Is it possible to remove green tones from hair? Thanks to the theory of colors, maybe yes

Nobody wants to end up with greenish tones in their hair, unless your source of inspiration was Billie Eilish in 2019. Yet it happens more often than you’d think: you get a fresh dye, enjoy your new hair look, and a few days later, that unexpected greenish tint appears. Or you go for a swim, just one last dip before the season change, and find your hair a completely different shade from your flawless blonde. But why does this happen? And more importantly, how do you fix it? Here’s everything you need to know.

Why green tones appear

One thing is certain: green in hair doesn’t appear by chance; it’s the result of small mistakes or certain chemical reactions. Sometimes it’s the chlorine in the pool, which especially turns blonde hair into an unflattering green. Other times, it’s metals in the water, like copper, iron, and the like, that deposit on the hair creating that oxidized effect. The real plot twist comes when we play hairdresser ourselves and try to go from blonde to dark brown. Applying a dark dye on very light or bleached hair without first adding warm, orange-based pigments will result in green. After all, according to color theory, yellow plus blue equals exactly that shade.

Color theory

To better understand how unwanted tones appear and how to correct them, just take a look at the color wheel. Every tone has its opposite: yellow is countered by purple (hence the anti-yellow shampoos that keep blondes cool), orange by blue, and red by green.

How to fix it?

The harsh truth is that anti-green shampoo doesn’t exist. The only real solution is to go to a professional hairdresser, who will correct the color by reintroducing golden and coppery tones where needed. In short, it’s about restoring chromatic balance by adding the missing warmth. If you try DIY chemical fixes with grandma’s remedies you find online, you risk ending up with patchy color and dehydrated hair. So trust me: go to the hairdresser.