Help! My Hair Has Gone Green — What Can I Do?
Opening the mirror to a green tint in your hair is alarming — but try not to panic. It’s a surprisingly common problem, and in most cases it’s fixable. Here’s an honest guide from the team at Wisteria Avenue in Abingdon on why it happens and what to do about it.
First, work out the cause
Green hair has two main causes, and they need different solutions — so this is the step to get right first.
The most common cause is swimming. It’s often blamed on chlorine, but the real culprit is usually copper in the pool water, which can bind to the hair — particularly lighter or coloured hair — and leave a green cast. This type of green is the more straightforward to deal with.
The other cause is a colour mishap — a green or ashy tint appearing after colouring or toning, often when a cool tone has been applied over a base that reacted differently than expected. This isn’t something a shampoo will fix; it’s a colour issue that needs a colour solution.
If it’s from swimming
Green from pool water can often be improved at home. A clarifying shampoo — ideally one designed to remove chlorine or copper build-up — is the sensible first thing to try. The important caveats: follow the instructions, and don’t overuse it, as clarifying shampoos can be drying. Used a couple of times it will often lift a mild green tint noticeably. If it’s stubborn, or your hair is coloured and you don’t want to risk drying it out, that’s the point to bring it to a professional rather than scrubbing away at it.
If it’s a colour problem
If the green appeared after colouring or toning, don’t try to correct it yourself — and definitely don’t reach for another box colour to “cancel it out”. Colour correction is genuinely skilled work; getting an unwanted tone out cleanly without damaging the hair takes the right products and judgement. This is one to book in for, and the sooner the better.
A word on home remedies
You’ll find plenty of home fixes online — baking soda pastes and the like. We’d gently steer you away from those. Baking soda is harsh on the hair’s condition and can leave it dry and rough, especially if your hair is coloured or already stressed. A proper clarifying shampoo is a far safer home option, and beyond that, a professional is the sensible route.
Come and see us in Abingdon
If your hair has gone green and home washing hasn’t shifted it — or if it’s a colour problem — come and talk to us. Book in for a free, no-obligation consultation and we’ll give you an honest assessment and a way to put it right. You can also have a look at our price list to see what’s involved.
