What Happens If You Put Silver Dye on Orange Hair?

Have you ever wondered if you could dye your orange hair silver? Many blonde-haired folks end up with brassy orange locks after lightening their hair. If you’re wanting to go from orange to ice queen silver-grey tresses, it is possible with some preparation.

In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about dyeing orange hair silver.

How Does Orange Hair Occur After Bleaching?

To understand how to dye orange hair silver, it helps to know why hair turns orange with lightening in the first place.

Orange hair occurs when the underlying warm pigments show through after bleaching, lifting the darker hair color. Most natural brunette hair has warm undertones. When you use bleach to strip away the darker color, it reveals those brassy orange and red pigments.

The level of warmth exposed depends on how light you go with the bleaching process. Lighter lifts to pale yellow reveal less orange than higher lifts to golden blonde.

Is It Possible to Go Directly from Orange to Silver?

Many want to know: Can you put silver dye directly on top of orange hair?

It is not generally recommended to dye orange hair silver in one step. Silver hair dyes work best depositing color onto light yellow to pale blonde hair.

Applying silver dye over orange hair can result in muddy, uneven results. The orange undertone may peek through the silver, creating a dull grayish-green color.

To successfully dye orange hair silver, you’ll want to lighten hair further first to eliminate brassiness.

Factors That Allow Orange Hair to Be Dyed Silver

Several factors determine if orange hair can be successfully colored silver:

• Current hair color level – Light orange blonde is easier to dye than darker pumpkin orange shades
• Hair damage – Very damaged hair won’t hold cool tones as well
• Existing color – Permanent color is harder to lift than natural pigment
• Hair type – Coarse or curly hair is more resistant to lightening

The closer your hair is to a pale yellow before applying silver dye, the better the final results will be. Heavily bleached and damaged hair may not be the best candidate.

Preparing Hair Before Dyeing Silver

Preparing your orange hair properly before applying silver dye is crucial for getting the icy color you want. Here are some tips:

Assess Your Current Hair Condition and Color

Examine your current shade of orange first. Is it a light peachy blonde or deeper coppery orange? Look at the condition as well – does your hair feel like straw or is it in fairly good shape?

This will help determine how much pre-lightening is needed before dyeing silver. If your hair is strong, you can lighten more aggressively to pale yellow. Damaged hair requires a more delicate approach.

Use Pre-Dye Treatments and Repairing Masks

Coloring hair silver works best on hair that’s moisturized and conditioned. Using targeted pre-dye treatments and masks for damaged hair improves tone uptake and shine.

Look for moisturizing masks with proteins, oils, ceramides, and silicones to recondition hair before dyeing. Leave these treatments on for the recommended processing time before rinsing.

Lighten Hair Further with Bleach to Pale Yellow

For the best silver results, you’ll need to lighten orange hair to a pale yellow base first. This removes existing warmth and creates the blank canvas for cool silver tones.

Use bleach with a violet toner to neutralize remaining orange and brassiness. The violet pigment counters unwanted orange hues. Lighten hair in stages, giving your hair breaks between sessions.

Rinse bleach thoroughly and follow with a hydrating conditioning treatment. Hair should be pale yellow with minimal damage before dyeing silver.

Choosing the Right Silver Hair Dye

Picking the perfect silver hair color for your goals is the key to success. Here’s what you need to know:

Permanent vs Semi-Permanent Silver Dye

Semi-permanent dyes simply coat hair strands while permanent dyes fully penetrate the cuticle for longer-lasting results. If your hair lifts easily, a semi-permanent silver works well. For resistant hair, a permanent option provides better gray coverage.

Cool Ash and Platinum Silver Tones

Look for silver dyes with ash, platinum, or neutral tones to counteract warmth. Avoid golden-silver shades, which can be brassy. Cool naturals work best for neutralizing orange pigment.

Understand Dye Numbering Systems

Hair dye lines use numbers like 10.1 or 12.23 to denote shade intensity. Lower numbers indicate lighter silver shades. Higher numbers are darker grays. Ask your stylist for a recommendation based on your current color.

Step-By-Step Guide to Applying Silver Hair Dye

Ready to go silver? Follow these steps for fool-proof application:

Prepare Your Hair Strands

Evenly shampoo and towel-dry hair before applying dye. Detangle locks and remove any hair products, oils, or creams first. Pull your hair back from your face and slip on protective gloves.

Mix and Apply Silver Dye

Combine dye tube with developer according to instructions. Carefully work cool silver dye into hair strands from roots to ends. Fully saturate hair using a tint brush for easiest application.

Allow Full Development Time

Leave silver dye on for the full recommended processing time. This allows the cool tones to fully deposit and develop. Don’t skimp on timing for best results.

Rinse and tone your hair.

Rinse the silver dye out until the water runs clear. Follow with toner and conditioning treatments to seal in color, reduce brassiness, and hydrate strands.

Maintaining Your Silver Hair Color

Your work isn’t over after applying silver dye! Maintaining your new icy locks is key. Here are some color-protecting tips:

Use Purple Shampoo Weekly

Purple shampoo keeps silver hair from getting brassy. The violet pigment neutralizes yellowing. Lather hair once or twice a week as needed to prevent warmth.

Deep Condition Frequently

Silver hair needs added moisture to stay vibrant. Hydrate frequently with conditioning masks and oils. This prevents dryness and repairs damage from lightening processes.

Wash Less Often

To make silver last longer between dye jobs, shampoo your hair only 1-2 times per week. Over-washing causes color to fade quickly. Use dry shampoo to refresh hair between washes.

Touch Up Roots Early

When silver roots grow out 1/4-1/2 inch, touch them up. Waiting too long allows warmth to break through and makes color harder to lift evenly. Schedule maintenence appointments every 4-6 weeks.

Bottom Line

Dyeing orange hair silver can be achieved with proper preparation and technique. Removing brassiness, conditioning well, applying an ash-toned silver dye, and maintaining color are the keys to success. With the right steps, you can rock gorgeous icy locks even with orange-starting hair!

Going silver is a fun way to transform your look. With commitment to aftercare and touch ups, your orange strands can become a gorgeous icy masterpiece. Who says you can’t go from orange to silver hair? Not me! With dedication and the right products, beautiful metallic hair is within your reach no matter your current shade.