Why Your Hair Turns Orange (and How to Fix It Professionally)
If your hair turns orange, brassy, or too warm after a color service, you’re not alone. Orange tones are one of the most common color concerns—especially for brunettes and blondes in NYC. The good news? Brassiness is normal and completely fixable with the right professional strategy.
As a master colorist in Manhattan, here’s everything you need to know about why hair turns orange, how to prevent it, and how to fix it professionally for long-lasting, balanced, beautiful color.
1. Your Natural Hair Has Warm Pigments
All brunette and dark blonde hair contains underlying warm pigments. When you lighten the hair, the first tones that appear are:
- Red
- Orange
- Yellow
So when you lift hair only a little bit, you expose orange. This is 100% normal and expected.
2. Your Hair Wasn’t Lifted Light Enough
If you want a cooler tone (beige, ash, icy), your hair needs to be lifted past the orange stage. If it doesn’t reach the right level, it will stay warm, even with toner.
Orange = Level 5–6
Yellow = Level 7–8
Pale yellow = Level 9+
The lighter the hair, the easier it is to tone out warmth.
3. Your Toner Faded
Toners and glosses are demi-permanent, which means they fade naturally after a few weeks.
- Heat styling
- Washing too often
- Sulfates
- Hard NYC water
All of these make toner fade faster, causing warmth to come back.
4. Hard Water in NYC Causes Brassiness
The minerals in NYC water—especially copper and chlorine—attach to the hair and make it look:
- orange
- yellow
- dull
This is a big cause of brassiness in the city.
5. Sun Exposure + Pollution Add Warmth
UV rays + pollution can oxidize your color, making hair warmer and brassy over time. It’s especially common in summer and early fall.
6. Box Dye (Drugstore Color) Causes Severe Orange
Box dye uses strong metallic salts and high developers, which often lift hair unevenly and leave patchy orange tones. This is one of the most difficult things to correct professionally.
How to Fix Orange Hair Professionally
✔ 1. Corrective Toner
A professional toner uses blue, violet, or ash pigments to neutralize brassy tones.
- Blue cancels orange
- Violet cancels yellow
- Ash blends warmth
Toners last 4–8 weeks and make color look fresh again.
✔ 2. Deep Clarifying Treatment
Hard water minerals make brassiness worse. A clarifying treatment removes buildup so toner can absorb better.
✔ 3. Glossing Treatment
A tinted gloss adds shine, hydrates the hair, and neutralizes unwanted tones.
✔ 4. Lift the Hair Lighter
If you want cool blonde or beige brunette, your hair may need to be lifted past the orange stage. This may take:
- balayage
- foilyage
- face frame highlights
- root lift for brunettes
Lifting correctly is key for long-lasting cool tones.
✔ 5. Color Correction for Severe Brassiness
When hair is patchy, uneven, or extremely orange, a multi-step color correction may be needed to achieve the desired tone safely.
How to Prevent Brassiness
- Use sulfate-free shampoo
- Gloss every 4–8 weeks
- Avoid excessive heat
- Install a shower filter
- Use blue/purple shampoo once a week
- Protect your hair from the sun
Following these tips keeps warmth under control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my hair always turn orange?
Because your hair has natural warm pigments and wasn’t lifted light enough to reach a cooler tone.
Will purple shampoo fix orange hair?
No. Purple cancels yellow—not orange. You need blue shampoo for orange tones.
Can I go from orange to blonde in one session?
Not always. It depends on hair health, previous color, and level of lift.
How long does a toner last?
4–8 weeks depending on care and washing routine.
Book Your Color Correction or Toner in NYC
If your hair looks orange, brassy, or uneven, I can customize a professional plan to neutralize warmth, refresh your color, and restore shine. Book your appointment at Fabi Pro Beauty in Midtown Manhattan.
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