Fix Orange Hair: Toner Guide & Top Picks To Banish Brassiness!
Are unwanted orange tones sabotaging your hair goals? The battle against brass is real, but achieving your dream hair color is entirely within reach.
The journey to a perfect hair color can often be a rollercoaster, especially when those pesky orange tones decide to crash the party. Bleaching, while a common route to lighter shades, can unveil underlying pigments that manifest as unwanted brassiness. This, however, is not a dead end. There are solutions! The key lies in understanding the science behind color correction and selecting the right arsenal of products to banish those unwelcome hues.
| Subject | Details |
|---|---|
| Topic | Eliminating Orange Tones in Colored Hair |
| Challenge | Addressing and neutralizing unwanted orange or brassy tones that appear after bleaching or coloring hair. |
| Underlying Principle | Color theory and the color wheel: Using toners with opposing colors to neutralize unwanted tones. |
| Common Causes |
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| Solutions |
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| Color Correction Essentials |
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| Products Mentioned |
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| Application Guidelines |
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| Reference |
The process starts with an understanding of color theory. The color wheel is a stylist's best friend, revealing how colors interact and neutralize one another. Orange and blue, for instance, sit directly opposite each other. This means that a blue-based toner is your secret weapon against those undesirable orange tones. Similarly, if red tones are the problem, green is the solution. Choosing the right toner shade is important, with the best toner for orange hair depending on the depth and intensity of your brassiness. If the brassiness leans more yellow, a purple toner might be most effective.
If your hair is brassy, the first step is to assess your hair level. Is it a level 5, 6, or 7? Understanding the level of orange will help you select the right toner. Bleach itself is often the initial culprit. However, various factors like water quality, sun exposure, and even the products you use can contribute to this unwelcome phenomenon.
For those with darker hair, the journey to blonde can be fraught with orange obstacles. Darker hair naturally contains red and orange undertones, which can become amplified during bleaching. This is where toners, especially blue-based ones, come to the rescue. A blue toning shampoo can become a staple in your haircare routine. 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.
For darker shades, options include dark natural brown or dark chocolate brown foam hair colors, providing coverage and depth while neutralizing the unwanted tones. Remember the color wheel: to remove orange tones in brown hair, a blue shampoo, conditioner, or hair toner is the key. Just as a purple shampoo neutralizes brassy tones on blondes, blue shampoo works its magic on brunettes. For brunettes with brassy, red, or orange undertones in their hair, Joico created the Color Balance Blue Shampoo. Not only does it neutralize, but it also deposits cool blue pigments that protect the color. Hair toners and toning shampoos work by neutralizing the color opposite them on the color wheel.
When applying toner, a 1:2 ratio of toner to developer is a common guideline. Use an applicator brush to ensure even coverage, paying close attention to those areas that are particularly orange. Remember the clock: do not leave the toner on for more than the recommended time, usually no more than 45 minutes, to avoid over-processing and potential damage. Always evaluate the hair level. If the hair has a level of 5-7, then a toner will be a good option.
The market offers a plethora of toners to combat these issues. Some top choices include: Wella T18 (Lightest Ash Blonde), a favorite for its ability to banish yellow and orange tones; and Pravana Ash Blue Hair Corrector, a strong option for darker shades; and the L'Oral Paris Colorist Secrets Brass Banisher.
Remember that a faded red hair dye might also be why your hair turned orange. Especially if it was a light red or fiery red dye. Or, orange hair could be a result of the hair not being lifted correctly or not lifted enough during a bleaching process. In this case, the first thing to do is to evaluate the hair and determine its current level, and then apply a toner. If orange or brassy tones are your primary concern, blue is your neutralizing ally.
In cases where red tones are more dominant, a green toner is the solution. One example is a stylist who used green to neutralize an impossibly orange hair color on a client. Green will neutralize and fix magenta or red hair. Keep in mind that using a hair dye close to your natural hair color or a darker shade can also cover up yellow or orange tones.
The process isn't just about the products; the application is also important. Apply the toner evenly, covering all the orange bits. The time is also important, do not leave the toner on your hair for more than 45 minutes. For those who have tried everything, and are still struggling with orange/red tones, a professional colorist can offer expert help. They will apply a professional grade toner to correct the color and seal it in for a few more weeks.
