How to Metal Detox Hair For the Healthiest Mane
The knowledge of how metals can impact hair health isn't new to us at Wella. We've been talking about it – and developing colour and care technology to counter it – for years. However, it's only now that hairdressers and their clients are turning their attention to the effects of metals. From breaking hair bonds to causing colour shift, unwanted culprits like copper are big news across salons and even TikTok.
So, let's explore the true impact of metals on hair, including how they interact with your favourite hair colours and care essentials. Keep scrolling to discover the metal detox shampoos and colour formulas locks are calling out for, so you can restore balance once more. Heavy metals don't stand a chance.
How Do Metals Get Into Hair?
There's a silent aggressor that could be affecting your hair – and your client's. Although you can't see them, heavy metals are wreaking havoc in locks, causing everything from colour fade to breakage. But, how exactly do they get in? Well, quite simply, they're everywhere. Environmental metals in the air can attach themselves to strands, and you can even ingest heavy metals from the foods you eat.
However, one of the most common ways for metal deposits to get inside your hair is through the water you wash with. If the plumbing in your salon or home is made up of copper pipes, these can erode over time to release microscopic metal particles. On their own, these metals aren't actually considered harmful to the body, skin or hair. The problem occurs when they encounter certain chemicals, such as peroxide. This can trigger oxidative damage by releasing free radicals, and it’s these free radicals that then disrupt and damage the hair’s natural protein structure, resulting in colour shift¹, dullness and damage.
How Long Do Heavy Metals Stay in Hair?
Often, once these metal deposits get into your hair, they don’t move until you remove them. And, if they're left untreated for extended periods, hair can be vulnerable to heavy metal accumulation, where copper and magnesium build up. That's why, if you suspect toxic metals have worked their way into the hair fiber, it's important you adopt a routine that restores balance. What you need is personal care products that neutralize metals, keeping the adverse effects at bay.
How Do You Know if Hair Needs a Metal Detox?
All hair types will benefit from a heavy metal detox, because those metals are everywhere. But the need for a deep clean levels up if hair is coloured, or pre-colouring, to ward off these warning signs:
Hair Breakage
During the colouring process, elevated levels of heavy metals can result in split ends and hair breakage. Why? Because those toxic metals weaken the hair's inner cortex and damage bonds when they interact with chemicals such as peroxide.
Dullness and Colour Shift
Along with other toxic elements, like pollutant particles, one of the biggest shade fade culprits is heavy metals. They’re responsible for colour shift, causing hair to turn brassy or lose its vibrancy. In some cases, copper can even cause coloured hair to go green.
Hair Imbalance
Metals sometimes leave a layer of residue on the hair and scalp, resulting in oily roots and lengths that can feel ‘hard’ and rough. This is a sure sign that heavy metal detoxification is needed.
Who is More Susceptible to Metal Damage?
Ridding hair of heavy metals isn't just about treating the concerns above, but also about preventing them. Long-term exposure to pollutants, like copper, can affect hair colour results – and you might not even know it's happening. It's easy to put the blame on more visible aggressors, like heat damage or sun exposure. And, while these are common colour faders, hair needs protection against day-to-day metals too.
It's also important to remember that metals may affect your hair more if:
You Live in a Polluted Area
Metal-heavy hair is a geographical issue. While metals are in water and air everywhere, they may be more prominent in polluted areas. That's why, if you live in a busy city, you should be extra mindful of how metal particles might impact your strands (or your client's).
Your Hair is Highly Porous
Hair porosity relates to how absorbent your strands are. The more porous hair is, the more it soaks up external aggressors, like humidity, pollutants and, of course, metals. This is because high porosity hair features gaps and tears along the cuticle, through which those metals can be absorbed, and moisture can escape.
How Do You Reduce Hair's Heavy Metal Levels?
The first and most effective way to remove metals from the hair is with a specialized shampoo. That’s why we’ve added our unique Metal Purifier Technology to our bestselling care formulas. It detoxes damaging metals from the hair fiber to leave locks clean, purified and balanced. Now there's no compromise on hair damage.
But these shampoos don’t just neutralize metals; they also answer some of your biggest (or your client’s biggest) hair concerns. So, here’s how to pick the perfect one for glossy, radiant, healthy hair…
For Damage Repair: ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo
The answer to even the most damaged hair is the ULTIMATE REPAIR regimen, which harnesses the Metal Purifier in the Shampoo, Mask, Miracle Hair Rescue and Protective Leave-In. So, for a breakage-defying routine, wash with the Shampoo, and apply the Mask from mid-lengths to ends. Allow it to absorb for five minutes, as it detects and treats damage where hair needs it most. Then, after rinsing and towel-drying locks, mist Miracle Hair Rescue from root to tip. It repairs hair damage in 90 seconds², leaving hair 12x smoother³ with 99% less breakage⁴. The finishing touch is the Protective Leave-In, used to shield locks against heat up to 450 degrees, as well as UV exposure and everyday wear and tear.
For True Radiance: Oil Reflections Luminous Reveal Shampoo
Lightly moisturizing and luminosity-boosting, Oil Reflections Luminous Reveal Shampoo combines Metal Purifier technology with the Oleology Program to prevent natural lipid degeneration. This gives hair a smoother texture and reflective shine that shimmers from root to tip, lending all hair types a radiant glow. No toxic metals here – just luminosity.
For Shade Shielding: ColorMotion+ Colour Protection Shampoo
Harnessing the Metal Purifier alongside the protective effect of potent antioxidants, ColorMotion+ Colour Protection Shampoo is the ideal shield for your dream shade. You'll also find Metal Purifier in the ColorMotion+ Moisturizing Colour Reflection Conditioner and Structure+ Mask, allowing you to unlock a metal detox with your complete routine. Lather up with the Shampoo, follow with the Conditioner for everyday care, and add the Mask to your regimen as a weekly treat to enjoy up to 8 weeks of colour protection⁵.
For Extra Strength: Fusion Shampoo
If hair breakage is a challenge for your locks (or your client's), the Fusion collection is your go-to. It treats compromised strands to a blend of amino acids, as well as innovative Silksteel Technology for extra strength. This gives hair up to 95% more resilience against breakage⁶, along with a metal detox that's found in Fusion Intense Repair Shampoo, Intense Repair Conditioner and Intense Repair Mask.
For Daily Nourishment: INVIGO Nutri-Enrich Deep Nourishing Shampoo
When day-to-day nourishment is needed, try INVIGO Nutri-Enrich Deep Nourishing Shampoo. The silky lather deeply cleanses locks, while treating hair to a dose of Goji Berry, which is rich in essential minerals, vitamins and peptides. Kind to the hair fiber, it leaves locks smooth and soft from root to tip. This is our go-to shampoo for dry and stressed hair that's craving a moisture boost.
For Vibrant Colour: INVIGO Brilliance Colour Protection Shampoo
Is high-shine colour the goal? Then try INVIGO Brilliance Colour Protection Shampoo, infused with antioxidant-rich Lime Caviar to shield locks from environmental exposure. It features an optimized low pH formula, which helps to close the hair cuticle to boost colour retention. Meanwhile, the Metal Purifier prevents metals like copper from shifting that dreamy shade. And it's not just in the Shampoo – you'll also find it in the Vibrant Colour Conditioner and Vibrant Colour Mask.
How Do You Stop Heavy Metals From Impacting Hair Colour?
As we mention above, metals like copper can cause oxidative damage when they come into contact with certain chemicals. This could be the peroxide in your hair lightener or the dye molecules in permanent colour. That's why, at Wella, we've made it our priority to counteract the effects of metals in our colour products. Here are the key innovations to stock up on in the salon – or ask your colourist to use on your hair...
Color Service Pre-Colour Treatment
This pre-colour treatment is the perfect prep product – especially for those with highly porous hair. It's formulated with Metal Purifier Technology to protect strands from harmful metals, paving the way for the most even colour results. If you're a colourist, spray it through your client's dry hair before colouring, focusing on the most porous sections. Then, blow-dry lightly into strands, and apply colour as usual to achieve the most flawless finish. Use it before any colour product, from Color Touch to Shinefinity.
Koleston Perfect
A salon break-through, Koleston Perfect harnesses Metal Purifier in your favourite shades, so toxic metals can't stress out locks or disrupt the colouring process. As we know, when metals in the hair come into contact with peroxide, they may trigger the production of free radicals, which then attack and break the hair bonds. Not only can this lead to damage – think breakage, dryness and dullness – but it also disturbs the colour formation, so you get inconsistent results.
However, with Metal Purifier, Koleston Perfect features a smart molecule that encapsulates those metals before they come into contact with peroxide. This reduces the formation of free radicals on coloured hair. So, whether balayage, highlights, ombre or all-over colour is the look you or your client craves, you'll enjoy the most flawless finish.
See Koleston Perfect's Metal Purifier in Action:
Color Service Express Post Colour Treatment
No oxidative colour service is complete without Color Service Express Post Colour Treatment, which stops the oxidative process to stabilize colour, smoothes strands and levels up shine. Bonus: it's also powered by potent antioxidants to protect hair from harmful metals, so poor water quality can't alter that new, dream shade. Colourists: apply it to damp hair at the sink and leave it on for three to five minutes, so its protective effects can be absorbed into strands. Then, rinse out thoroughly before applying your chosen Wella Professionals conditioner.
What Else Can I Do to Protect Hair From Metals?
There's one more hair routine upgrade that can help to protect strands from toxic metals: a shower filter. Fit it to your shower head at home or, if you're a colourist, attach it to your salon taps to keep the effects of metal-heavy water at bay. Teamed with your favourite Metal Purifier-infused shampoo, it will maintain colour vibrancy for longer.
Metals have finally met their match with your Wella Professionals routine.
Looking for more tips to care for hair? Discover our complete collection of Hair Care Guides, featuring advice for every type and concern.
¹ Only on coloured hair.
² When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
³ Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.
⁴ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. Instrumental test versus non-conditioning shampoo.
⁵ When using Structure+ Mask.
⁶ Fusion shampoo and conditioner vs non-conditioning shampoo.