What is the best color to dye over red hair?

Author: Keon Jakubowski DVM  |  Last update: Saturday, June 21, 2025

Light-brown dye is an excellent choice for a light-red hair color, while darker shades complement dark brown hues. Depending on your particular color combination, your hair will likely range from auburn tints to a rich, deep mahogany brown shade.

What color can you dye over red hair?

i've successfully put purple and pink over faded red hair. Many warm colors could go on over, id just avoid blues or greens. Black though is tried and true if you just want to do that, be aware there will be hints of orange in the sun especially as black fades.

What hair color best covers red?

  • Ashy Tones : Using an ash blonde or ash brown dye can help neutralize the red tones.
  • Cool Colors : Shades like violet, purple, or blue can also help neutralize the red.
  • Dark Brown or Black : If you want a more dramatic change, going for a dark brown or black can effectively cover the red.

What color hair dye will cancel out red?

The opposite of red on the color wheel is green so you can always take a green hair dye to cancel out any leftover red !

What hair dye covers red hair dye?

Ashy Tones: Using an ash blonde or ash brown dye can help neutralize the red tones. Ash colors contain green and blue undertones that counteract red. Cool Colors: Shades like violet, purple, or blue can also help neutralize the red. A purple shampoo or conditioner can tone down the redness over time.

REMOVE STUBBORN RED HAIR AT HOME COLOR FIX | MINIMAL DAMAGE

How to remove red hair dye?

Quick and Easy Ways to Remove Hair Dye
  1. Use a clarifying shampoo.
  2. Make a paste with baking soda.
  3. Vinegar rinse.
  4. Lemon juice rinse.
  5. Hydrogen peroxide.
  6. Vitamin C tablets.
  7. Olive oil treatment.
  8. Cinnamon and honey mask.

Does purple cancel out red?

Purple shampoo will not fade or remove red color but can impact its visual effect. A purple shampoo used sparingly can help remove bronzy and brassy tones. However, if you are trying to achieve a vibrant orange and red, which are warm tones, using a purple shampoo too often can tone down the vibrant visual effect.

What happens if you put brown dye on red hair?

Red hair has warm undertones that can affect brown dye results. You'll likely need a neutralizing or filler shade first to balance the red tones for even coverage. Pick a brown that flatters your skin. The process may take multiple steps to get the desired look.

Why is red hair dye the hardest to get out?

“Red is the largest color molecule,” explains Jill of this tricky tone. “And that's why getting it out of the hair is equally as hard as getting it to stay in. Many stylists forget that in order to remove it, they need the power of green to counteract and neutralize red — not blues or violets.”

What hair colour remover for red dye?

Or if you have applied a dark brown, red or black shade (you just don't want) then Colour B4 Ultimate can help. Colour B4 Extra Ultimate hair colour remover is the safest and most effective way to remove an undesirable hair colour.

What hair colors work with red hair?

Depending on your skin tone, red hair pairs best with olive and emerald green, gold, bright purple and deeper shades of red.

What color cancels out red paint?

For this example we chose Fluid Permanent Green Light and Quinacridone Red. When mixed together in equal parts they produce an achromatic gray, or a colorless gray approaching black. This means their color biases cancel each other out, which is an indication that they are good complements.

What hair color makes you look less red?

Cool blonde shades are great on porcelain-skinned gals with reddish undertones, since those icy hues tend to neutralize redness. If you have blue or gray eyes: cool, ashy blonde works perfectly! Suggested blonde tones include: Platinum ice, silver, ash, sand, beige or champagne.

What color covers red?

For redness, acne and rosacea Green is opposite the color wheel from red, so it's perfect for hiding any redness on your face, like pimples and acne scars. If you have rosacea, a color correcting green primer will help hide unwanted redness and give you an even base for applying foundation.

What fades red hair dye?

Help care for your red hair color by reducing your use of shampoo, conditioner, and water more than what is necessary. Slattery also advises redheads that less is more when it comes to summertime water activities. “Less contact with water” is one way to help maintain color pigment, says Slattery.

Can you tone over red hair?

If the red is too dark or deep, you may need a color remover, even highlights to lighten some things up. But if you're most concerned about the tones of your hair leaning super golden, violet, or copper, you'll need to scoop up a toner. Think what purple shampoo does for blondes to tone down brassiness.

What color cancels out red hair?

Reach for green shampoo

It's all about the contrast—shades that lay opposite each other on the color wheel are considered opposite (read: contrasting) colors, and when paired together, effectively cancel one another out.

What happens if you put blonde hair dye over red?

Although the typical combination of red and blonde often leads to an orange hue, an exception exists—applying bleach (and toner) to light red hair. This particular blend produces a strawberry blonde, which bears a subtle reddish tinge and sets it apart from conventional blondes.

What is the hardest hair color to keep up?

Red hair is notoriously difficult when it comes to upkeep. While it's the hardest color to fully strip from your hair, it's also the first to fade, often lightening drastically within the first few washes. So unless you're wanting to touch-up your own color at home, it would be wise to skip the scarlet shades.

What is the best hair dye to cover red hair?

  • L'Oréal Paris Casting Crème Gloss Semi-Permanent Hair Dye. ...
  • Garnier Olia Permanent Hair Dye (Various Shades) ...
  • Glaze Colour Conditioning Gloss. ...
  • Garnier GOOD Permanent Hair Dye 6.0 Mochaccino Brown. ...
  • It's Pure Organic Herbal Hair Colour Chestnut 110g. ...
  • Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask - Warm Chestnut. ...
  • dpHUE Gloss+

Does light ash brown cancel red?

If you get a dye with the word Ash in it, this helps neutralize the red tones. Ash shades tone down red undertones, it doesn't create them (as another person answered here).

Can I dye my hair twice in one day?

For example, if you're using at-home dye on your hair, you can dye it twice in one day as long as the total time the dye is on your head doesn't exceed the maximum time on the instructions. Keep in mind that the longer the dye sits in your hair, the more likely it is to cause damage.

What color is level 7 hair?

The level system is made up of 10 numbers which help determine the depth level of your natural hair. 1 is black, 5 is light brown, 6 is dark blonde, 7 is blonde and 10 is the lightest blonde.

How to remove red from hair?

Tips to Remove Red Hair Dye

A clarifying shampoo cleanses your hair deeply, so it may help to strip the red from your hair. Vitamin C powder is much less damaging than other methods. You may need to repeat the application to get rid of all the red dye. Alternatively, use a green toning hair care system.

What happens if you put purple dye on brown hair?

Dyeing dark brown hair purple

We'll get the bad out of the way first; unlike our blonde and redhead sisters, chestnut shades are typically more stubborn to shift in colour. This means you'll have to lighten your hair a lot if a pastel lilac shade is your desired look.

Previous article
What skin tone does golden blonde look good on?
Next article
Does SMP lighten after a few days?