Products To Keep The Cool In Icy Blonde Hair

Two months ago, I decided to bite the “commitment haircolour” bullet: I had my dirty blonde, 4-inches-of-roots-mascarading-as-ombré hair bleached and toned to a cool, pure white, platinum blonde. It took two visits to the salon, three applications each of bleach and toner, and more than 9 hours of work from my tireless and very talented colourist, Kathryn Lenarduzzi at Blonde Salon in Toronto. And I love it! Here’s before-and-after shot of my new colour:

After my hair makeover, I began the search for the perfect maintenance products. The key for keeping platinum hair, well, platinum is warding off brassiness. My hair’s new best friends: Blue, violet, or purple-toned products, which counteract yellow tones to neutralize brassiness. Here are the products (pictured from left to right at the top of this post) that I’ve come to rely on to keep my hair as cool and bright as possible:

Pro:Voke Touch of Silver Twice a Week Brightening Shampoo ($8, 150 mL, at select drugstores)
I only wash my hair twice a week, so this has become my shampoo. It has a super-saturated deep, violet-colour that looks almost black when squeezed from the bottle, and it smells (unfortunately) a little like old-school hair dye. But, that’s because it actually contains dye molecules, which is why it’s so effective. I like to massage it in and then let it sit in my hair for a few minutes before rinsing, for maximum penetration.

Pro:Voke Touch of Silver Intensive Treatment Conditioner ($8, 150 mL, at select drugstores)
While violet-coloured shampoos are plentiful on store shelves, violet conditioners’ not so much. This one has Keratin to strengthen damaged hair (who knew bleaching would cause damage, right?), and a UV filter to protect from the sun’s rays, which can contribute to brassy tones.

Schwarzkopf BlondMe Color Correcting Spray Conditioner in Cool Ice ($17, 150 mL, at select salons)
This is my desert-island beauty product. I use this conditioning spray daily, and I love that it can be spritzed on either damp or dry hair. Along with softening and adding shine, it’s rich violet hue instantly brightens and whitens to banish any hint of yellow and keep my locks that perfectly clear, icy shade I’m after.

Have your ever tried a daring shade? What are your go-to hair products for boosting your colour? I’d love to hear your recommendations, too’ share with us in the comments.

Blonde Salon is located at 80 Power St. in downtown Toronto; 416-361-3131; http://www.blondesalon.ca.