How do you use complementary colors to neutralize a brassy orange result?

• A. Apply yellow-based toner
• B. Apply a blue-based toner (complementary to orange) or orange-neutralizing color
• C. Use purple shampoo
• D. Do nothing

Answer: (B)

Neutralizing brassy orange relies on complementary colors on the color wheel. Blue sits opposite orange, so introducing blue pigment into the hair cancels or neutralizes orange tones. A blue-based toner deposits the right amount of blue to counteract the orange, giving a cooler, more balanced result. An orange-neutralizing color is essentially the same idea—it provides blue pigments to offset orange.

Using a yellow-based toner would add warmth instead of canceling orange, making the brassiness worse. Purple shampoo targets yellow tones, not orange, so it won’t effectively neutralize orange. Doing nothing leaves the brassy orange unchanged.