Can You Put Black Hair Dye Over Red Hair Dye?

Are you planning to transform your beautiful red hair into timeless black hair? Black hair is the perfect versatile backdrop to any hairstyle and haircut, so we get why you’d want to make the shift.

But there’s one pressing question that we need to answer first—can you put black hair dye over red hair dye? We’ve got all the answers in this article, so keep reading!

Can You Put Black Hair Dye Over Red Hair?

Yes, you can apply black dye over red hair. Since black is the darkest color, it can cover almost any hair shade imaginable.

However, dyeing your red hair will depend on two things—the shade of black you wish to achieve and the type of dye you use to dye your hair red.

How to Dye Red Hair Black

There are two ways to dye your red hair black. Here they are:

Method #1: Direct Application

While it’s true that black dye can cover red hair, it may not completely do so.

That’s why you can expect your hair to be jet-black when you directly apply black dye over red hair. However, if your hair still has a few traces of red left, it will take on a beautiful black shade with auburn or reddish undertones.

If black hair with red tinges is fine, you can apply black hair dye directly over red hair following the instructions in the product’s packaging.

Method #2: With Bleaching or Hair Color Removal Process

But if you want black hair with no hints of red, you’ll need to get rid of the red pigments in your hair first. The process involved will depend on what type of red dye you use.

If you used a semi-permanent dye, you could simply wait a few days to weeks for the pigments to be thoroughly washed off.  

The good news is you can speed up the fading process by washing your hair frequently. Below are some products that can help you achieve maximum results:

• Clarifying shampoo,
• Anti-dandruff shampoo,
• Toning shampoos,
• Or hair color removal kits.

On the other hand, the process is a bit more complicated if you use a permanent red hair dye. Since this type of hair dye contains ammonia, it can alter your hair structure, making the dye more challenging to eliminate.

For this type of dye, you’d need to bleach your hair before adding the black hair dye. Just note that brown is the best color to dye over red hair.

Things to Know Before Dyeing Hair Black

Here are some essential things to know to help you achieve the bold and beautiful jet-black hair that you want:

Black dye comes in different shades.

Browse the beauty store shelves, and you’ll come across a wide range of black shades—brown-black, violet-black, and many more.

To find the right shade of black, you need to consider your skin tone. Here are simple tips to help you out:

• Skin with pink or bluish undertones: warm black shades
• Fair skin and medium complexion: soft black shades
• Dark Skin: Jet or true black shades

Once you go black, there’s no turning back.

Since black is the darkest hair shade, it will be difficult to dye your hair in a lighter shade when you go black. To lighten it, you’d need to either bleach it or apply hair color remover first.

If you have light natural hair, black hair is high maintenance.

Considering that our roots grow about half an inch every month, you may need to dye your roots every 3 to 6 months to prevent your lighter roots from peeking.

But if you already have dark hair, to begin with, maintenance will no longer be an issue.

So, can I Put black hair dye over red hair Dye?

Sure, you can! There are two ways you can do this, and the suitable method will depend on the final color shade you wish to achieve and the type of red dye you use.

If you’re okay with black hair with hints of red shade, you can directly apply black dye over red hair.

But if you want jet-black hair, you may need to wait for the red dye to fade (semi-permanent dye) or get it bleached (permanent dye).

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