How to Find the Best Orange Hair Dye

Orange hair is one of the most misunderstood hair colors. When people think of orange hair, they think of either the brassiness you get from blonde hair dye or bright pumpkin orange hair. In reality, an orange is a form of red hair. Essentially, orange is a color that combines red and yellow, and your orange hair color could also lean more on the red or yellow side.

In addition, there are multiple shades of orange. You can opt for sunset orange (which is more of a red-orange) or a show-stopping bright orange crush.

If you’re thinking about dyeing your hair orange, you’ll want to find the best orange hair dye.

How to Find the Best Orange Hair Dye

Before reaching for the first bottle of orange hair dye on the shelf, you should do your research and understand what it is you want in an orange hair dye. Here are a few buying factors to consider.

Ingredients

First things first, safety is key. Many people have hair dye allergies. Hair dye is also a product that could be made with toxic ingredients. There are many ingredients in hair dye you should avoid, though phthalates, ammonia, peroxide, PPD, alcohol, parabens, gluten, and sulfates are some of the most dangerous ingredients.

Whether or not you’re prone to allergies, you should always do a patch test with any hair dye before using it on your full head. Apply the dye to a part of your skin. Choose a part that isn’t normally visible, such as the back of your ear.

Dye Type

The type of dye you use will impact the way your color looks and how long the dye will last.

Unnatural shades of orange, such as neon orange, will be either temporary or semi-permanent. Unnatural hair colors can’t permeate the entire hair shaft, so they wash out after a few washes. But if you maintain your hair well and avoid washing it, your dye can last for several months.

If you choose a natural shade of oranges, such as red-orange or blonde-orange, you can opt for a permanent dye. This is the longest-lasting option since permanent color changes the color of the entire hair shaft.

Because of this, the only way to get rid of permanent hair color is by letting your natural color grow in or by dyeing your hair another color. Your natural hair will grow from the roots, which will require root touch-ups. Even then, with proper maintenance, most people won’t need root maintenance for at least six weeks.

Hair Dye Quality

It can be difficult to determine hair dye quality before using it, this is why you should always read reviews before purchasing. Ensure the dye doesn’t stain or run easily. While certain factors, such as bathing and harsh weather, will weaken the dye, it shouldn’t fully remove the dye. For example, see how well the dye holds up if it’s raining and how many washes the dye will last.

Brand Ethics

More brands are standing by multiple ethical issues. For example, if you love animals, you should choose a hair dye that’s vegan and cruelty-free. In addition, more hair dye brands are becoming environmentally conscious. If you’re passionate about the environment, find a dye that makes their packaging out of recycled materials and ones you can also recycle.

Our Favorite Orange Hair Dyes

Now that you know what to look for in an orange hair dye, you can start shopping for the best dye! Here are a few of our favorites to get you started.

Crazy Color Vegan Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Orange

Crazy Color Hair Dye not only offers high-impact colors but the dye is extremely long-lasting. The semi-permanent formula lasts between six and eight washes. It’s still recommended you go several days between washes and you only use color-safe hair products.

While their orange is lovely, the brand offers 41 different colors you can mix and match for the shade of orange you want.

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Vibrant color
  • Made with conditioner to moisturize hair
  • Ready-to-use hair dye
  • Cruelty-free and vegan

Cons

  • Color may not be as accurate as it looks on the bottle
  • Stains badly, especially the bathtub

La Riche Directions Hair Dye in Tangerine

La Riche Directions makes semi-permanent hair dyes with rich and long-lasting colors. They’re also famous because many of their colors can glow under UV light! The directions are easy to follow and you’ll have beautiful hair color in no time. This dye is available in a cream formula, so it’s easy to apply and feels nice on your hair.

While this hair dye can be used on all hair types, it’s best if your hair is chemically treated. If you maintain your hair well, the dye can last up to six weeks. La Riche Directions never tests on animals and their products are vegan-friendly.

We suggested the color Tangerine, but La Riche Directions offers many orangey colors. Other color options include mandarin and apricot.

Pros

  • Can mix shades for a unique color
  • Semi-permanent hair dye, color lasts between three and six weeks
  • Doesn’t require peroxide
  • Cream-formula is moisturizing and easy to use
  • 100% vegan and cruelty-free

Cons

  • If you have long hair, you may need two bottles
  • May not cover grays
  • Some colors last longer than others

Manic Panic Psychedelic Sunset Hair Dye

Manic Panic is one of the most recognizable names in the crazy hair dye world, so it’s no surprise that they’re on this list. They’re known for their extensive color options, but we especially love Psychedelic Sunset. This color is a unique and radiant fire-red mixed with orange.

It’s a very warm and vivid color, but your hair will need to be a level 8 blonde (levels 9 and 10 are recommended) to achieve the best results. As an alternative, Manic Panic offers these orange shades: dreamsicle, electric tiger lily, and coralline dream.

 

Pros

  • No developer required
  • Can mix colors to create a custom shade
  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Free of ammonia, PPD, gluten, paraben, phthalate, and resorcinol

Cons

  • Customers complained the color doesn’t last long

L’Oreal Excellence Hicolor

There are only a few colors that you can lift to a bright shade without using bleach and orange just so happens to be one of them. That is because there are high lift colors like L’Oreal’s Hicolor that have a bit more ammonia than the standard permanent color to lift your hair even brighter than usual.

Like any other vivid color, this orange will fade over time and may need some TLC to prolong. However, this color will not fade nearly as fast as semi-permanent vivid colors because it does not need to be applied over bleached hair. You simply apply it the same way you would any other all-over color. Although, it will not lift previously colored hair. If you’ve colored your hair before, you will need to lighten the colored hair before using this.

Pros

  • It’s a permanent color.
  • Does not require your hair to be bleached beforehand.
  • Colors your hair orange in one process.
  • One of the brightest permanent coppers you will find.

Cons

  • You need to mix this with a 20 or 30-volume developer.
  • It will not lift previously colored hair.

Arctic Fox Vegan and Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Sunset Orange

Arctic Fox is a brand that’s gaining some serious attention. Their dyes are vivid and easy to use, especially since no developer is required.

Sunset Orange is the only orange shade that Arctic Fox offers, but it’s a beautiful and true orange. Keep in mind, if you have red undertones, the dye may look more like a red-orange. If this is the case, mix Sunset Orange with Cosmic Sunshine for a brighter orange.

Another reason why they’re popular is your hair won’t look gross when the dye fades. Arctic Fox dyes are formulated to fade beautifully, so you won’t be desperate to redo your color. Keep in mind, you’ll want to have the recommended base color to achieve the best results.

Out of all of the dyes on this list, Arctic Fox is one of the longest-lasting. If you maintain your hair well, the dye will last as long as eight weeks. All Arctic Fox colors are made in the USA. Arctic Fox is also committed to making vegan and cruelty-free products, and part of its proceeds go toward ending animal abuse.

Pros

  • Vegan and cruelty-free, donate to charities to end animal abuse
  • Super conditioning formula won’t damage your hair
  • Long-lasting color
  • Gentle formula, can you frequently for touch-ups
  • Can mix colors (mix Sunset Orange with Cosmic Sunshine for a lighter and brighter orange)

Cons

  • Some colors work better than others
  • Is extremely difficult to remove

Punky Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Flame

Punky Hair Color is a brand I’m starting to see more frequently. Their colors are not only vibrant but will leave your hair looking shiny and beautiful. Their dyes contain no peroxide or ammonia, so they won’t cause any damage. In addition, their dyes are enhanced with vegan keratin so your hair is intensely stronger after use.

While Punky offers a few shades of orange, we decided to promote Flame since this one is an extremely bright orange, probably the lightest one on this list. Use Fire if you want more of a red-orange.

Keep in mind, Flame should be applied to bleach hair that’s been lightened to at least a level 9, ideally a 10. If you have long hair, you’ll need to use at least two bottles. The dye is easy to use and has no strong smell.

Pros

  • Doesn’t contain peroxide or ammonia
  • Can last up to 25 washes
  • Vegan keratin complex strengthens hair
  • Cruelty-free and vegan formula
  • No strong smell

Cons

  • It will require two bottles for long hair, three if your hair is very thick
  • Stains your skin and shower
  • Customers reported the dye does cause allergies

Pravana Chromasilk Vivids in Orange

If you want to get your hair professionally dyed, Pravana is the brand that professionals trust. Why do I love Pravana? Just about every time I had unnatural colors the stylist used Pravana, and the result has always been amazing.

Their colors have always been long-lasting. The blue lastest the shortest and even then, it lasted almost a month. The purple lasts the longest on me; it lasted two months. Even then, there was still a ton of purple on the ends when I re-dyed my hair (it faded on top, so it looked like I had a blonde and purple ombre).

I never had the orange, but I’ve had practically every other Pravana color. This is the only orange shade that Pravana offers, and the shade is a traditional bright orange.

Pravana dye is also made with moisturizing ingredients so your hair feels soft and looks shiny after each use. This dye isn’t damaging and uses natural ingredients. No developer is required.

Keep in mind, Pravana is a professional-only hair dye brand and isn’t available to the general public. This is why there’s no link to purchase Pravana products here. To use Pravana, you need to get your hair professionally done and the stylist needs to buy the hair dye. There are many fake listings out there, don’t attempt to buy any of them.

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Doesn’t damage hair
  • Made without sulfates and parabens
  • Only made with natural ingredients
  • Doesn’t require a developer

Cons

  • Many people complained about false listings on Amazon and other websites
  • Professional-only hair dye brand, so you have to go to a stylist
  • Customers complained about Pravana staining their skin and shower. I’ve only had problems with the green dye staining. I can’t say if the orange one stains or not.

Adore Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Sunrise Orange

Adore’s Sunrise Orange looks like a burst of Orange Soda! The color is vivid and luminous, perfect for anyone who wants true orange hair. Your hair will also look shiny thanks to the conditioners in the hair color.

Adore’s hair dye is made without peroxide, ammonia, nor alcohol. In addition, they only use natural ingredients in their dyes. Keep in mind, you will need two bottles if you have long and thick hair.

Pros

  • Doesn’t require a developer
  • No peroxide, alcohol, or ammonia
  • Easy to use
  • Conditions hair with soy protein and aloe vera
  • Natural ingredients

Cons

  • Contains metallic salts, which can damage hair. In addition, metallic salts may make your dye fade to weird colors

FAQs

Question: How Can I Dye My Hair Orange?

Answer: YouTuber sAssAfrAxiA offers the best advice, but here’s the Cliffnotes version of her video. First, you’ll want to lighten your hair to a level 10 blonde. However, she offers good advice on getting your hair to a yellow version. Instead of achieving a level 10 blonde, dye your hair to a level 8 blonde (more of a brassy color). This way, the yellow will mix in with the orange.

Question: What If I Don’t Like My Orange Hair?

Answer: Did you dye your hair orange and hate it? What do you do? First, try washing it out. You can use clarifying shampoo and even dish detergent to take out the extra dye. Since orange is a light color, you can always dye your hair a darker color. Just be sure to use a permanent dye to ensure the color doesn’t mix in with the orange. If all else fails, any hairstylist can fix your orange hair color.

Question: Can I Use Another Unnatural Color Over Orange Dye?

Answer: Let’s say you get sick of your orange dye but want to go another unnatural color. Can you just slap another color over the orange? It’s light enough, right? Stop right there. When you put any unnatural color over another color, no matter how much it’s faded, you risk a muddy color. If you want to go a vivid color, say a bright blue, you’ll want to use a hair color remover first.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you want to use a dark color, such as dark purple, then it will likely cover the orange. Certain colors, such as red, will mix beautifully with orange.

Bottomline

Before, people associated orange hair with brassiness or a dye job that has gone wrong. Now, orange is a popular hair color! If you’re dyeing your own hair orange, you should know what to look for in a hair dye. You can start by shopping for our dye recommendations! And always be sure to do a patch test before using any of these hair dyes.

This article was updated on 08/08/2022 by the Hair Kempt editorial team. Our goal at Hair Kempt is to provide the most up-to-date relevant hair information, ideas, and inspiration. We updated some of our dye selections to give you better hair care information.

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