That moment you look in the mirror and see a vibrant, orange hue instead of the cool blonde or rich brunette you were aiming for can be frustrating. Whether it’s from a DIY dye job that didn’t go as planned or the result of sun-bleached hair, orange tones are a common color correction challenge. The good news is you don’t have to live with it. With the right approach, you can neutralize that brassiness and get your hair color back on track.
Why Your Hair Turns Orange
Orange hair usually appears for two main reasons. When you lighten dark hair, the underlying warm pigments are exposed. Your natural color has to travel through a spectrum of warm tones—red, orange, and yellow—before reaching blonde. If the lightening process isn’t strong enough or is lifted incorrectly, it can get stuck at the orange stage. For color-treated hair, orange tones can also appear over time as your color fades and the underlying warmth shows through.
Using Toning Shampoos to Cancel Brassiness
For a gentle, gradual fix, a toning shampoo is your best friend. These purple or blue shampoos work by depositing a small amount of color that neutralizes the opposite shade on the color wheel. Since blue is directly across from orange, a blue shampoo is the most effective choice for canceling out orange brassiness. Use it once or twice a week in place of your regular shampoo, leave it on for a few minutes, and you’ll notice a visible difference over time.
Professional Color Correction for Stubborn Orange
If the orange in your hair is particularly strong or the result of a significant color mishap, visiting a professional colorist is the safest and most effective path. They have access to professional-grade products and the expertise to assess your hair’s condition. A colorist might use a technique called toning with an ash-based dye to neutralize the warmth or may need to re-lighten your hair carefully to continue the lightening process without causing damage.
Preventing Orange Tones in the Future
Prevention is always easier than correction. If you’re lightening your hair at home, ensure you’re using a lightener strong enough for your starting color and follow the processing time carefully. Incorporating a color-protecting shampoo and conditioner into your routine can also help maintain your desired tone and protect against fading and environmental factors that cause brassiness.
Dealing with orange hair can feel like a setback, but it’s a very fixable one. By understanding why it happened and choosing the right method for your situation, you can say goodbye to brassiness and hello to the beautiful hair color you love.