How do you keep from getting orange hair when you dye it?

Answer

It depends on how much you are trying to lighten it. If you are going for a very light color, you must use a high volume developer and a blue or violet toner/base color (blue is the opposite of orange, and violet the opposite of yellow, so it will cancel out the unwanted color). If your hair is very dark, you may have to lighten your hair first, then tone it. If you are going for a darker blonde or light brown, choose an ash color dye with a blue base. I don't suggest buying from the local drugstore, instead to go a beauty supply store such as Shenomens where they carry professional grade products. The box dyes will cause your hair to fall out and become severly damaged. The clerk should be able to help you choose the right combination of products. Be sure to pick up bottles, brushes, etc. as the professional products are all sold separately instead of in a kit. Also, be sure to pick up a protein filler/deep conditioning treatment to counter the dryness and damage processing your does. One packet right after you rinse out the dye will leave your hair soft and shiny for weeks. After coloring your hair, a good color depositing shampoo will help keep the brassiness down (get a shampoo for blonde hair, it will have violet tones in it to subtly maintain your color). I wish you luck, from someone who's had the same problem!  

Answer

if you have naturally dark hair, and you are trying to color it blonde or a light color, you will most likely need to lighten it before you color it. The lightening will strip it of all its color, so that you can give it any new color you want.  

Answer

Go to a professional.  

answer

You are lightening it , not coloring it when you lighten it. Brown or darker hair goes through stages when it is lightened. red, orange, yellow, light yellow. Many do not leave the lightener in long enough, they panic when they see it is orange and rinse, when if it is left longer , it will move to the lighter stage, however, this also damages hair, and should not be done on unhealthy hair..

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The "go to a professional" comment is exactly right, especially if you have really dark hair. Real professional hair dye is not like the stuff sold in stores; the technician mixes the color needed for your hair from base colors. The technician--assuming you go to an experienced colorist--will know what to put in the mix to have it come out the right color.