How to Prevent Blue Hair from Turning Green

Co-authored by Patrick Evan and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

Blue hair dye is really striking, but also a bit high-maintenance. Unfortunately, your blue hair can fade into an unwanted green hue over time. ^{[1]
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Research source} Not to worry—there are plenty of tips and tricks to help you maintain your hair’s beautiful blue color.

1

Tone your hair with purple shampoo.

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Purple shampoo helps cancel out the yellow tones in your hair. These yellow tones, when mixed with the blue hair dye, can lead to a greenish tint in your locks. ^{[2]
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Research source} Wash your hair with your traditional shampoo; after rinsing it out, lather your hair with purple shampoo. ^{[3]
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Research source} Let this product sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out. As a good rule of thumb, use this shampoo 1-2 times a week to help tone your hair. ^{[4]
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- If your hair is lighter, platinum blonde shade, your hair might not look as green over time.

2

Mix blue dye into a deep conditioner to refresh color.

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Fill a clean, empty jar ¼ of the way full with a deep conditioner. Stir 1 spoonful of blue, vegetable-based, semi-permanent hair dye into your conditioner. Massage the colored conditioner into your hair, combing it through your strands to spread out the mixture. Then, clip away your hair so it’s out of your face, and let the conditioners sit for 5 minutes. Rinse out the mixture completely afterward. ^{[5]
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- You can use this mixture when you shower to recharge your beautiful blue hair.

3

Shower with lukewarm or cool water.

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Don’t crank up the heat when you step in the shower. From a scientific standpoint, hot water causes fading by lifting up your hair’s outer cuticle layer. To prevent this from happening, set your tap to a lukewarm or cold setting, which will preserve your hair color for longer. ^{[6]
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- The higher the water temperature, the faster your color will fade.

4

Shampoo once every 3 days.

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Unfortunately, dyed hair fades a little bit each time you lather up with shampoo. Instead, space out your showers so you can keep your hair clean and fresh without compromising the color. ^{[7]
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5

Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.

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Sulfates tend to strip away your hair’s moisture, natural oils, and dyed color. To prevent this, check the shampoo and conditioner labels while you’re at the store. Pick up products labeled specifically as “sulfate-free,” and toss out any old products that list sodium laureth sulfate or sodium laureth ether sulfate as an ingredient. ^{[8]
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- You can also look for products that are designed and labeled for color-treated hair. ^{[9]
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6

Spritz your hair with dry shampoo.

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Shop for dry shampoos with “color-safe” on the label. On the days you skip the shower, spray dry shampoo in your hair to keep it fresh. ^{[10]
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- You can also look for a color-tinted dry shampoo that matches the blue shade of your hair.

7

Air-dry your hair instead of blow-drying it.

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Soak up any leftover water with a towel after your shower. Then, let your hair air-dry the rest of the way. Don’t use a blow dryer too often—this can damage your locks. ^{[11]
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- Don’t overdo it when you towel-dry your hair. Unfortunately, scrubbing your hair dry with a towel can lead to fading.

8

Apply heat protectant spray before heat styling.

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Heat styling tools cause your hair to fade. If you really love your curling or flat iron, spritz heat protectant spray all over your blue hair before you start styling. ^{[12]
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- The best way to protect your hair is by avoiding heat styling altogether. If you really want to curl or straighten your hair, use heat protecting products first, and set your tools to a low temperature, like 350 °F (177 °C). ^{[13]
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9

Guard your hair from the sun with a UV protectant.

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As a precaution, apply a UV protectant hair spray or treatment all over your hair before heading outside for the day. ^{[14]
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10

Stay away from chlorine.

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To keep your hair’s beautiful blue shade intact, take a break from the pool. If you’d still like to take a dip, slip on a cap before heading into the water. ^{[15]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What kind of shampoo should I use?

Patrick Evan
Professional Hair Stylist
Patrick Evan is the Owner of Patrick Evan Salon, a hair salon in San Francisco, California. He has been a hairstylist for over 25 years and is a Thermal Reconditioning Specialist, dedicated to transforming difficult curls and waves into sleek, straight hair. Patrick Evan Salon was rated the Best Hair Salon in San Francisco by Allure magazine, and Patrick's work has been featured in Woman’s Day, The Examiner, and 7x7.

Patrick Evan

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Choose a sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo. These have a pH in the 4.5-5.5 range, which is the same as hair. That will ensure the cuticle stays closed, which will preserve your color for longer.

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Tips

While touch-ups can be really helpful, too much dye might damage your hair. When people get their hair dyed professionally, they space out their appointments by 4-6 weeks—feel free to use this as a template for your own touch-ups. ^{[16]
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A dye with purple undertones is less likely to fade to green.

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Warnings

Don’t wash your hair for at least 3 days after you’ve dyed it blue. If you wash your hair too soon, your hair might fade. ^{[17]
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How to Prevent Blue Hair from Turning Green

Steps

Tone your hair with purple shampoo.

Mix blue dye into a deep conditioner to refresh color.

Shower with lukewarm or cool water.

Shampoo once every 3 days.

Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.

Spritz your hair with dry shampoo.

Air-dry your hair instead of blow-drying it.

Apply heat protectant spray before heat styling.

Guard your hair from the sun with a UV protectant.

Stay away from chlorine.

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