The premise of this whole article may feel a little bit like we’re hating on gingers but that’s absolutely not the case – curly ginger hair is absolutely gorgeous and we do want to see more of it around us! However, there is a reason why a lot of people want to know how to get rid of orange hair at home.
When you’re bleaching your hair you usually have a certain goal in mind – a color you want to end up. And if that color is not brassy orange but is instead shiny blond, it’d be understandable if you end up being disappointed if you get stuck with the former rather than the latter.
Additionally, the problem with getting orange hair after bleaching is that it’s not even a nice and pretty orange, like a natural ginger hair. Instead, orange hair after bleaching is usually patchy and uneven, with different shades of orange throughout, with little to no shine, and with an overall tired and lifeless look.
So, what can you do about that? Going to the hairstylist can be both expensive and time-consuming, so let’s look into how to get rid of orange hair after bleaching at home.
What does hair turn orange after bleaching?
To know how to get rid of orange hair we must first find out why our hair turns orange in the first place – “know your enemy” and so on.
If you’ve bleached your hair before and it hasn’t turned orange you may be wondering what we are talking about. Fortunately for you and unfortunately for the rest of us, 80% of people end up with different shades of brassy orange after bleaching and have to deal with it while the lucky 20% can move on with their lives without that problem on their heads.
The reason different people end up with different hair colors after bleaching is in the underlying pigments in our hair. Bleach lightens our hairs by targeting its color, yes, but it doesn’t target the underlying pigments of the hair. So, if the pigments of your hair are reddish or orange, which is the case with most people with darker hair, then you’ll end up with a different type of orange on your head after bleaching. That’s ironic as it’s usually people with darker hair that need to bleach their hair the most before they can dye it.
These underlying color pigments are not the only reason why your hair might turn orange, however. Mineral buildup can also be a factor – if you’re using hair care products that contain a lot of sulfates, chances are that you’ll end up with an orange hair after bleaching even if you have a naturally light and blond hair.
How to fix your orange hair after bleaching?
Now onto the practical part. If you end up with a patch and uneven orange mess after bleaching, and you’re distraught that you’ll have to empty your wallets at the hair stylist’s table, fear not – there are plenty of DIY home remedies that can help you out. Not only that, but there are commercial products and methods that you can also easily apply at home if you want, even though for some of them we’d definitely recommend going to a professional.
So, let’s get started with our first suggestion:
Use toner for orange hair
The sole purpose of hair toner is to fix your hair’s color and lack of shine after bleaching. Some toners are meant to get rid of warmer colors like an orange while others are designed to deal with colder colors. So, if orange is your current problem, using hair toner for orange hair is one of the best solutions.
A good hair toner will neutralize the brassy orange and yellow tones of your hair by depositing a translucent color to your hair to counteract the orange hues. You can mix it with peroxide if it doesn’t already contain it to further bleach your hair if you want but we’d generally advise against it unless you already have experience with such procedures. Simply toning your hair with a mild toner that’s right for your hair color and hair type should be more than enough to do the trick.
Re-color your hair
Simply using a box dye can easily fix the problem of having a patchy bits of orange or yellow in your hair after bleaching. What color covers orange hair, however? This depends on the exact shade of orange you’re dealing with but typically, cooler blueish colors counteract orange while violet and purple oppose yellow. It’s important that you choose the right color for your particular shade of orange, as well as to consider the exact color you want to end up with.
Either way, if you just want to get rid of the orange hues in your hair, dyeing it is a great step to take.
Re-bleach your hair
This is something that we don’t usually recommend for people to do at home as hair bleaching is an incredibly invasive and damaging procedure even if you do it right. Repeated hair bleaching, in particular, can devastate your hair very quickly and severely so we’ definitely recommend that you contact a professional instead.
However, when it comes to getting rid of orange hair after bleaching, we can’t deny that a secondary bleaching is an effective method. Just make sure that you wait at least 2 weeks (for healthy hair, more for exhausted or weaker hair) before you apply bleach on your hair. Also, make sure that you’re using a more medium or weaker strength bleach such as vol 10 or 20 as you don’t want to completely ruin your hair by repeatedly applying a strong bleach.
Natural remedies such as Hollyhock herbs or/and apple cider vinegar
Of the more natural options, we’d recommend either mixing a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with one ounce of hollyhock herbs and a cup of water. A 10-minute massage with this hot mixture will have a visible effect on the orange pigment of your hair and cool it off.
Alternatively, you can just use apple cider vinegar with a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil and a few drops of purple or blue food liquid color as this will achieve a similar result.
