What to do when coloring your hair blond turns it orange.

When the hair turns orange and you are coloring your hair blond, two things have happened.

1. If the hair is virgin hair (hasn't been colored before) then you need to let the process continue a little longer. You are on your way. The next color you should see will be an orange yellow, then a yellow orange, then a yellow, and for the lightest of blonds a pale yellow. These colors are the "underlying pigments" in the hair that are revealed after the color is stripped off. The next step is usually to shampoo and condition properly and then apply an applicable toner.

Remember, a toner meant for a light blond or a pale yellow will usually not be strong enough to work on orange.

2. If the hair has been previously colored and it does not lift (go lighter) following the normal process, your hair has "previous color or buildup" that should be addressed by a pro hairstylist to minimize damage to the hair. I have seen so many situations as a pro where a guest walks in and shows a "home hair color gone bad". It's okay to ask a pro for help. We love hair. It's our passion. We can help.
We understand that there are "home hair care do-it-yourselfers" out there.

Here is a rough guide to follow. This is very basic but will help clear up the confusion.

Hair Levels
Natural Color Underlying pigments when going lighter

1.black red
2.black brown red
3.very dark brown red orange
4.dark brown red orange
5.brown/red orange
6.light brown orange yellow
7.dark blond yellow orange
8.medium blond yellow
9.light blond pale yellow (inside of a banana)
10.lightest blond pale yellow (inside of a banana)

Good luck.

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