What Color Covers Green Hair? The Easy Fix.

Green hair is often considered the pinnacle of experimentation in the world of hair color. But what do you do if it turns out to be a little too much? This blog post will cover your bases with some tips for what color to dye over green hair!

Few things are as eye-catching and memorable as an emerald head of hair. The problem comes when you decide it’s time to change up your look again and go back to your natural roots.

How do you get rid of green hair?

Some colors will clash and make your hair look worse. What about the colors that work well together? In this blog post, we’ll outline some of the best shades for covering green hair.

What colors cover green hair?

  • Blue – midnight blue, pastel shades, electric blue.
  • Purple – burgundy, lavender, maroon.
  • Orange – ginger and copper.
  • Brown – ash brown, chocolate brown and mahogany.
  • Red – auburn, rich red, cherry.

What is green hair?

Green hair color, the color of envy. The shade that is a testament to your experimental nature and your willingness to step out of the box.

A truly remarkable hue that leaves you feeling invigorated, powerful and confident. And looking as awesome as Kylie Jenner or Billie Eilish!

Green hair is a color that’s all over Instagram as a hair color trend many people are dabbling with these days. It’s the new black!

Green hair can be achieved by dyeing your hair with any number of shades of green hair dye, or through temporary methods such as hair make-up, chalk and pastel powders.

There are hundreds of different interpretations and hairstyles you can try – from a subtle hint at earthy tones to turquoise and teal hair, or a green dye and black hair dye mix to a full-blown forest green mane.

Maybe you’re going for an edgy punk look or trying out a brand new balayage shade on your next visit to the salon. Whatever your reasons, there’s a green hair shade for you.

Check out the latest green hair looks for ideas and inspiration.

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What color should you dye over green hair?

OK, when it comes to GETTING RID of green hair, life gets tricky.

Green hair is a color that takes commitment. Once it’s in your hair, it’s super hard to remove. Just like blue hair. Especially if you’ve got dark green hair.

The good news is that you can cover green hues using other hair dye colors. And without needing to bleach the color out.

If we look at the hair color wheel that all hair color science abides by, you’ll see that warm, red-orange tones are the opposite of green-blue colors.

This means that these colors counteract each other and can get rid of any unwanted tones in your hair. This is the basic principles of color theory.

Blues and brown also cancel green colors with their cooling pigments.

To cover up green hair, the colors you should try are:

  • Blue – midnight blue, pastel shades, electric blue.
  • Purple – burgundy, lavender, maroon.
  • Orange – ginger and copper.
  • Brown – ash brown, chocolate brown and mahogany.
  • Red – auburn, rich red, cherry.

It depends on what color green your hair is now, what type of hair dye you used and how long the color has been in your hair, how well it will work.

We recommend always doing a strand test before you dye your hair completely to check that the color works.

hair color wheel
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What does it mean to “cancel out” your hair color?

When people talk about “canceling out” their hair color, they are talking about using one color to neutralize or counterbalance another color.

This can be done by adding an opposite hue to offset an unwanted shade.

While it is possible to cancel out certain colors by dyeing your hair again, it may not always be successful depending on the original shade of your hair.

In other words, if you have bright green hair, a purple dye may not be enough to completely cover up that shade.

What takes away the greenish color tones in blonde hair?

Chlorine, sun and other environmental factors can turn your hair a murky greenish color. Especially if you have bleached blonde hair.

Luckily, there are many ways to remove the unwanted tones from your blonde hair such as using shampoos, conditioners or even masks that will help rid you of those unsightly stains.

So what takes away the greenish color tones in your hair?

The best way to remove green from your hair is by using a red shampoo.

The warm red pigment in the shampoo will take away any undesirable colors, leaving you with clean, green-free hair.

Depending on the severity of the green tones, this process may have to be done more than once as it doesn’t happen overnight.

If you want an even brighter result, use a red toner or gloss. These are best done by a professional colorist in a salon to get the best results!

How do you get green out of bleached hair?

Here’s a great video that shows you how to remove green tones and unwanted hair dye color pigments from bleached blonde hair, step-by-step!

Will purple shampoo fix green hair?

No. Purple shampoo will not fix green hair.

Purple shampoo is made to get rid of unwanted yellow tones and brassiness in blonde hair.

You’re better off using purple hair dye or blue dye over green hair to really counteract the green and give you a new purple shade or hue.

Does purple cancel out green hair?

Well, it depends on the type of purple and green you’re using.

For instance, if you use a blue-green hair dye or a light shade of green on your hair, like mint or lime, then yes—a bright violet or lavender will probably cancel it out.

But if you use a deeper shade of green like forest or olive, then no—it won’t be canceled out by any shade of purple.

In fact, pairing these two colors can create some beautiful results!

For example, if you pair olive-green hair with amethyst-purple highlights (or vice versa), the result will be stunning.

The deep shades will complement each other beautifully without clashing too much.

On the other hand, if you pair neon-green hair with hot-pink highlights (or vice versa), the result could be overkill—unless that’s what you’re going for!

In any case, always make sure to do a strand test first!

Does red cancel out green hair?

When it comes specifically to canceling out green tones in the hair, red shades are our best friends!

Any red hair dye that does not contain hydrogen peroxide or ammonia will help you to reduce the green color safely enough without turning it brown.

Red is located opposite green on the color wheel which means red shades and red dye will counteract that not-so-flattering hue without taking away from your original base color.

That said, be sure to consult with your stylist as these shades can vary greatly depending on your natural base tone.

Will pink cover green hair?

The good news is that yes, pink dye can cover green hair too.

But there are a few things to keep in mind before you jump in.

Firstly, the pink dye needs to be darker than the current shade of green on your tresses. If it’s lighter than your current hue, it will not create enough contrast and may leave you with an undesirable ‘muddy’ look.

The best products for canceling out unwanted greens are semi-permanent dye or demi-permanent dyes that are specifically formulated to counteract yellow or green hues.

These should be used sparingly—apply them only to areas where the unwanted tone is most prominent—and then washed out after 10 minutes or less.

It’s also important to use a toner afterwards if you want to achieve the desired result.

Toners help even out the pigment in the hair so that your new color looks more natural and vibrant.

When in doubt, seek advice from a professional hair colorist who knows their stuff when it comes to mixing hair colors – they’ll be able to recommend what looks best for you!

Can I cancel out green hair at home?

There are some at-home remedies you can try to get rid of unwanted green hair color using ingredients you already have in your cupboards. Some of these are pretty damaging for your hair so go carefully!

Ketchup for green hair? Yes, really!

A popular way of getting rid of green hair is using ketchup.

Ketchup contains vitamin C, which helps break down the molecules in your dye and fade the color.

Simply massage ketchup into your hair and let it sit for an hour or two before rinsing off with warm water. Keep in mind that this method is not reliable and may cause damage to your hair if done too often!

A vinegar rinse.

Vinegar can be used in place of shampoo after coloring your hair.

It helps remove excess dye from your locks while keeping them shiny and healthy.

Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and water and pour over your head after shampooing as usual. Rinse out with cool water afterward.

Baking soda paste

Baking soda can also be used as a natural remedy for fading green hair color.

Create a paste by mixing three tablespoons of baking soda with one cup of warm water until it forms a thick consistency.

Massage into dampened strands and rinse out with warm water after ten minutes or so, being careful not to leave it on too long as it can be drying on the scalp.

Clarifying shampoo

Clarifying shampoo can help strip the green color from your hair, so try using a clarifying shampoo every couple of weeks to gradually lessen the intensity.

To make sure your hair stays healthy after removing the green, alternate between clarifying shampoo and a hydrating shampoo or conditioner.

Use gentle heat treatments such as blow drying on the low-heat setting and styling with products designed for color-treated hair.

With a little bit of effort and hair care, you’ll be saying goodbye to green and hello to gorgeous locks!


Parting words.

You’ve been rocking that green hair for a while now. It was fun at first, but lately you’re starting to feel like maybe it was a little too much of an experimental colour after all…we get it!

To avoid the dreaded “green roots” look, try using either purple or blue as your new base colour.

Purple will be more subtle than blue so start with that if you want something less intense. If you really want to go bold then go for the blue!

Now you know what colour to dye over green hair. Just make sure that whatever colours you choose, they compliment your style and skin tones and don’t clash.

Also remember not to pick too light of a shade because otherwise it won’t cover up the green properly! Good luck!

This article was written and reviewed by:

  • Nicola Freeman, Creative Director & Content Lead
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    Creative Director & Content Lead

    With over two decades of passionate hair dyeing experience, I've experimented with nearly every shade imaginable. My journey began long before blogging; as an award-winning copywriter in London and New York, I shaped narratives for iconic brands. However, when friends sought advice during lockdown for at-home hair dyeing, I realized my true calling. Beyond being your hair color expert, I'm a mom of two girls, wife to artist Tony, and an avid soccer player!

  • Enza Piazza, Hair Stylist & Color Consultant
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    Hair Stylist & Color Consultant

    I’m Enza Piazza, your go-to hair stylist and color consultant with over 23 years of professional salon experience bringing vibrancy and life to hair of all hues. My Italian roots from sunny Sicily infuse passion into every snip and color, a passion that’s been recognized with top honor awards including bridal and party hair at the National Hairdressers Federation’s Championships. After training in Surrey, UK’s most prestigious salons including Head Master Academy, I embraced the entrepreneurial spirit and set up Enza Hair Styling, offering tailored hair care for 13 years, and treating each client like family. Away from the salon, I cherish moments as a proud Nonna to grandson Joseph and as a playful companion to my Jack Russell, Bo.