Many people are puzzled by their blue or gray hair turning green as it fades. This often happens due to the underlying pigments and can also occur after using purple or blue toning shampoos. The key to solving this issue is understanding color theory and using the right toning color methods to neutralize the green tones. With the correct approach, you can easily fix green hair tones at home.

Catalogue

I. Why does blue hair turn green or gray hair develop green tones?

II. How to fix green-toned hair?

III. How to use color-depositing shampoo?

IV. The ultimate solution for color build up: MCG Color-Depositing Shampoo

To understand why stubborn green tones appear, it's essential to grasp basic color theory. The colors we see come from the three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. When bleaching hair, particularly in Asians who have more yellow pigments, removing black pigments leaves behind yellow. Adding blue tones on top of this can result in green as it fades. Similarly, colors like purple and gray also contain blue, which can cause green to emerge as these colors fade.

Using color-depositing shampoos follows the same principle. To maintain shades like blue, teal, light purple, or gray, these shampoos are used to replenish pigments. However, some shampoos with high pigment concentrations may cause the color to build up over time, leading to an intensified and stubborn color residue. Prolonged use of such products can result in serious color build up, which is difficult to fade.

It’s common for certain hair colors to fade and develop a slight green tint, especially with popular shades like gray. While using over-the-counter dye to cover the green might seem like a solution, it can make the build up worse. A smarter and simpler way to manage this issue is by using color-depositing shampoos to maintain your desired shade without adding too much pigment or causing further color build up.

To neutralize the green tint in the model's hair, Rebels used a mix of MCG's "Pink Lady" and "White" color-depositing shampoos. Pink tones, such as "Pink Lady," counteract green according to the color wheel, while "White" helps correct yellow undertones after fading. This combination ensures that the hair appears clean and bright, setting a fresh base for the pink hue to take effect and neutralize the unwanted green tones.

The before-and-after comparison clearly shows how the use of color-depositing shampoo effectively solved the green tint issue, provided by hairstylist Rebels

Essential post-dye hair products include color-protecting and color-depositing shampoos. Color-depositing shampoos are categorized into color-depositing and toning types. To avoid brassy yellow after fading, use color-protecting or toning shampoos right after dyeing to maintain clean color fading. Once the color has mostly faded, use a color-depositing shampoo to restore the desired hue.

1. Wash hair with your usual shampoo.
2. Apply the color-depositing shampoo evenly.
3. Leave on for 3–5 minutes, then rinse.

Have you ever used a color-depositing shampoo? Stylist Anson offers tips on using color-depositing shampoos effectively.

MCG's Color-Depositing Shampoo uses natural plant-based ingredients to address dryness and itching caused by bleaching and dyeing. It provides sufficient moisture, reduces tangling, and prevents hair breakage during washing. It also helps relieve scalp tightness. The shampoo uses high-quality pigments and plant-based thickeners, ensuring that color doesn't stain your hands and prevents pigment build up in the hair. 

To explore the color options available for MCG's Color-Depositing Shampoo, including the seven built-in shades, you can refer to the article titled "Color-depositing shampoo recommendation: offers 7 shades to choose from! Here's How to Pick the Right One." It provides a detailed guide on selecting the right shade based on your needs.

Professional hairstylist Miyake used hair strands to tackle the green color issue, experimenting with both severely and mildly green-tinged hair. The video demonstrates how color-depositing shampoo successfully resolved the problem, revealing that results vary depending on the severity of the green tint.

For more videos showcasing tests with color-depositing shampoos, check out the article "100 Stylists Test MCG Color-Depositing Shampoo" for further insights.

Further Reading:

• Color-Depositing Shampoo Tutorial: How to correct green hair at home with professional tips.

• What is color build up? Does foam dye cause color buildup for gray hair?

• How do stylists fix color buildup issues? (Part 2)

• Uneven application of color-depositing shampoo? 3 tips to fix patchy color.

• Uneven hair color after dyeing? 2 stylist tips to fix bright roots.