What Color Cancels Out Blue Hair? A Guide to Neutralizing Blue Tones

Have you ever dyed your hair a bright, bold blue but later found yourself wishing you could go back to your natural color? Or maybe you bleached your blonde hair and were surprised when it turned an icy blue instead.

Whatever the case, blue hair can be super fun and adventurous for a while. But eventually, there comes a time when you’re ready to ditch the blue and get back to your roots.

So what color cancels out blue hair? The trick lies in color theory. Keep reading to find out exactly how to neutralize blue hair dye through the power of the color wheel.

We’ll explain what color counters blue, recommend the best products to use, and share tips for protecting your hair in the process.

How to Cancel Out Blue Hair Color

To understand how to neutralize blue hair, you first need to grasp some basic color theory.

Specifically, the key is to use a shade that is directly opposite blue on the color wheel. Colors that sit across from each other cancel one another out.

So what is the opposite of blue?

Orange!

Orange contains warm, fiery tones that counteract the cool blues. There are a few different orange options you can use:

• Orange hair dye or toner
• Orange shampoo
• Red or copper shades
• Orange food coloring

By applying an orange-based product to your hair, you can effectively neutralize the blue molecules and shift your color back to something warmer.

Methods to Remove Blue Hair Dye

Now that you know orange cancels out blue, here are the top ways to use it:

Orange Hair Dye

One of the fastest ways to neutralize blue hair is by dying it with an orange shade. Orange dye deposits warm pigments directly onto the hair shafts to counteract the cool tones.

How to use orange dye:

• Carefully choose a shade that matches your level of blue. Light blue needs light orange, and so on.
• Mix and apply the orange dye following the instructions.
• Leave on 15-30 minutes, checking often.
• Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear.

Orange dye gives instant results, but don’t leave it on too long or your hair could become quite literally orange. Do a strand test first to check the timing.

Orange Toner

Another option is to use an orange or copper toner, which are designed to deposit color for a short period of time. This leads to more subtle results than dye.

How to use an orange toner:

• Mix one part toner with two parts developer.
• Apply to damp hair and leave on 10-15 minutes.
• Rinse completely and shampoo after.

Toner offers a nice balance between gentle color depositing and effectively neutralizing blue undertones.

Orange Shampoo

For very gradual results, opt for an orange color-depositing shampoo. Each wash lightly deposits warm pigment onto the hair shaft to slowly cancel out the blue over time.

How to use orange shampoo:

• Lather hair and let sit 5 minutes before rinsing.
• Use every 1-2 washes until blue tones disappear.

Orange shampoo is great if you want to gently ease into a warmer shade without any drastic changes.

Baking Soda & Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

As a DIY option, you can make your own stripping shampoo at home. Mix baking soda with an anti-dandruff shampoo that contains sulfates.

How to mix:

• Combine 2 tbsp baking soda with 1 tbsp anti-dandruff shampoo.
• Adjust measurements for thick/long hair.
• Massage into damp hair. Leave on 5 minutes then rinse.

The baking soda lifts color from the cuticle while the sulfates in the dandruff shampoo remove buildup. Use this treatment 1-2 times per week.

Vitamin C Treatment

One gentle, gradual way to strip blue color is by using a vitamin C treatment. The acidic vitamin C assists in breaking down dye molecules.

How to apply:

• Crush 5-10 vitamin C tablets into powder.
• Mix with water to form paste.
• Coat hair and let sit 1-2 hours with shower cap on.
• Shampoo out and condition hair after.

Vitamin C removes color from the outside in, so repeat treatments once a week until the blue fades.

Bleach

Lastly, bleach is the most aggressive way to strip blue pigment from the hair. However, bleaching is extremely damaging, so only use it as a last resort if your hair can tolerate it.

How to bleach:

• Apply diluted bleach mixture to hair.
• Process 15-30 minutes, checking frequently to avoid breakage.
• Rinse thoroughly and deep condition after.

Bleach will also remove your natural pigment, so have toner ready to correct brassiness after rinsing.

Tips for Removing Blue Hair Dye

• Strand test first before using any new product or treatment.

• Coat hairline and ears with petroleum jelly before applying dyes or bleach to avoid staining.

• Focus color-removing treatments on the ends first since blue lingers there most.

• Alternate clarifying and moisturizing shampoos during the removal process to prevent dryness.

• Use leave-in treatments and hydrating masks weekly to counteract any damage from stripping.

FAQs About Neutralizing Blue Hair

What shade cancels out dark blue hair?

A deep burnt orange shade works best to counteract very dark blue hair. Go gradually to avoid ending up with bright orange locks.

Why is blue hair dye so difficult to remove?

Blue is tough to remove because the dye molecules are very small. Smaller molecules penetrate the hair more deeply and last longer. Red is the only other difficult one to remove.

How long does blue hair dye take to fade on its own?

Most people find blue begins naturally fading significantly after 6-8 weeks. Without touch-ups, it often fades to a greenish tint. Proper removal can speed this up.

What should I dye over blue with?

Orange or red shades are you best bet for dyeing over top of blue hair. Avoid brown which could mix into an unappealing gray. Bleach first if going blonde.

Farewell to Blue Hair!

So there you have it—to get rid of blue hair for good, orange is your go-to neutralizing shade.

With the power of color theory, you can rock whichever vivid hue you wish, knowing how to easily go back to your natural color when you’re ready.

Whether you opt for dye, bleach, toner, or anything in between, applying some orange tones helps you effectively and safely say bye-bye to blue.

If you have any other questions about removing blue hair dye, contact us today to chat with our color experts!