How to Fix Hair That Turned Ginger After Dyeing Blonde

You wanted a soft blonde. You got a ginger tone instead. It is common.

Here is why it happens, and how to fix it with simple steps.

Why Hair Turned Ginger After Dyeing Blonde?

There are two main reasons your hair can turn ginger after you go blonde.

Not Bleached Enough

Dark hair has warm pigment under the surface. When you lighten it, it often shows red, then orange, then yellow as it lifts.

If the hair stops in the orange stage, you will see a ginger tone. This can happen if the lightener was too weak, the developer volume was too low, or it was rinsed too soon.

Most professional hair color training uses levels 1 to 10. Level 1 is black. Level 10 is very pale blonde.

• Level 6: light brown
• Level 7: orange, this is where ginger shows up
• Level 8: yellow orange
• Level 9 to 10: pale yellow to very pale blonde

So if you are stuck around Level 7, you either tone the orange, or lift past it.

Chemical And Mineral Buildup

Product buildup can make blonde look dull and warmer. Minerals in hard water or pool water can also shift tone.

On very light hair, copper minerals often look green. Some metals can add a rusty warmth. Still, if your hair turned ginger right after bleaching, leftover warm pigment is usually the real cause.

Fixing Hair That Turned Ginger After Dyeing Blonde

These methods can help you fix ginger tones and get closer to the blonde you wanted.

Here are the top 4 methods.

#1. Apply a Toner or A Toning Shampoo

Toner is a deposit only color step. It adds a small amount of pigment to shift the tone. It does not lighten the hair.

To fix ginger or orange tones, you usually need a blue based ash toner. This follows basic complementary color theory. Blue helps cancel orange. Purple helps cancel yellow.

There are two ways to tone. You can tone at a salon, or use a toning shampoo at home.

If your whole head looks ginger, a salon toner is often the fastest fix. A colorist can match the right tone for your exact level.

At home, a blue shampoo can help if your hair looks orange. A purple shampoo can help if your hair looks yellow. Start slow, and build up over a few washes.

When using a toning shampoo, leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing. Use it 2 to 3 times a week, or as your hair needs.

#2. Try Color Gloss

A hair color gloss is a color refreshing treatment. It can help your blonde shade look cleaner and shinier, and it can help slow down brassiness for 4 to 6 weeks.

Gloss results are not permanent. Plan for regular gloss or toner touch ups if you want to keep a cool blonde tone.

#3. Do A Vinegar Rinse

A vinegar rinse can help remove dull buildup and leave hair feeling smoother. Vinegar is mostly diluted acetic acid.

This step will not neutralize orange on its own. Think of it as a prep step before toner.

Mix the following.

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
• 1 cup lukewarm water

After shampoo, pour the mix through your hair. Let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes, then rinse well. Do this once every 1 to 2 weeks if your hair feels coated.

#4. Re-bleach Your Hair

If your hair is still a strong orange, you may need more lift to reach yellow blonde. Once it reaches a lighter level, toner can work better.

This step is often best done by a hair color expert, especially if your hair is already lightened once.

Final Words

If your hair turned ginger after dyeing blonde, do not panic. It is usually a normal part of the lightening process.

If the tone is mild, try a blue shampoo for orange or a purple shampoo for yellow. If the whole head is ginger, a blue based toner or gloss is often the cleanest fix. If the level is still too dark, you may need more lift and then toner.

Related Topics

• Hair Turned Purple After Toning
• Hair Turned Orange After Dyeing Blonde
• Fix Blonde Hair That Has Turned Brown
• Hair Turned Pink After Toning or Bleaching