Q&A for How to Fix Hot Roots or Bleached Roots

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What does it mean to have hot roots?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Hot roots is a term for when the hair is dyed and the hair closest to the scalp turns out a lighter brighter color than the rest of the hair. This happens because of the heat from the scalp. A good colorist knows how to adjust a color formula to prevent this from happening.

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Question

What color hair dye should you use to cover orange?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

If your roots turn out orange and the rest of your hair is the right shade, you can correct this with a demi-permanent color. Demis don't lift, so they won't get "hot" at the root. Use an ash color with a blue base to cover the orange.

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Question

What is a gloss for your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

A gloss is a semi- or demi-permanent formula without color. It adds shine to the hair.

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Question

What causes hot roots?

Karen Leight
Professional Hair Stylist
Karen Leight is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Karen Renee Hair, a private salon suite inside the Salon Republic Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. With over 12 years of experience, Karen is a licensed cosmetologist specializing in hair color, balayage technique, and women’s and men’s precision haircuts.

Karen Leight

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Hot roots are caused by the heat of your scalp processing the dye faster than the rest of your hair.

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Question

I bleached my hair and my roots are now white while the rest of my hair is orange/blonde with a few patches of my original dark blonde hair colour. What can I do?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

It seems as if you had quite a few mishaps. Were you trying to achieve a blonde shade? If so, bleach your hair again, especially the parts that didn't take the first time around. Afterwards, you can tone your hair, especially to get rid of the white roots if that wasn't the color you wanted to achieve. If your hair color is too uneven, consider visiting a salon to get it corrected. Another alternative would be to simply go dark again, which can be achieved at home.

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I dyed my hair a dark red rose brown and my roots are red orange. How do I fix them?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

It seems as if you have hot roots. You would need to use a gloss to try to fix your roots. The better option would be to visit a salon and let a professional fix your color for you.

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I went to salon and got my hair blonded to the tips. My natural hair color is black. Is there any way the color can be lightened?

Community Answer

Yes, through repeated bleaching or a long bleaching process. See How to Go from Black Hair to Bright Blonde .

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Question

I recently dyed my hair blond, but my roots have a reddish tint to them. How can I fix this?

Community Answer

Using a purple shampoo and conditioner will neutralize the color of your roots and make them more blond. Seek the advice of a hairdresser about this though.

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Question

I have to opposite problem. I had my hair darkened, and it went too dark. I have some gray, so they left the roots on longer, making my roots two shades darker than the rest of my hair. What do I do?

Community Answer

Go back to the place where you got it darkened and make them fix it. That's the best course of action.

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How do I grow hair an inch in a week?

Community Answer

Try the inversion method: Tilt your head and massage for four minutes a week, once a month.

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Question

I colored my hair blonde, but the roots are orange red. What can I use on my roots?

Community Answer

Your best bet is to go to a salon and ask for them to fix it.

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Question

Went grey. The regrowth was probably 3 inches. Bleached it, applied toner, then grey all over. Splotchy now. The framing layers I have are more blue silver, roots are the same color after toning. What can I do?

Community Answer

Try using the Control GX Grey Reducing 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner.

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My hair went black after I used a color corrector and brown dye. I also have gray roots growing in. How do I go back to brown hair?

Community Answer

Your hair most likely turned black because it was porous after color correction. Try using an anti-dandruff shampoo to try to naturally strip the color out. Using more bleach or color correction is not a good idea. For your gray roots, color them as close as you can to the color you want. For example, if the current black color is a level 1 and you want to get to a natural medium brown (like a level 5), you could color the roots a level 4.

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Question

What if I don't want to put anything else in my hair, and I want to do it naturally?

Community Answer

There are a lot of remedies for hair to keep it as natural as possible. Try using Henna dye for your hair.

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I bleached out my hair. Now my roots are showing dark brownish gray. Don't want to bleach again. What's a good next move?

Community Answer

You need to bleach the roots or color the rest of your hair darker if you want the hair to look even.

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I recently tried to dye my hair light caramel brown. My roots ended up being an orange red. What do I do?

Community Answer

You need to tone it with a purple toner (you can buy some at Sally's if you live in the US).

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