How to get rid of yellow and orange tones in your hair (2024)

A light blonde hair with cold tones is something many people dream of, but after bleaching it is common for the hair to get a brassier shade than you imagined. We have looked into why this occurs and what you can do to get rid of yellow and orange tones in the hair. Read more about how you can get your cold blonde hair back and protect it from turning yellow or orange!

Our experts also share 4 tips on how you can get coolertones back in your hair:

  1. Bleach your hair with the help of a professional hairdresser
  2. Use a toning to counteract the brassy tones
  3. Tryproducts made for home use, like a silver shampoo, silver conditioner and a silver mask
  4. Protect your hair from UV radiation

What causes yellow and orange hair after bleaching

Experiencing unwanted yellow tones in the hair after bleaching is a common problem that many can recognize. Instead of the cooler tone you wanted you end up with a warmer brassy result, especially after bleaching. This is something that is both common and in fact completely normal as our hair contains warm tones. When bleached, the natural hair color is removed, and these warm undertones become more visible. But even after a bleach that has first created a cooler result, the hair will gradually get a warmer, yellow tone. This can be due both to the fact that no hair color lasts forever, but also due to the oxidation that occurs when hair is exposed to sunlight in combination with oxygen.

Why you get orange tones in blonde hair

Getting an orange result or seeing orange tones in the hair is also common after bleaching. Often this is the result of your hair color being darker before bleaching, making the underlying pigments in the hair to also have a deeper color. To get dark hair to a lighter color, the bleach needs to lift even more pigment than in lighter hair. This process also means that when bleaching dark hair, you can see that the hair goes through more orange stages. Orange tones can also occur in lighter hair if you have been in salt water or pools with chlorine.

Get rid of brassy tones in the hair in 4 different ways

There are several ways to get rid of yellow and orange shades in the hair, both that you can do at home or with the help of a hairdresser. It is important to remember that bleaching makes the hair more sensitive and that it is good to be careful about how you correct the color. To help you with this, we have listed various tips and tricks to get new cool tones in your hair.

Bleach to lift more pigment from your hair

One way to give your hair a cooler blonde shade is to do a bleach service. Bleaching can lift more pigment from the hair and give it a lighter result, but also has a big impact on the hair quality. Bleaching the hair too much makes it brittle and the hair may even break due to the harsh treatments. If you choose to bleach your hair again, it is a good idea to get the help of a hairdresser who has the knowledge on how to do this in the gentlest way possible.

Toning to balance out the warm tones

You can also use toners to correct the color and balance out the warm tones. By looking at color theory and choosing the opposite color of your hair in the color wheel, such as purple or blue shades, you can neutralize the yellow and orange. This method gives the impression of cooler tones without affecting the pigments in a permanent way. Since it can be complicated to find a color that precisely balances out the brassy tones in your hair, it is a good idea to get professional advice from a hairdresser.

Products for home use that keeps the yellow away

An easier way to fix yellow and orange tones is to use products made for home use. This type of product often contains purple or blue pigments to neutralize brassy tones. With the help of silver shampoo together with silver conditioner and masks that are created to bring out cooler shades, you can see results directly but also build this over time. These types of products are also perfect for maintaining your bleached hair.

Protect your hair from UV radiation

Brassy tones can be the result of oxidation – when the hair is exposed to oxygen and sun in combination. Just like with our skin, sunlight affects our hair and can dry it out and make the hair color appear duller. One way to prevent yellow and orange tones is to wear a hat that protects your hair or use products with UV protection.

Products that gets rid of yellow and orange hair

For you to be able to fix and get rid of yellow and orange tones in your hair at home, Maria Nila has developed the 100% vegan Sheer Silver series. Sheer Silver contains violet pigments and natural blackberry extract that neutralize brassy tones in both colored and naturally blonde hair. The products are moisturizing and strengthening to enhance your hair color and contain UV protection. This series has a fruity and floral scent of jasmine, orange and grapefruit for a refreshing feeling!

Silver shampoo
Maria Nila’s silver shampoo Sheer Silver Shampoo moisturizes your hair while neutralizing brassy tones.

Silver Conditioner
Sheer Silver Conditioner is a detangling silver conditioner that softens and strengthens your hair and keeps it free from orange or yellow tones.

Silver mask
Maria Nila’s silver mask Sheer Silver Masque is an effective treatment that moisturizes and nourishes your hair to get a silky-smooth result.

Silver shot
Silver Shot is a quick and easy lifesaver when you want to treat and boost your newly bleached hair with moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. The practical silver shot is also perfect to bring with you when you are traveling to refresh your hair color.

Color bomb
Color Refresh Pearl Silver is a hair mask with non-permanent color pigments that neutralizes brassy tones and brings out cool silver nuances. A real color bomb with argan oil that moisturizes and reduces frizz.

How to get rid of yellow and orange tones in your hair (2024)

FAQs

How to get rid of yellow and orange tones in your hair? ›

Blue cancels out yellow on the color wheel. Because they are blue based, they are particularly effective at neutralizing any yellowness in the hair. Aim for level 6 to 8 if you are looking to down down brassy hair. For extra strong "yellow killing", we recommend that you squeeze in some Ash Blue Additive.

What cancels out orange and yellow tones in hair? ›

Blue cancels out yellow on the color wheel. Because they are blue based, they are particularly effective at neutralizing any yellowness in the hair. Aim for level 6 to 8 if you are looking to down down brassy hair. For extra strong "yellow killing", we recommend that you squeeze in some Ash Blue Additive.

How can I fix my yellow orange hair at home? ›

A purple shampoo contains violet pigments that can neutralise the yellow and orange to give your hair an even colour. You need to wet your hair with hot water so that the cuticles open up. Then apply the purple shampoo and leave on for 15-20 minutes.

Why is my hair yellow and orange? ›

Having orange hair as a result of bleach happens when the bleach fails to remove darker pigments in your hair. It can happen in both lighter and darker colors of hair, as all hair types lift warm,” explains Taylor. If you have blonde hair, you're not automatically in the clear.

How do you get rid of brassy orange yellow tones in hair? ›

You can use a toning shampoo. If your hair is orange, use a blue shampoo. If your hair is yellow, use a purple shampoo. You can also apply a toner to get the orange out of your hair.

Why won t my hair lift past orange? ›

If it remains, your hair is either resistant to lifting (that's why a colorist would normally do a patch test to see how your hair will react) or you rinsed the bleach too soon. This means that you can get rid of orange hair by repeating the bleaching process.

What color cancels out brassy yellow hair? ›

Products for home use that keeps the yellow away

This type of product often contains purple or blue pigments to neutralize brassy tones. With the help of silver shampoo together with silver conditioner and masks that are created to bring out cooler shades, you can see results directly but also build this over time.

Why is my hair still yellow after toner? ›

There's two reasons why your hair is still brassy after toning or colouring. Either the undertone of the toner/colour is wrong, or the product is too light for you.

Does vinegar remove brassiness from hair? ›

Vinegar can help remove brassiness from your hair after you've colored it, and regular use of vinegar can make hair soft. There are several different ways to use vinegar on your hair. You can dilute it with equal parts water and then pour or spray the mixture onto clean, damp hair.

How do you fix orange and yellow bleached hair? ›

If your bleached hair looks more yellow than orange, you'll need a purple toning shampoo to neutralise the yellow. If your hair's turned orange, you'll need a blue toning shampoo to tone the brassiness and get rid of the orange.

What toner cancels out orange? ›

It's all to do with the way the Color Wheel works. Blue is the exact opposite of bright yellow and yellow-orange. Using blue is therefore a great way of dealing with hair which is too yellow or too orange or too brassy. To better understand, let's have a closer look at the blue colors which we can potentially use.

Will purple shampoo fix yellow hair? ›

Purple shampoo is a great at-home solution for toning hair and preventing brassiness. This cult product is designed to counteract any pesky brassy or yellow tones, leaving you with a dazzling, fuss-free blonde.

Will purple shampoo fix orange hair? ›

Chances are you're familiar with purple shampoo by now. If your hair is on the yellowish, orange end of the spectrum, purple shampoo will fix it. Like blue shampoo, purple shampoo is another at-home option with color pigments that's formulated to neutralize brassy yellow and orange tones in color-treated hair.

What cancels out yellow hair? ›

Simply put, whichever colors sit opposite one another on this wheel can cancel each other out. For example, blue neutralizes orange, green balances red, and purple tones down yellow hues. That means, in order to target yellow, you need a touch of violet in your formula.

What home remedy gets rid of brassy hair? ›

Baking Soda is a super convenient and wallet-friendly solution to tone down brassy hues. It's a natural bleach that lightens hair color, balances the scalp pH level, and removes product buildup. Plus, mix it with other natural ingredients – such as apple cider vinegar – for added benefits.

What color cancels out yellow undertones? ›

Purple is best for combatting yellow undertones and brightening skin. Use a purple primer to remove yellow tones from your entire face or use a spot concealer to hide yellow spots.

What color neutralizes yellow and orange? ›

If your hair is on the yellowish, orange end of the spectrum, purple shampoo will fix it. Like blue shampoo, purple shampoo is another at-home option with color pigments that's formulated to neutralize brassy yellow and orange tones in color-treated hair.

What cancels out orange in hair color? ›

Blue is the main colour that cancels out orange brassiness. If you think back to art class you might remember the colour wheel, where we learnt but colours opposite from each other on the wheel cancel each other out. This is also true with hair.

How can I neutralize orange tones in my hair at home? ›

This homespun method is a long-term way of gently fixing orange hair. Add a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into one litre of lukewarm water, then add a couple of drops of liquid food colouring - use blue for orange hair, and purple for more yellow.

How do you get rid of orange tones in your hair fast? ›

Use Purple or Blue Shampoos

It's a simple matter of color theory, relying on the complementary colors of a color wheel to cancel out unwanted tones. "Using a color correcting purple shampoo will undoubtedly cancel out the overly warm, orange tones and keep that cooler, brighter blonde you desire," says Cunningham.

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