Has your once glorious hair color taken a turn for the garish orange. Ugh!
Can’t afford the hundreds it might cost you to have this embarrassing problem fixed at a salon? Assuming they even fix it all.
Just saying. Cause as you know, often color fixes don’t come out as you hoped. And how frustrating is that?
But what if there was a technique you can do at home? One that is both super cheap and works as well or better than a salon solution?
Well there is. And the fix is called rinsage.
Never heard of it?
I understand.
But if your brassiness needs more help than purple shampoo or blue shampoo can deliver you might want to keep reading. As this little known toning technique is game changer.
To get you up to speed here’s what we’ll be covering.
How to Send Brassy Orange Hair Packing
- What Is Rinsage?
- VIDEO: How to Tame Even Stubborn Brassy Hair Fast with Rinsage
- Want Ashy Color? Follow These Simple Rules
- The Basic Recipe
- Rinsage Technique – FAQs
- VIDEO: Can This Work Wonders For Curly Hair Too?
What Is Rinsage Exactly?
This is a hair color toning process some consider to be magical.
It uses blue black hair dye and developer diluted with lower quality shampoo. (Which means use a shampoo that includes sulfates. )
When applied to bleached hair it tones unwanted orange (and yellow) shades like magic.
Here’s how it’s done.
Video: How to Tame Even Stubborn Brassy Hair Fast with Rinsage
This video reveals the story behind this breakthrough treatment. Which is said to have originated in Egypt of all places.
It breaks down how to kill the brass using blue black dye mixed into shampoo. Giving you the basics.
We supplement those with the know-how needed to get up the nerve to try this on your crowning glory.
Which many have done and said good-bye to brassy hair forever.
Want Ashy Color? Follow These Simple Rules
Obviously the recipe you use is critical. (Which we’ll get to in a bit.) As are following three common sense rules.
- Be Cautious
- Keep Exposure Brief
- Don’t Skip the Strand Test
The most important rule is the first. You want to be cautious when starting out with the amount of dye and developer used. It’s better to do the process again if the first try didn’t tone the orange as expected. That’s preferable to overdoing it.
So the second rule of rinsage says you want to limit how long you leave this on your hair. Any part of your hair.
Which is why it’s recommended you rinse this off within two minutes of application.
It’s important to remember you’re lifting your hair just a bit here. As that will make it more receptive to the dye.
How long also depends on the overall condition of your mane.
The more damaged it is the more porous it is. And the more color it will end up soaking up.
Sure some report they have to leave it on for like 20 minutes to get the ashy results they are looking for. But when starting out it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Because if you’re sorry you’ll have to resort to things like dandruff or clarifying shampoo. Or even Dawn dish soap to fade unwanted blue hues. Or color that took a darker turn that you expected.
Now the third rule do the strand test. It’s almost always wise to do this when first attempting this rinsage technique. (Especially if you’re scared to try this to begin with.)
That way you can see what your concoction does to a small bit of your hair before slathering it all over.
It also lets you move forward with confidence while avoiding regret in the end.
Once you see how your hair reacts you can always dilute or strengthen the formula as necessary. Or do nothing if you’re satisfied with the outcome.
The Basic Recipe
The recipe used calls for equal parts dye and developer together equaling a tablespoon of mix.
Add that to half cup of cheapo shampoo that contains sulfates. Sulfate free likely won’t work as well.
Some use as little as a quarter cup of shampoo. Others use a bit more. So you got some wiggle room with this recipe.
To that add a teaspoon or two of water.
Mix well.
So it’s
- 1/2 Tbsp blue black dye
- 1/2 Tbsp cream developer
- 1/2 Cup ordinary shampoo
- 1 – 2 Tsp water
Nothing about that is set in stone.
For orangier hair you may want to increase the amount of dye and developer slightly.
For blonder shades you might cut it some.
Then too some prefer to use conditioner rather than shampoo. Others go with sulfate free shampoo.
Just be aware either of those may not make the orange vanish was well as the classic recipe above.
This can be done on wet or dry hair. But wet hair makes it harder (it’s darker) to tell it’s time to rinse off.
Sorry I can’t be more precise with the tweaks.
Often with any DIY hair technique there can be a lot of trial and error involved. You know? To figure out what works on your strands.
But the resulting beautiful ashy blonde can be oh so worth the effort.
Naturally the idea of smearing blue black dye on your brunette or blonde hair might you more than a little nervous. And leave you with more than a few questions.
So let’s answer 9 of the most frequently asked ones next.
Rinsage Technique – FAQs
FAQ #1: Does It Matter Which Brand Of Blue-Black Dye You Use?
A: Not really! Any blue-black dye will likely neutralize those pesky orange tones. Success has been reported using box dyes from brands like Revlon, Garnier, Clairol, L’Oreal or Palette.
It’s the concentration of the pigment that does the trick.
That and the blueish greenish tones that work like magic in getting rid of the brassiness. Leaving you with a beautiful medium/dark ash blonde shade.
So just to be clear, the brand doesn’t matter.
FAQ #2: Who Should Do A Strand Test?
A: Basically everyone new to this technique.
Because it’s ALWAYS a good idea to do one before diving into a new coloring process. Especially if you have light blonde hair or you’re not sure how the toner will react with your locks.
So take a small section of hair that is hidden underneath and out of sight.
Apply a bit of the shampoo diluted mixture.
Rinse after two minutes and see how it turns out.
Doing so will give you a sneak peek of what to expect and save you from any unpleasant surprises.
FAQ #3: Do You Rinse The Dye Out With Hot Or Cold Water?
A: Good question. Cold water is your friend here!
So when rinsing out the dye, go for cool or cold. As hot water can wash away the color and make it fade faster, which we don’t want.
Then too cold water helps seal those hair cuticles shut tight. Giving you a smoother and shinier finish.
So, keep it cool for the best results!
This is all the more important if you have highlights. The cold water will make it less likely any lighter highlighted strands will soak up any dye rinsed off.
FAQ #4: How Long Do You Leave This Mixture In For?
A: The answer to the how long to leave the mixture on your hair depends on a few things. Like your hair type, how healthy it is overall, how bad the orange is, what level of toning you seek, and the specific product instructions.
In general it’s recommended to leave the mixture on for no more than 2 minutes. Especially the first time or two.
Still everyone’s hair is different. Eventually you may discover your hair situation requires 20 minutes of toning exposure to do the trick. Just don’t start there.
So just keep your eye on the mirror and watch the color change. Rinsing the formula out as soon as you sense it’s done or two minutes whichever comes first.
There are worse things that rinsing out too soon. Like being stuck with hair that is darker than you wanted or some wild and crazy color.
So while there is no hard and fast rules it’s best to be cautious. You can always repeat.
FAQ #5: Are Gloves Absolutely Necessary?
A: Only if you don’t want stained nails, fingers or hands. We are talking blue black color you know. So it goes without say you want to wear the gloves that come with the color kit.
Of course you can go gloveless. But your hands are going to pay the price. At the least they can end up feeling quite dry.
Remember just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. 🙂
So yeah. Gloves are not really optional.
They protect your skin from staining and potential irritation or allergic reaction (called contact dermatitis) caused by the hair dye and developer mixture.
Tip: While you may already know this take off your gloves as a doctor does medical gloves. Tug from the wrist and turn it inside out as you peel it off. Then use that glove to repeat the drill with the other one.
FAQ #6: How Do You Apply The Mixture To Your Hair – Dye Brush Or Hands?
A: Either works. One is messier obviously. The other is more precise.
Since time is of the essence some prefer to go old-school. And squish the dye infused shampoo into their strands using their gloved hands.
Or you can get all fancy and use a dye brush to apply the mix after dividing your hair into sections.
Both ways work. But using a brush gives you more control. It lets you distribute the mixture evenly. Insuring you hit all the desired spots for a consistent, more balanced result.
With using your hands there’s always a chance for spotty application. So you’ll want to take care you’re hitting all the hair that needs toning.
But hey, if you prefer the tactile approach, go ahead and get your hands dirty. It’s fast and easy.
FAQ #7: Is The Mix Applied To Wet Or Dry Hair?
A: You’ve got options.
The mix can be applied to wet or dry hair.
But here’s the deal … applying it to dry hair gives you more control and lets you see the color change better.
Wet hair tends to make things look darker, which can make it tricky to know when to rinse. Plus, applying the mixture to wet hair may dilute its effectiveness and potentially lead to uneven toning results. Making dry hair the best option in most situations.
FAQ #8: How Long Does This Treatment For Orange Hair Last?
A: Ah, the million-dollar question. How long will this keep the dreaded oranges at bay!
Most find that the results can last for several weeks.
But keep in mind it varies from person to person. As mentioned above factors like hair type, your hair care routine (like how often you shampoo), and the elements you expose your hair to can affect how long the toning effect sticks around.
Want to keep the results going strong? You know, more ashy less orange? Then use color safe hair care products specifically designed to preserve the vibrancy and longevity of hair color. Hopefully that’s not news.
And of course giving your hair some extra TLC can’t hurt either.
FAQ #9: What If The Color Comes Out Too Dark?
A: Ooopsie. But don’t fret! Sometimes the color can turn out darker than expected. Either because you went a tad overboard with the amount of dye. Or you left the potion on too long.
So fear not. It’s not the end of the world. Give it a couple of days and it will fade.
Or wash your hair a few times with a clarifying shampoo to speed up the fade to ash. That trick will help lighten the color sooner and get you closer to the shade you desire. It’s like a little reset button for your hair color.
Tip: If you don’t like clarifying suds you can use dandruff shampoo too to brighten up the tone.
So there you go. Talk about your cheap thrills.
All it takes is like 10 bucks worth of box dye. Some second rate shampoo you likely have laying around collecting dust. And you too can rescue your locks from a hideous bright orange shade you hate.
But wait!
Can This Work Wonders For Curly Hair Too?
This shows the power of this method. She used sulfate free shampoo by mistake and still got hair that looked a lot ashier and much less orange than when she started.
This also shows this technique can help curly hair.
Want more easy to follow coloring tricks, tips and hacks that work then please follow our Hair Color board on Pinterest.
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