Are Hair Products Dulling Your Blonde Hair Colour?

Blonde hair is high-maintenance — and if you’ve noticed your bright, cool tones turning brassy or dull, your hair products could be to blame.

Whether you’re a natural blonde or you’ve lightened your hair at the salon, maintaining that fresh, vibrant tone is no easy task. Many shampoos, conditioners, oils and styling products marketed as “nourishing” or “hydrating” may actually be working against your blonde hair colour.

In this post, we’ll break down how hair products — especially certain oils — can dull your blonde.

Gold-Tinted Oils: The Hidden Culprit Behind Brassy Blonde

Not all hair oils are created equal — especially if you have blonde or bleached hair.

Many popular hair growth oils or shine serums are gold-tinted. While this may give a luxe appearance in the bottle, that golden hue can have unintended consequences. Here's why:

• Staining Effect: The golden tint in many oils comes from plant extracts, artificial dyes or infused herbs like turmeric or saffron. These pigments can act as a stain on lightened hair, gradually giving your hair a yellow or brassy cast.
• Darkening Over Time: Blondes with porous or chemically processed hair are especially at risk. These hair strands absorb colour more easily, meaning the golden tint doesn’t just sit on the surface — it soaks in.
• Loss of Tone: Even ash or platinum blondes may find their tone shifting towards a darker, more golden hue with regular use of gold-tinted oils.

What Else Can Dull Your Blonde Hair?

Aside from oil, here are a few other common culprits:

1. Silicone-Based Products

Many smoothing serums and conditioners contain silicones like dimethicone. These can create buildup over time, leading to a dull, lifeless look — especially on fine blonde hair.

2. Purple Shampoo Overuse

While purple shampoo neutralises yellow tones, using it too frequently or leaving it on too long can cause dryness or unwanted lavender staining.

3. Hard Water

Minerals like calcium and iron in hard water can build up on your hair shaft, dulling your blonde and causing it to feel rough and look discoloured.

4. Heat Damage

Heat styling without proper protection fades hair colour faster and strips the hair’s natural shine, leaving blonde hair looking flat and tired.

What to Look for in Blonde-Safe Hair Products

• Colour-Safe Label
  Always choose products that specifically say colour-safe or safe for colour-treated hair.
• Organic, Plant-Based Ingredients
  A natural blend reduces the risk of chemical interactions with bleach-treated hair.
• Formulated for Blondes
  Specialised products, like She’s Thick Blonde Hair Growth Oil, are crafted with the needs of blonde and bleached hair in mind — boosting thickness and shine without staining.