How to Get Orange Tone Out of Your Hair At Home

So, you were trying to go for lighter locks, finally fulfilling that dream of having golden blonde sun-kissed hair. You decided to give home hair dyeing a shot – only to end up with brassy-toned, orange hair. Yikes!

DIY hair dye sessions have gotten the best of just about all of us. No matter how many helpful hints we've followed or countless TikTok tutorials we've watched, sometimes, our hair has a mind of its own.

Don't panic though, as we've put together some easy-to-follow tips and tricks that you can try to avoid brassy hair color and achieve your ideal hair color from home.

So, why did my hair turn orange?

Your hair can turn orange and brassy when dyeing due to a few different reasons, depending on the starting color of your hair and the type of dye used. Let's take a closer look.

If you have dark brown to black hair

If you're someone with a darker hair color and have chosen a permanent color that is more than two shades lighter than your natural color, chances are that your hair will come out with a brassy orange color – and there's science behind it.

Put simply, all hair contains melanin (the natural pigment responsible for the lightness or darkness of your hair). These underlying pigments give your rich brown and ebony strands depth and dimension. In dark-colored hair, red and orange colors are usually the most prominent pigments.

Permanent color generally can only lighten two shades, so using anything lighter will only expose the underlying pigment without covering it. It's super frustrating, but there are ways to fix it!

If you have blonde hair

Even if you're rocking a lighter shade already, your blonde hair color isn't automatically in the clear from those unwanted tones or orange or yellow.

You might develop brassy tones and wonder how to get orange out of blonde hair. Factors like the quality of your water, sun exposure, going for a swim in a chlorinated pool and even certain hair products can all play a role. But don't stress, as there are ways to help combat those orange tones and get your blonde shade looking its best again.

How can I fix my orange hair color at home?

Luckily, fixing orange hair and brassy tones at home is completely doable, especially if you don't have the time to visit a skilled hair colorist in a salon. Here's a list of some expert tips you can follow.

1. Tone it up with blue or purple shampoo

You'll either need a blue or purple toning shampoo that helps neutralize brassiness to reveal the lighter hair color you're aiming for.

The key trick here is figuring out which hair toner to use. It's simply a matter of color theory – using complementary colors (pairs of colors that contrast each other) will cancel out unwanted warm tones. If unsure, you can always use a hair color wheel to help you decide. Take a look at your current hair colour, then find the shade opposite it on the colour wheel—that’s the one that can help balance out the tones.

Purple toning shampoo: If your hair has yellow tones, you'll need a purple toner. It contains violet pigments that help neutralize the yellow undertone, giving your hair an even color. If you have lighter-colored hair, then purple toning shampoo is the one for you.

Blue toning shampoo: If your hair has more orange undertones, you'll need a blue toning shampoo to keep brassiness at bay. Blue toner consists of blue pigments, which help to neutralize orange tones. So if you have dark hair and have attempted to go blonde (only to end up with orange hair), then a blue shampoo is your best friend.

Some of our tried and tested favorites include salon professional toning shampoos such as Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo and Conditioner. You could use them as you normally would a shampoo and conditioner or apply them to dry hair as a mask. It's also worth keeping them as part of your hair care routine (for example, using the shampoo every other week for regular toning sessions) to prevent the brassiness from re-emerging.

The bottom line: If you have yellow tones (usually for blonde hair), use purple shampoo. If you're dealing with orange tones (usually brunette hair), go for blue shampoo.

2. Use a dark ash or dark cool blonde demi-permanent color

While this might seem like going entirely against your goals if you were trying to lighten your hair color, dyeing your hair darker might be the best solution for your hair health. Dark hair color can help cover up unwanted tones.

Natural Instincts is a great choice since it won’t continue to lighten the hair but will instead help neutralize the orangey tones. The key here is to do a strand test first! This way you can figure out the correct timing you’ll need to get the best result. You may also need to adjust the shade to lighter or darker if you aren’t satisfied with your strand test. Don’t worry, though, if you need some extra guidance, contact us to speak to an expert that can talk you through the process.

How can I prevent my hair from going orange?

There’s no absolute way to be sure that your hair won’t turn orange again, but there are things you can do to keep it in check.

• Do a quick strand test: Doing a strand test is an easy and safe way to check that you love your new hair color before you dye your whole head. 
• Strictly follow your box hair color instructions: There's a reason why hair dye instructions exist! Make sure to stick to the recommended timings especially when bleaching, as the product needs to be left on your hair strands long enough to lighten it to the desired blonde.
• Use a color-protecting shampoo, conditioner, and hair mask: This is especially important if you color your hair frequently as they help enhance your hair color-treated hair and keep it healthy. 
• Protect your hair from direct sun: The UV rays from the sun can bring out different tones and colors in your hair. To stop your hair from going brassy, avoid exposing your hair for long lengths of time in direct sunlight.
• Keep away from ocean or pool water: Seawater and chlorine may oxidize your hair and turn it into a color you don't want. When going for a swim, try not to dip your hair fully in the water or, wear a swimming cap (glam, we know!) so that you can protect your hair color. 

Hair dye mishaps can happen to the best of us, but fortunately, there are options to help fix them. Follow our simple at-home solutions and expert tips, and say goodbye to those brassy, harsh orange tones and brassy colors in no time.

Still, looking for a helping hand to achieve your blonde hair dreams? Check out our blog, where we've put together some top tips and blonde hair color inspiration to make going blonde easy!