Silver hair provides a beautiful look to people of any age with any hairstyle and is versatile and trendy but does silver hair fade back to blonde after washing?
Silver-dyed hair can fade back to blonde, there are many reasons why it happens and ways to prevent brassy blonde from returning.
Discover why silver hair fades back to blonde after washing and what to do to maintain that luscious color.
How Long Does Silver Hair Color Last?
How long silver hair color lasts depends on several factors, such as whether the dye is temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent, how many times a week you wash your hair, and what kind of shampoo you use.
If a temporary color is used, the silver hair color will last a day or two. For semi-permanent color, expect the results to last from 6-12 washings.
Permanent hair dye involves bleaching or peroxide, changing the structure of the hair strands. Permanent dyes will last 4-8 weeks.
Does Silver Hair Fade Back To Blonde?
Yes! Silver hair color fades back to blonde with washing and everyday activities. Silver hair dye is a semi-permanent color that only deposits pigment onto the hair surface. Over time, the silver pigment gradually washes out with washing and exposure to the environment. So, the lightened silver (or blonde hair) underneath is revealed.
Bleaching any color of hair and then coloring to achieve a silver hue requires the right care before, during, and after.
To obtain the opalescent hue that is all the rage, hair must be bleached to a pale yellow-blonde and then toned with a silver or gray-based product toner.
What Causes Silver Hair to Turn Blonde After Washing?
The peroxide used in hair dye chemicals and bleach separates the cuticle in the hair shaft, removing natural color, and thus allowing the dye molecules to permeate the hair shaft. How?
The bleach interacts with melanin in the hair, causing a chemical reaction that removes hair color. Hair dye infiltrates the open, bleached cuticle, and as the dye sits on the hair, the dye molecules expand to change the hair color permanently.
Processed hair is fragile and must be cared for to maintain not only the new color but shine and manageability. Proper care also prevents hair breakage.
Temporary hair color will wash out within one or two washings, as intended. Semi-permanent or demi-permanent hair dye is intended to last 6-12 washings, but the duration can be extended with color-depositing shampoos or conditioners.
Silver hair fades to blonde after washing for several reasons:
- Clarifying shampoo
- Shampoo with sulfates
- Saltwater
- Chlorine from pools
- UV light (sunshine)
- Heat styling
Clarifying shampoo will fade any hair color quickly and should only be used to lighten the hair dye color. Shampoo with sulfates will also remove the dye molecules much more quickly.
Saltwater, chlorine from swimming, sunshine, and heat styling cause the hair cuticle to release color faster.
How To Prevent Silver Hair Color From Fading To Blonde?
After dyeing your hair, wait at least 24 hours for shampoo. Washing your hair with shampoo every day will cause your color to fade to blonde at a quicker rate. If you need to take a shower daily, you can use plain water to wet your hair.
The type of shampoo is critical to keeping your color fresh. Using specialized formulas without sulfates will maintain color and shine. There are also special color-depositing shampoos and conditioners that will help maintain your new color for longer.
Avoiding chlorinated pools and lengthy exposure to sunlight will also prevent your silver hair from fading to blonde. Limiting heat stylers such as hair dryers, straighteners, curlers, or hot rollers will also protect your hair color.
Summary
Silver hair dye will fade back to blonde over time due to washing and exposure to sunlight. How fast it fades will vary, especially when proper steps are not taken to maintain the color.
Following a good hair care routine and only washing your hair every few days will help keep that silver color vibrant.
Use a color-protecting or color-depositing shampoo with a moisturizing conditioner, minimizing your time in the sun or pool, and using low heat settings will keep your hair healthy and the color vibrant between colorings.
FAQs
A bleach wash can be used to strip silver deposits; however, this method is extremely damaging to the hair shaft and can result in further damage to the hair or even a “chemical haircut” where the hair breaks off.
Applying blonde dye will only add golden highlights if your hair is naturally grey or silver. A bleaching kit will bleach the hair before coloring, and the blonde dye will deposit evenly.
Blue-based shampoo is used to remove brassy or reddish tones in dyed or bleached hair. Blue shampoo on silver hair will brighten it and provide shine.