Do you dream of snow-white hair but it takes on unwanted yellow highlights? This is completely normal! White hair mostly happens with age and we don’t always know how to take care of it. The main disadvantage of white hair is that it turns yellow over time. Are you wondering how to prevent your hair from turning yellow and how to maintain your hair? Discover all of Centifolia’s tips and the main reasons why hair turns yellow.
What to do to prevent yellowing of hair?
To limit the yellowing of your beautiful white hair, we have some tips. It is first of all necessary to protect your hair from all external aggressions such as exposure to the sun or the heat of your devices. Next, we recommend opting for a purple de-yellowing shampoo. Why use purple shampoo to de-yellow hair? Let’s go back to basics to understand how purple shampoo can reduce yellowing of hair: we all know the primary colors which are yellow, red and blue. Purple is a mixture of blue and red, which helps counterbalance the yellow color of the hair. Indeed, purple is the color opposite to yellow. This means that purple and yellow cancel each other out.
To keep your hair strong and shiny, we do not recommend using shampoos and colorings that contain sulfates or silicone, as this risks further weakening the hair fiber. Finally, it is essential to moisturize your white hair to avoid any attacks that could damage it. You can make masks to strengthen the hair, use a shine conditioner or even apply vegetable oil to all of your hair to moisturize it.
The Centifolia Intense Light range
Centifolia has developed the Intense Light range to restoregray-haired shinewhite and blond. This innovative range protects against yellowing of hair and restores light to light hair. Thanks to 100% natural blue and purple pigments, this range neutralizes yellow and orange reflections. The range consists of a purple detangling shampoo and an ultra-violet mask to enhance your gray, white and blonde hair.
Why do white hair turn yellow?
Each of us is affected by the yellowing of hair, but why? To better understand this phenomenon, we need to understand the structure of our hair. Our hair is made up of keratin, water, lipids and melanin. Melanin is responsible for hair coloring. Melanin is the natural pigment that provides brown, blonde or red color. The amount of melanin is different depending on the pigmentation of our hair. Over time, we gradually lose melanin contained in our hair; this is why the hair turns gray to white. They then become more fragile, dry and dehydrated. Yellowing of hair is a natural phenomenon that is more visible on light hair. The loss of melanin accentuates the yellowing of the hair since the hair is more fragile in the face of external aggressions such as the sun, pollution, heat… Also note that genetics, nutrition, hormones, or stress can also play a role in hair health.
What are the causes of yellowing hair?
The number one cause of yellowing hair is the environment. Indeed, hair is subject to numerous external attacks which weaken and damage it. White hair, which no longer has melanin, is more affected since it no longer has protection. The main external attacks are:
- The sun: Strong exposure to the sun is a strong attack on your hair. Melanin is attacked by UV rays and this is why hair lightens during the summer period if we do not protect it. For white hair that no longer has melanin, it risks turning yellow more quickly and becoming drier. You should know that yellowing of hair due to exposure to the sun may be permanent. You will therefore have to wait for the hair to grow back to regain your beautiful, dazzling white hair.
- Heat: Heated styling tools like hair dryers, curling irons or straighteners damage your hair and can cause it to turn yellow. It is advisable to use devices where the temperature is adjustable as well as to use products to protect your hair before drying. For example, use a dry oil after straightening to nourish your hair (jojoba, sesame, or hazelnut oil).
- Pollution: The pollution present in the city and everywhere around us degrades the color of our hair. The molecules supposed to protect them from attacks are damaged by pollution, which leads to yellowing of the hair.
- Beta-carotene: Present in our daily diet, high consumption of beta-carotene can have an impact on the color of your skin but also on the color of your hair. The ideal is to consume foods rich in beta-carotene in moderation to avoid any yellowing of your hair.
- Chlorine: Chlorine and sea water can damage your hair. This is why it is necessary to protect your white hair before going into the water. To do this, we recommend several tips: wet your hair before entering the water, wear a hat, apply oil after leaving the water and wash your hair thoroughly.
- Hard water: Your hair can turn yellow from the water in your shower. Water rich in magnesium and calcium can cause yellowing of white hair. Indeed, the water will leave a residue on your hair and cause yellowing. Installing an anti-limescale shower head is a solution to protect your hair from hard water. Washing your hair less frequently also allows you to take care of your beautiful hair.
- Smoke: Smoke produced by cigarettes or a campfire can damage your white hair. It will settle on your hair and make it turn yellow. Avoid contact with smoke or protect your hair with a scarf or hat for example.
