Why did box dye turn my hair orange?

Author: Helmer King  |  Last update: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

What Causes Hair to Turn Orange or Red? “There are two primary causes of your hair color turning out too red or orange,” says Papanikolas. “Either the color you chose was too light, or you picked a color with warm undertones.

How to fix orange hair after box dye?

One of the most effective ways to fix orange or brassy tones is to use a purple shampoo or blue shampoo. These shampoos are formulated to neutralize yellow and orange undertones because purple and blue are opposite to yellow and orange on the color wheel.

Why did my hair turn orange after dying it?

Underlying Pigments: Natural hair color contains various pigments, primarily eumelanin (dark) and pheomelanin (light/red). When you bleach or lighten hair, the darker pigments are removed first, often leaving behind the warmer, reddish tones, which can appear orange.

Can you dye your hair again if it turned orange?

If your hair is significantly orange, you'll either need to bleach/remove the color or use a toner to darken the orange to something more neutral. A demi-permanent dye that is an ash blonde or light brown will help. It must be ``ash'' colored (adding green/blue to cancel out the orange).

What to do if hair dye is too orange?

Purple shampoo can help neutralize the orange tones. Look for a high-quality purple shampoo and use it a few times a week. Leave it in for a few minutes before rinsing to let the purple pigments work. Consider applying a toner specifically designed for blonde hair.

how to get rid of orange yellow hair - get rid of yellow hair in 5 minutes!

What cancels orange hair dye?

Use a purple or blue shampoo

Blue and purple shampoos neutralise unwanted brassy tones to reveal a cooler blonde or light brown shade.

What to do if you accidentally dye your hair orange?

How Do I Fix My Orange Hair?
  1. Tone With Blue Or Purple Shampoo. The Bottom Line: Use purple shampoo to tone yellow, usually blonde hair, and blue shampoo to tone orange, usually brunette hair. ...
  2. Apply Glazes or Glosses. ...
  3. Dye Patchy Orange Hair Darker. ...
  4. Lighten Orange Hair. ...
  5. Use An Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse.

How long does it take for orange hair dye to fade?

Although Cecetaite says the color could start to fade from one month onwards, there are plenty of things you can do to help it last longer, like keeping hair washing to a minimum. "If you don't wash your hair as often, then you won't have to top it up as much," explains Cecetaite.

How soon can I recolor my hair if I don't like the color?

Generally speaking though, it's best to wait 4-6 weeks before having another color treatment – in most cases, this is enough anyway and reduces the risk of hair damage. There are some exceptions, but in general, it's better to err on the side of caution and wait for this long.

What box dye will cover orange?

Colors with purple, blue or black bases and red hair dye will cover orange hair. Orange hair dye will also do! Always use the color codes that are given on the box of your hair dye. Follow instructions carefully and make sure you do a strand test first.

How to fix hair that turned orange instead of blonde?

How can I fix my orange hair color at home?
  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. ...
  2. Use a dark ash or dark cool blonde demi-permanent color. ...
  3. Go for a hair gloss.

How to remove orange from brown hair?

Just as a purple shampoo neutralises brassy tones on blondes, using a blue shampoo on brown hair neutralises orange and red tones for brunettes.

What is the best toner for orange hair?

What color neutralizes orange hair? Blue toning formulas can help counteract orange tones in the hair. The reasoning goes back to basic color theory: Shades positioned opposite on the color wheel are complementary and effectively cancel each other out when combined.

Why does box dye turn hair orange?

What Causes Hair to Turn Orange or Red? “There are two primary causes of your hair color turning out too red or orange,” says Papanikolas. “Either the color you chose was too light, or you picked a color with warm undertones.

How do I restore my hair after box dye?

How To Treat Your Damaged Hair After Dying It? Here's How To Bring It Back To Life
  1. Throw away the box dye and go with a Pro:
  2. Don't skip wash day and do it the right way:
  3. Avoid the heat and wrap it:
  4. Start brushing safely:
  5. Add a bit of shine:

Will dark ash blonde cover orange brassy hair?

Dark ash blonde doesn't cover brassy hair, per se. Instead, using those cool-toned toners can help to neutralize any overly-warm red or orange hues by effectively 'cancelling them out'.

Why do hairdressers hate box dye?

Certain harsh chemicals in popular box dyes have given many stylists pause. Common concerns include: Ammonia - This mixing agent lifts cuticles to deposit colour but is quite drying over time. Peroxide - High volumes like 30+ developer cause more damage to delicate hair.

How to fix a bad hair dye job?

If you had a bad coloring job your best bet is to visit a reputable beauty salon and have a trained professional perform corrective coloring that will rid you of the unnatural color and give your hair a second chance.

Can I box 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 hair color fades slowest?

Darker hair colors like deep black, espresso brown, and blue-black tend to fade the slowest. These colors have larger pigment molecules that hold onto the hair better, making them more resistant to fading.

Why does my hair go ginger when I dye it brown?

To avoid it going ginger or red then you must check what shade you are using. For example if the colour says golden, chocolate, mahogany, red, warm brown etc, these will all look 'ginger'. To achieve a rich colour, a basic shade must be added to create the depth (how dark it is).

How many washes does it take for permanent hair dye to fade?

Permanent hair dye typically lasts about 6 to 8 weeks before fading noticeably.

What to do if you hate your hair color?

Richy Kandasamy is a professional colorist and co-founder of Rokoko Beauty.
  1. 01 of 08. Speak Up. ...
  2. 02 of 08. Book Another Appointment. ...
  3. 03 of 08. Consider a New Colorist or Salon. ...
  4. 04 of 08. Go Back to Your Natural Color. ...
  5. 05 of 08. Wash Your Hair. ...
  6. 06 of 08. Try Some Styling Tricks. ...
  7. 07 of 08. Consider a Gloss. ...
  8. 08 of 08.

What happens if you don't leave hair dye on long enough?

ending up with a color that's too dark/too light

They think that if they leave the color in shorter, it'll be lighter. And conversely, if they leave the color in longer, it'll be darker. But just like filling up a cup of coffee, the fuller the cup, the longer the color will stay in your hair.

What happens if you put box dye over balayage?

This can result in uneven color distribution, potential damage, or an undesirable color outcome. It's generally recommended to consult with a professional colorist to effectively address and maintain balayage hair. Transform your hair Goals ❤️ into reality with. Behind The Chair Magical hands.

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