Why Does My Hair Turn Red When I Dye It Brown?

There are a few reasons why your hair may start turning red. Many of them are harmless, and some can be a sign that something is wrong. Some of the most common are UV exposure, hard water buildup, malnutrition, pregnancy, or medication.

There is a reason your hair turned red the first time you dyed it, and there are also some things you can do to stop your tresses from ever turning red again! Let’s take a closer look at these possibilities, and then some ideas on how to keep your color looking fresh.

One of the most common reasons your hair turns red is when you color it too light. This occurs when your hair contains pigments of both warm and cool colors, allowing the natural underlying red or orange to show through the lighter dye you choose.

If you want to prevent this from happening, talk to your colorist about choosing a shade that contains more of the cool toned pigments in your hair. For instance, if your hair is naturally dark, you should try to stick with shades that are at least one to two levels darker than your natural color.

Then, make sure you’re always using shampoos and conditioners that are made specifically for color treated hair. These products will help to protect your strands from sun damage and other factors that can turn colored hair red.

Another common reason why your brown or black hair starts to turn red is due to the way that the natural pigments in your strands interact with the dye you use. This can happen when you’re coloring your strands a lighter color than your natural hair, or when you’re using a purple dye that has a higher blue tone than the pigments in your natural strands.

Similarly, the same thing can happen when you dye your strands a shade that has a higher yellow tone than the pigments in your natural tresses. This is because when you dye your hair, the smallest and most brittle of these pigments will be removed first.

If your brown or black hair is constantly turning red, it might be a sign that you’re getting too much sun exposure. Unless you’re a brunette who rarely spends time outside, it’s important to wear a hat or protective hair cover whenever you head outdoors to avoid the sun damaging your hair.

You should also take extra care when swimming to prevent your strands from getting sun damaged. You should also protect your hair from chlorine with a hair product that has hair sunscreen.

Some people have a genetic trait that makes their hair turn red when exposed to the sun. This is why you often see reddish strands on people who are light in complexion, or have thinning or fine hair.

This is because their skin has a higher sensitivity to the sun’s UV rays. If you have these inherited traits, it’s important to avoid too much direct sunlight and stay out of the pool if possible.