No, black hair is not orange. Black hair gets its color from melanin pigment, while orange hair gets its color from pheomelanin pigment. Melanin produces darker hair colors like black, brown, and dark blond. Pheomelanin produces lighter hair colors like orange, red, and light blond. For hair to be orange, it must have high levels of pheomelanin and low levels of melanin. Black hair has high levels of melanin and low levels of pheomelanin, so it cannot be orange. While some may perceive black hair to have orange undertones under certain lighting conditions, true orange hair color does not naturally occur in people with black hair.
What Causes Black Hair Color?
Black hair gets its color primarily from a pigment called eumelanin. Eumelanin is a type of melanin, which is produced by melanocytes in the hair follicle. Melanocytes are specialized cells that produce pigments like melanin and determine hair color. There are two types of melanin:
- Eumelanin – Produces black and brown tones
- Pheomelanin – Produces red and yellow tones
People with black hair have hair follicles that produce high levels of eumelanin. This eumelanin is very dark brown or black in color, which gives hair its black tone. The more eumelanin present, the darker the black hair color will be. Black hair has little to no pheomelanin present. The lack of red and yellow pheomelanin pigments is why black hair does not take on orange, blonde, or other light hair shades.
What Causes Orange Hair Color?
Orange hair gets its distinct color primarily from a pigment called pheomelanin. Pheomelanin produces reddish-orange hues in hair color. For hair to be orange, the hair follicles must produce high levels of pheomelanin. Pheomelanin concentrations are highest in people with natural bright red or auburn hair shades. Orange hair has lower levels of pheomelanin compared to red hair, but higher levels than blonde or brown hair.
In addition to high pheomelanin levels, orange hair also requires low levels of eumelanin. If eumelanin levels are too high, the hair will take on deeper red or brown shades instead of orange. The combination of high pheomelanin and low eumelanin levels is what creates that vibrant orange hair color.
Can Black Hair Appear Orange Under Certain Lighting?
While true orange hair color does not naturally occur with black hair, some people may perceive black hair to take on an orange tone under certain lighting conditions. Here are a few reasons why black hair can sometimes appear to have orange undertones:
- Color balance and temperature of lighting – Warm, incandescent, or amber lighting brings out orange and red tones.
- Sunlight – The orange hue of sunrise/sunset light can create orange highlights.
- Reflectiveness – Black hair’s dark pigment absorbs light, accentuating surface reflections.
- Product buildup – Oils, minerals, and products can produce a warm, orange-ish sheen.
However, this orange appearance is just an optical effect from the lighting or product buildup. It does not represent the hair’s underlying pigment. When black hair is examined under pure white light, its deep brown/black tones from eumelanin pigment become apparent.
Can You Dye Black Hair Orange?
Yes, it is possible to dye black hair orange through a process of lightening and coloring the hair. Here is an overview:
- Lighten the black hair – The dark eumelanin pigments must first be removed using bleach or hair lightener.
- Tone to pale yellow – The lightened hair should be toned to an pale yellow before applying orange dye.
- Apply orange hair color – A vivid orange hair dye is then applied to the pre-lightened and toned hair.
- Maintain color – Orange hair fades quickly, so regular coloring treatments are needed to maintain vibrancy.
Going from black to orange is a dramatic hair color change. It requires extensive lightening and double processing of the hair. Working with a professional hair colorist is recommended to help minimize damage to the hair.
People with Natural Orange Hair
Natural orange hair is quite rare, occurring in less than 1% of the global population. However, it does occur in people from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds. Here are some statistics on natural red and orange hair:
| Region/Ethnicity | Percentage of Population with Natural Red/Orange Hair |
|---|---|
| Northern & Western Europe | 1-2% |
| Asia | Less than 0.1% |
| Africa | Less than 0.1% |
| United States | 2-6% of Caucasians |
| Hispanic Populations | 0.1-0.3% |
While rare, orange hair can occur naturally in people and ethnicities from around the world. However, it essentially never occurs naturally alongside black hair. Only through intensive lightening and coloring can black hair be made orange.
Causes of Orange Tones in Dyed Black Hair
Sometimes after dyeing hair black, it may take on unexpected orange tones. Here are some of the reasons this can happen:
- Over-porous hair – Porous hair absorbs too much developer and becomes orange.
- Hair not light enough – The orange base peeks through black dye on hair not lightened enough.
- Warm pigments – Some black dyes have warm undertones that come through as orange.
- Fading – Black hair dye fades over time, revealing orange tones from previous color.
- Toner wearing off – Toners are crucial for neutralizing orange, but don’t last as long as dye.
Fixing orange tones in dyed black hair requires re-toning the hair to neutralize brassiness. Protein treatments can also help strengthen and seal the cuticle to prevent rapid fading. Avoiding warm black dyes and maintaining toner levels helps keep dyed black hair free of orange.
Conclusion
In summary, black hair and orange hair derive from different pigments and do not naturally occur together. While black hair can sometimes take on orange highlights and reflections under certain lighting, true orange hair requires high levels of pheomelanin pigment which black hair lacks. The only way to transform black hair to orange is through intensive lightening procedures and orange dye. Maintaining vivid orange tones in previously black hair can prove challenging. But in the hands of a skilled colorist, black hair can successfully become a gorgeous shade of orange.
