When you look at your hair in the mirror, the color you see is a combination of different pigments (aka, melanin) blended to create your natural hair colour. Each of us has unique mixtures of melanin. However, there's one rule of the thumb: the higher amount of red and orange underlying pigments, the darker the hair color.
Red and orange pigments are dominant undertones in deeper colors, which requires a longer time for bleaching products to lift. If your hair didn't reach the blonde color you were hoping for, it's likely because you removed the bleach too early. With the undertones remaining, chances are, you'll end up with a brassy/orangey shade.
Brassiness can also occur if you live in a hard water area high in iron content. Iron in water acts as an oxidizer, causing orange/red tones in darker hair. Additionally, UV rays can expedite the oxidation process too.
Aside from potentially tinting your hair with a weird orange hue, iron can leave nasty rust stains in your hair and scalp, impact chemical processing in your hair, and make your hair appear dull, dry, and limp.
How to prevent and correct orange hair
If your DIY hair-bleaching job turns into an unpleasant orange shade, there are several ways to neutralize the orange color. Try using a toning shampoo containing blue, purple, or green pigments to remove the red, orange, and yellow tones.
Secondly, always wear a hat or use UV protectant spray to prevent sun damage, which leads to oxidization. But ultimately, if the damage is already done, consider a visit to your hairstylist to neutralize the tone, dye it darker, or even lighten it some more.
For those who live in a hard water area, a shower filter could be the ultimate beauty accessory you never knew you needed. Luckily, you can cut down exposure to the mineral deposits, so your hair color stays around for longer. The Hello Klean Shower Filter removes iron from your shower stream and prevents it from wreaking havoc to your hair. After all, once you've achieved your ideal color, you'll want to make sure it stays that way.