locks once more.

Conclusion

You’ve done a great job caring for your bleached hair, but sometimes green still sneaks through. Don’t panic – with the right products and techniques, you can get your bright, beautiful blonde back in no time.

Toner, dye, and purple shampoo are your new best friends when bleached hair turns green. Use them consistently and gently, and you’ll fix that green tint faster than you can say Beach blonde.

Avatar for Mutasim Sweileh

Mutasim Sweileh

Mutasim is a published author and software engineer and beard care expert from the US. To date, he has helped thousands of men make their beards look better and get fatter. His work has been mentioned in countless notable publications on men's care and style and has been cited in Seeker, Wikihow, GQ, TED, and Buzzfeed.