What color cancels out brassy orange hair? Blue does. That’s the color of the best toner for orange hair.
What’s a toner? It’s a translucent hair dye with enough pigment to cancel out the orange. You’ll probably need it if you’re a brunette lightening your hair to blonde. That’s because brunettes have natural red and orange undertones that are still visible after bleaching. They make the hair look brassy, but the blue toner neutralizes the problem.
Sometimes, natural blondes end up with a brassy color, too. It happens to swimmers and people with hard water because the minerals and chemicals build up in their hair. Toner can help with that as well.
Do you need to visit a salon to fix orange hair? Not necessarily, because there are several toners and blue shampoos that you can use at home. Check out the list below:
| The best toners for orange hair | Why we love them |
|---|---|
| WELLA colorcharm Permanent Liquid Hair Toner |
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| Manic Panic Virgin Snow Hair Toner Amplified |
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| Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Conditioner |
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| Joico Color Balance Shampoo and Conditioner Set |
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| Fanola No Orange Shampoo |
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| MATRIX Total Results Brass Off Color Depositing Blue Shampoo |
|
How to fix orange hair at home
The first step is to tone out the orange or brassy color. Next, you may need to dye it darker or lighten the color more.
If you’re trying to bleach your hair white and your hair has more yellow than orange, try a purple toner. But if you’re aiming for blonde or light brown, and you have orange hair, you need a blue toner.
How to pick the best toner
The basic color of the toner isn’t everything as you’ll need to decide which hair color you want to end up with. For example, Wella makes a variety of toners for orange hair. Some are ash toners for orange hair and not will help you achieve platinum tresses. Meanwhile, others lead to a warmer shade of blonde.
How to use toner
Once you’ve decided upon the color, check the directions. Chances are you’ll need hydrogen peroxide (the potent kind used on hair, not the stuff in the medicine cabinet), a mixing bowl, an applicator brush, and latex or rubber gloves.
You’ll mix the peroxide and toner then brush it over the orange parts of the hair. Allow it to work for at least fifteen minutes but no more than forty-five minutes unless the directions indicate otherwise.
Finally, rinse it and wash with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo.
If you didn’t get the color you hoped for, be patient. Wait at least a week before trying again to avoid frying your locks. In the interim, you can use a toning shampoo or hair mask. Please remember to condition as bleaching and toning and dyeing tend to be hard on the hair.
Best Toners for Orange Hair in 2024
WELLA colorcharm Permanent Liquid Hair Toner
Which is the best Wella toner for orange hair? Obviously, it’s going to be a blue toner. The question is what hair color are you shooting for?
Do you want cool platinum blonde or warm beige blonde? There are several shades available in different tonal color families. You can even mix shades for a unique color.
No matter which one you choose, they all feature Liquifuse technology that sinks into each strand and bonds with it for permanent color. It should last for up to twenty-eight shampoos, or four weeks of daily washes. You can maintain the color for longer by using a blue shampoo and conditioner.
How do you use Wella colorcharm? First, decide if you need one or two bottles depending on the length of your hair. Then, you’ll need a mixing bowl, applicator brush, gloves to keep your hands from getting stained, an old towel, and a barrier cream for your forehead, ears, and neck.
Mix one part of the toner with two parts of the 20 volume developer. (Take note: this is a separate purchase).
Next, the wisest choice is to test the toner on a few strands before you do your entire head. Let it process for fifteen minutes before rinsing it with warm water. Make sure the water runs clear.
What are people saying about this toner? “It’s amazing” and it works “so incredibly well”. “The natural blond tone is lovely”. It’s also nice that the product has a pleasant floral scent.
Pros:
- Several shades available with both warm or cool tones, can be mixed for a unique color
- Home-use product with professional results
- Color lasts for about four weeks
- Only takes fifteen minutes to develop
Cons:
- Requires a separate purchase of volume developer
Manic Panic Virgin Snow Hair Toner Amplified
If you fell short of achieving a platinum blonde look, try Manic Panic’s blue toner. It’s also excellent for turning the hair white before dyeing it a vivid color.
The color lasts for about two weeks, but since it’s a conditioning formula, it doesn’t wreck your hair to use it again so soon. Every time you apply it, it’s like a hair mask for intense conditioning.
Moreover, it comes in a resealable package in case you don’t use it all at once. They recommend one bottle for short hair down to the chin, and two bottles for shoulder to waist-length hair. If your hair is thick, you might need three bottles.
Customers are saying they love this toner because it doesn’t require a developer and it’s gentle on the hair. They feel like it’s a fair trade-off for having to use it more often. Also, it won’t make porous hair retain a hint of purple like some toners do. Instead, the hair looks ashy blonde just as it should.
Pros:
- No developer required, can be used every two weeks
- Deep-conditions the hair, leaving it soft and manageable
- Perfects a platinum blonde look and whitens the hair for applying vivid colors
- Resealable bottle means less waste
Cons:
- Requires treatments every two weeks
Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Conditioner
What is a blue conditioner? It’s a gentle way to color-correct brassy tones. Generally, it’s used after washing with the matching sulfate-free shampoo.
In this case, Redken’s Brownlights conditioner is suitable for brunettes. It deposits a hint of blue on the hair to cancel out orange tones.
The conditioner itself should be used up to three times per week. Leave it on clean hair for five minutes before rinsing. (The shampoo should also be left for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing).
The thick, creamy texture stays put in the hair, which is nice because it doesn’t run down into the eyes or onto the neck while you shave in the shower. Users say it’s very good at neutralizing the brassy color, but perhaps not as effective as a conditioner as they hoped. If necessary, follow up with a leave-in conditioner.
Pros:
- Blue-colored conditioner neutralizes brassy tones, removing the orange from brown hair
- Thick texture stays in the hair until rinsing
- Takes only five minutes to work
Cons:
- Softens the hair, but an additional conditioner may be needed
Joico Color Balance Shampoo and Conditioner Set
What about blue shampoo for orange hair? This set contains both shampoo and conditioner with blue dye. The products start working immediately to banish orange tones. They are suitable for brunettes who have highlighted or lightened their hair color.
If you use the shampoo and conditioner regularly, it’s proven to preserve 89% of the hair color for up to two months. It also wards off static electricity and improves the shine and smoothness of the strands. The magic is due to blue pigment, green tea extract, UV absorbers, and liposomes. The latter strengthens the hair from the inside out and protects against damage from heat styling.
Like similar products, you’ll need to leave both the shampoo and the conditioner sit for up to five minutes before rinsing.
Pros:
- Regular washing and conditioning helps maintain hair color and prevents orange tones
- Suitable for brunettes who have lightened or highlighted their hair
- Strengthens the hair and makes it shinier, prevents static electricity
- Begins working immediately
Cons:
- Takes up to five minutes for each step
Fanola No Orange Shampoo
At some point, everyone will hear about Fanola blue shampoo. It’s exactly what you need to combat orange tones in brunette, dark blonde, platinum, and gray hair. Every third time that you wash your hair, use this shampoo to maintain your hair color.
It features tiare flower and coconut oil, a blend known as Monoi oil. It’s a Polynesian secret for gorgeous hair. It prevents breakage and seals the hair cuticle to keep it smooth, glossy, and strong. That’s just what you need to pamper color-treated hair.
When you shampoo with it, leave it on for up to five minutes before rinsing. The manufacturer highly recommends using gloves to keep from staining your hands because it’s loaded with blue pigment.
We’ve heard people say that after a couple of washes with it, it works as well as using a toner. The only issue is having to continue to use it twice a week.
Pros:
- The famous blue shampoo with so much pigment that you’ll need to wear gloves to use it
- Has Monoi oil to strengthen the hair and leave it glossy
- Only needs to be used every third wash
- Takes five minutes or less to neutralize brassy tones
Cons:
- Remember to get the matching conditioner
MATRIX Total Results Brass Off Color Depositing Blue Shampoo
Yes, it’s another color-depositing shampoo with blue pigment. What makes it special? Well, it works on natural hair as well as color-treated tresses. In both cases, it neutralizes the orange.
Moreover, it’s potent enough that you’ll want to use gloves to apply it. Otherwise, it’ll look like you’ve been squishing Smurfs with your bare hands.
The color change takes at least three and up to five minutes. But the result is worth it, especially if you follow up with the matching conditioner. It adds volume and smooths the hair. Use both products twice a week to maintain the color.
Matrix also makes a neutralizing hair mask if you’d like a deep conditioning treatment.
Customers have been putting down their purple shampoo in favor of this blue-pigmented wonder. It’s eliminating brassy tones with only one wash and extending the time between color treatments.
Pros:
- Works on both natural and color-treated hair
- Potent blue shampoo needs only 3 to 5 minutes to eliminate brassy tones
- Results visible after only one wash
- There is a matching conditioner and hair masque in the same product line
Cons:
- Don’t forget to wear gloves when you wash with it
Conclusion
It only takes a few minutes to fix orange hair when you use a blue toner or blue shampoo. You don’t even have to go back to the salon as both treatments can be done at home.
Toner is effective after only one treatment but needs to be repeated after a month or two. Meanwhile, blue shampoo is kinder to the hair although it needs to be used a couple of times a week.
If we helped you find the solution for brassy hair today, we’d love to know. Please share your experience in the comments below.