What color to dye over green hair when it’s time for changes?
Bright hair colors are on top of the trends and don’t seem to lose their positions. Billie Eilish, Kylie Jenner, Lady Gaga and many other celebrities dyed their hair green and looked amazing with that color. Whoever or whatever might be your inspiration for such an adventurous experiment, green hair color may bring you a vivid spectrum of emotions.
Teal and green hair color can bring you a lot of attention, make you feel extraordinary, spectacular, and loud. Indeed, this is one of the boldest colors to choose for hair dyeing. But what to do with faded green hair?
Although, green tint is the hardest one to get rid of, there are plenty of effective methods to deal with it. If you feel like you need more natural color or some other bright changes, you should know some tips and rules.
How to Cover the Green Hair with Semi-permanent Dye and Permanent Dye?
Several tips for successful dying over green hair.
To change the hair color from green to some natural brown or blonde, you might need to remove the green hue from the hair. But if you want to continue the adventure with dyeing hair into some unnatural colors, you may avoid the procedure of removing the green hue and try covering green hair directly with dye.
Here are the ways to change the green hair color:
- Visit the hair salon and let the professionals deal with it.
- Try to get rid of the color using homemade methods and dye the hair by yourself using box hair dye.
- Use some dye on top of the green applying the principles of the color theory.
We highly recommend to go to the salon and let the hair colorist make these changes.

Related: What is dimensional hair color?
What methods are used in salons to change the green hair color?

Professional hair colorists know that green is the hardest color to remove from hair. If you need to go back to some natural colors or some bright colors that should be dyed on a very light base, you will definitely need to bleach your hair.

It may take patience because it often requires several sittings to completely remove the green hue.
The good colorist has enough knowledge and experience to make the proper plan on how to achieve the color their client wants. It depends on the condition of hair, the dye that was used, the intensity of color and the final desirable result. It might be easier to achieve dark tones than blonde.
Usually, to make the bleaching process less harmful for hair, it takes several sittings.
After every bleaching, the hair is dyed with the dye that includes red color to reduce the green. Some products are usually recommended to use additionally to restore the hair structure and to wash away the green tint.
Professional colorist knows the newest and most effective hair products to use for solving the problem and to reduce the damage for the hair while changing the color. Trusting the colorist is the safest and effective way to get the right color and to keep the hair healthy.
The Complexity of Using Purple Dye Over Green Hair
It’s a common misconception that any color will cover the green. In the realm of color theory, purple is often seen as an opposite to green, making purple dye a popular choice for neutralizing green undertones. Yet, not all purples are created equal, and the shade’s depth and tone can influence its efficacy over green.
The previous hair dye you used, whether it was a semi-permanent or permanent hair dye, plays a crucial role in determining the next steps. If you dyed your hair with a semi-permanent green, it might fade over time, making it easier to overlay another semi-permanent dye or even a permanent dye. Using a purple dye over green hair in such cases can often help neutralize the green, giving a more natural or ashy tone.
However, if your hair was colored green with a permanent hair dye, the process becomes more complex. The green can only be covered effectively with another permanent dye. In such cases, a deeper or more vibrant purple dye might be required to counteract and cover the green, ensuring the desired outcome without traces of the previous color.
Transitioning to a New Shade: How Colors Cover Green Hair
When thinking of applying a new color, understanding your base color and the residual color left on your hair from the green hair dye is vital.
If you aim to transition your hair color to purple or any other shade, you might need to bleach your hair before applying the new dye.
This step helps strip the green color from the hair, making it more receptive to the new dye. However, excessive bleaching can cause your hair to become damaged, so caution is advised.
Decoding the Green Hair Dye Phenomenon in Hair Coloring
The allure of green hair dye has been on the rise with more people experimenting with this vibrant shade. However, depending on the shade of green and whether it was achieved with a semi-permanent green dye or permanent dye, the approach to changing it varies.
If you’ve had the green color in your hair for too long and it has faded unevenly, you might be contemplating a new hair color.
Some tips to fade the green color by yourself

If you don’t need to completely remove the green hue from hair, you may try to wash it away by yourself. There are some clarifying shampoos that may help to reduce the color significantly. Deep cleansing shampoos also help to fade the color.
Good professional shampoo used with hair conditioner may solve the problem and care for the hair. After washing your hair with clarifying shampoo you may try to dye it by yourself on top of the faded green tint.
Red over green hair neutralizes the green and may give you the color from brown to bright red.
There are also some homemade recipes for getting rid of the color, like
- ketchup for green hair,
- lemon juice,
- baking soda,
- vinegar,
- vitamin C.
These products may help you to fade the color but they are not reliable and may damage your hair.
Strategies for Effective Color Change: Cancel Out Green Hair
If you wish to cover green hair, consider the basics of color theory. Opposite colors on the color wheel can neutralize each other. For instance, red tones can help cancel out the green. In some cases, colors cover green hair effectively when the green is not too vibrant or deep.
If you’re unsure about the next steps, especially if you use a permanent hair dye, it’s always wise to consult a professional.
They can offer insights, especially if the green color is challenging to cover, and suggest whether you should bleach your hair or use a clarifying treatment first.
Considering Previous Hair Treatments
The type of hair dye you previously used affects the next steps. If you had applied a semi-permanent green dye, then you might be able to cover it with any color of your choice after a few washes.
However, if the green dye was permanent, the process becomes a tad more complex. You might need to bleach your hair first or use a clarifying chemical treatment for your hair to remove the green color.
This prepares the hair before applying a new shade, ensuring it can absorb the new color efficiently.
Considerations for the Next Dye Job
The key to a successful color transition lies in understanding the nature of the dye. A semi-permanent dye can be covered more easily than a permanent one. However, each dye type interacts differently with the hair fiber, and how it allows the new color to deposit can vary.
For instance, a semi-permanent dye offers flexibility as it coats the hair’s outer layer, while a permanent dye penetrates deeper, altering the hair’s internal structure. Knowledge of these nuances ensures that your next color
Dyeing the hair on top of the green color

If you are open for experiments and don’t need clear and bright color which requires a very light base, you may try dying over green hair or teal green hair with another dye without bleaching it.
The Role of Different Dyes
There’s a vast difference between permanent hair dye and semi-permanent dye. A permanent dye penetrates deeper into the hair fiber, altering the inner structure, while a semi-permanent color sits on the outside layer of the hair, slowly fading with each wash.
If you’ve colored your hair green with permanent dye, you might consider using a brown dye over green hair or even a purple dye over green hair. Purple, in particular, can help neutralize the green tones in your hair due to its contrasting position on the color wheel.
Some basic principles of the color theory may help you with that.
Understanding the Color Wheel, Color Theory and Green Tones
When considering what hair color to use to cover the green, it’s essential to grasp the basic principles of color theory. The color wheel that all hair color stylists refer to provides insights into which colors can neutralize or enhance each other.
Given that green on the color wheel is opposite to red, red tones are often utilized to cancel out green hair. Yet, if you’ve dyed your hair green with a permanent dye, the process might differ slightly.
Understanding the color wheel theory may give you an opportunity to plan the steps to take to change your color from green to any other.

- The opposite color to green is red, so red dye over green hair will cancel the green.
- Any dye of red (also pink and purple) color that does not contain hydrogen peroxide and ammonia may help you to reduce the green color safely enough.
- Red dye over teal hair or red dye over blue hair may give you some brownish color.
- Putting blue dye over green hair may help you to get some turquoise shade or dark teal hair.
Protecting Your Hair’s Integrity
It’s crucial to avoid causing damage to your hair during this transition. Layering a permanent color with a semi-permanent dye or vice versa might not always yield the desired results.
Always conduct a strand test before fully coloring your hair. If you’re looking to cover the green hair with a purple hair shade, ensure the green tones are adequately neutralized to avoid muddy results.
What may be done if the bleached hair turned green after dying?

- A common concern of the ones that love to dye their hair by themselves is dyed hair turned green. This may happen because of the contact with water that contains chlorine.
- It is recommended to avoid pools for 7 days after dyeing.
- The chlorine is the most common reason why blonde hair turns green after coloring.

- The color that was left in the hair after previous colorings may also appear as green.
Using henna for coloring may also be the reason why hair turned green after dying brown.
To reduce the green color in this case you may try to use deep cleansing shampoo, toning shampoo or to get professional help at the hair salon.
Post-Dyeing Hair Care for Longevity and Health
The most vital part is utilizing good care practices that should support hair care and the tint shade you have for your hair. Here are some straightforward tips to help you achieve that:
- Use Sulfate-Free Shampoos and Conditioners: Sulfates can potentially remove sebum and cause the fading of hair colours. Use products labeled for color treated hair to keep your hair looking vibrant and reinstated.
- Limit Washing Frequency: Shampooing your hair many times can also cause a problem with the colors on your hair. Ideally, it is advisable to wear hair after every two to three days to ensure that your color lasts for a long time and also prevents the hair from being stripped of natural oils.
- Protect Your Hair from Sun Exposure: Sun rays with UV radiation can bring color away and make hair dry. To protect the tresses, while in the sun, use a hat, or any hair product that is UV protected.
- Avoid Excessive Heat Styling: You will not be surprised to find out that the more heat tools one uses for straightening or curling, the more harm is done to the hair and the color is faded. If you have to use them, it is recommended to use heat-protecting sprays and to set the temperature to the lowest.
- Schedule Regular Trims: It is best to trim hair frequently to avoid split ends and keep it in good condition. Strive to give your hair a trim every six to eight weeks to keep it well groomed and to avoid splits that journey up the hair strand.
Deep Condition Weekly: Hairs which have been dyed become dry. By applying a deep conditioning treatment it is possible to replenish the moisture and thus your hair will look silkier and more easily manageable when washed once a week.
Final Tips for a Successful Transition
Experiments with appearance may be pure joy. To be sure you are getting the exact color you want and to decrease the chance of having a problem like “I dyed my hair blue and it turned green” it is better to let the professional colorist make the changes.
- It’s tempting to jump into another hair dye adventure, especially with the allure of exciting colors.
- However, remember that transitioning from a permanent to a semi-permanent color or layering one over a permanent dye can be challenging.
- To cover up the green, you might need to consult with a professional or ensure you’re well-versed in the color wheel that all hair color enthusiasts swear by.
Whether you’re looking to get rid of green or embrace a new shade, understanding the science behind hair dye can make the process smoother and more rewarding.
But if you are not afraid of having an unexpected result, you may try to get the bright color by yourself, following the rules of the color theory.
What color cancels out green hair? Please, suggest something, I don’t know what to do!
Well, according to the color wheel, you need something red. So, if you want to re-paint, go for copper or ginger red I guess.
But anyway you’d better ask in a salon!
What happens if you put purple shampoo on green hair? I did something wrong when dyeing hair and now it’s all grass green. The nearest appointment at the salon is in three days. I can’t wait so long!
Well, I don’t even know…This shampoo removes brassy and yellow tones but I guess it will paint your locks brown or close to that color.
Maybe, waiting three days is a better option?
Purple shampoo cancels out yellow tones. I am slowly fading my green hair so I can go over it with pink. Remember that purple shampoo dries out your hair as well so deep condition it after you use it.
Can someone help me? Can you dye over green hair? How soon can it be done!
Hi! Yes, the hair can be dyed, but you shall let it rest for several days after the first dye. As for the color, any will do from red to chestnut (but don’t choose light colors like blonde or ash-grey).
Hello there I need some help for my hair color. I dyed my hair last month to dark purple semi permanent hair dye. Before dying my hair color to purple it was blonde so my roots were turning into my natural hair color brunette. My purple hair was like ombré type of color roots were purple and the my hair strands is light blue. Now it faded to light green. I want to dye my hair ginger so do you think it’ll work if I don’t bleach my hair???
Hello! Sounds like you’ve had a long journey:) Answering to your inquiry, yes, coloring faded green locks to make them ginger is possible without going for bleaching. We’d recommend you wash your hair with a deep-cleansing shampoo first to get as much leftover dye as possible out of there. The next step will be to pick up the red dye you want and apply it according to the instruction. Good luck!
Yes, it does. It must be applied on wet hair for 20 min and then washed. After that, wash your locks with the normal shampoo and conditioner.
Yes, it does. It must be applied on wet hair for 20 min and then washed. After that, wash your locks with the normal shampoo and conditioner.
How do you remove green hair dye without bleach? Thanks for any ideas and suggestions!
It depends on what dye was used. If semi-permanent, then try clarifying shampoo with baking soda. Bath salt is another good option, by the way.
Vitamin C also works pretty well when powdered and added to the shampoo.
Why did my hair turn green after dying it black? It’s not completely grassy, just some tresses got hued, but still. What can be the reason?
I guess, it can happen either because of the bleach you used when dyeing, or the reason was in chlorine. Try to remember, maybe you were visiting a pool frequently after dyeing?
Why is my bleached hair green? Did anyone have the same problem? How did you cope with it?
That’s absolutely normal, it is only a reaction of oxidation. If you try to wash it off, you’ll destroy the dye on your hair.
I recently noticed greenish tresses after dyeing. Does Purple shampoo cancel out green? Did anyone try this method? How did it work?
No, purple will not cancel green. The color you are going to cancel must be the opposite of the remedy color hence you need a shampoo with red toner.
Agree, red pigment can be an option!
Nope won’t work. I dyed honey blonde high lift over my virgin brown hair with purple tips. Beautiful color except my ends are green. I tried purple shampoo and it hasn’t worked even letting it sit in my hair after multiple uses.
Can you dye orange over green hair? I had green hair for too long so now I’d like to change the tone into copper-red or bright red. Do you think it will work out?
Hi! I’d not recommend doing that. My colorist once told me that when applying orange over the green, we will get a swampy greenish tint. She explained it was because of how colors combine, something about green and orange being complex colors, but I didn’t remember.
I dyed my hair very light green, but I don’t like the shade much so I decided to re-color it into pink. How do you guys think, will Pink cancel out green hair?
Hey! Well, I’m not sure since I’m not a colorist, but if you now have a pale-green tone, then perhaps coloring the hair bright pink will work for you. But I’m pretty sure that on intense green locks pink will not set properly and turn into brownish.
Can I put brown dye over green hair? Did anyone had such an experience? How did it work (if it did)? Thanks a lot!
I guess you will need to remove that green hue first prior to covering it with brown.
So, perhaps, some bleaching will be needed. I didn’t do that personally so I can’t say for sure how it will work.
My daughter’s hair was green. We put a medium brown over it and it came out dark green. Used some color corrector and that really didn’t do much to lighten it. We are going to try red over it next.
I want to get rid of my old green shade on hair, and I was thinking of becoming pitch-black. Can you put black dye over green hair?
Yes, you can. Black will cover the green hue completely. However, if you’re naturally blonde, your fair roots might show up after a couple of weeks already, so I’d recommend bleaching that green out first, and then color the hair black.
oh thanks for the advice….i’ve also dried them out totally((
Hi! My hair is a dark green and I would like to take it back to a dark brown or even black is okay. If I do a black will it wash out and show the green? Or is this the best option if I cannot go to a salon? What do you recommend to help at home?
A winning option for you can be brown and copper shades of the dye with red pigment. Green is the opposite of red, so it can be a good deal for you.
For different intensities of green, mix the same (as green intensity) bright or pale red. Apply to hair areas where green is present, neat with an oxidant, or add the desired red to the desired shade of dye, sometimes just one drop can be enough. This will help dye over the green color and make it look natural.
Also, the better choice will be dark brown for the beginning. Because dark brown can contain some red shadows. And with these red lights, you can get rid of green pigment quickly.
And specialist recommends this powder to remove some excessive pigment https://www.valley-beauty.com/loreal-professionnel-efassor-special-coloriste-color-remover/ (not advertising)
Hi! I dyed my hair flashy green but need to get rid of it for a film, will red make it brown? Or is there a way to make it grey?
I think the red pigment would help, everyone in the net says it. So I think that will be an option
My hair was coloured green with Manic Panic Enchanted Forest, it has now faded to a light sea/teal green. I have tried colour remover and a bleach bath but there has been very little movement. I was wanting to recolour it purple and pink with Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Colour Intense Lilac and Garnier Olia Deep Rose. Do I need to completely remove the green first or could I just dye on top of the green? Can’t afford to get it done at a salon but fed up of it as is as has a lot of root growth
Here are the ways to change the green hair color:
· Visit the hair salon and let the professionals deal with it.
·Try to get rid of the color using homemade methods and dye the hair by yourself using box hair dye.
· Use some dye on top of the green applying the principles of the color theory.
We highly recommend to go to the salon and let the hair colorist make these changes.
Hello! Here are the ways to change the green hair color:
· Visit the hair salon and let the professionals deal with it.
·Try to get rid of the color using homemade methods and dye the hair by yourself using box hair dye.
· Use some dye on top of the green applying the principles of the color theory.
We highly recommend to go to the salon and let the hair colorist make these changes.
I personally think that you can try to do smth with it at home, red color or black can totally be an option for you!)
Heyy there I had blue hair but I strip it out out and now it’s a blondish green color, I really want to dye it a smoky brown/ ash brown color, pretty much no red undertones but I was wondering if it would be good to just throw brown on top or would it come out greenish? Or should I put a orange undertone besides red to help it, then put the brown I sadly don’t have the money for the salon at the moment but really want to get rid of the color
Aiyana, that’s a bit complicated 🙂 I think you should consult with a professional hairdresser, they know very well all the proportions, which colors mix best and what effect you would get. Wish you best of good luck with your new hairstyle!
yo uh my hairdresser is saying that I cannot colour my hair black because of my green hair. My guardian says to dye it purple over it because they’re scared that I’ll have to shave it all off (which I told them that I was planning on doing at a point anyways) what should I do- I’m so confused.
You can put black hair dye over green. It should cover it with no problems. Black goes over any color, it’s just a bitch to get the black out. Basically have to let it grow out, or go thru several bleaching processes to lift it out.