If you recently got a keratin treatment and your hair turned orange afterward, you are not alone. Many women in Saudi Arabia experience this surprise and wonder what went wrong. You pay for smooth hair, and somehow you walk out with a colour you never asked for. The good news is, it has a clear explanation and, even better, a solution.
Why Does Keratin Sometimes Change Hair Colour?
Before you panic or think your hair is ruined forever, let’s break this down gently. Orange hair after a salon visit is not a sign of damaged hair. It usually comes from how colour and keratin interact, and once you understand the cause, fixing it becomes very easy.
Keratin is meant to smooth, soften, and make hair easier to manage. But it can also slightly lighten the hair during the process. For some hair types, especially hair that has already been coloured in the past, the natural warm tones underneath begin to show. When those warm tones appear, the result can look orange.
Some women notice the change immediately after the final rinse. Others notice it days later, especially when they step out under bright sunlight in Saudi Arabia.
If you’re saying to yourself, “keratin turned my hair orange”, it doesn’t mean something was done incorrectly. It simply means your hair lifted more than expected and revealed its warm undertone.
Who Is More Likely to Experience This Colour Shift?
From salons across Riyadh to Jeddah, stylists say the same thing; certain hair histories make this tone more likely:
- People who have dyed their hair many times before.
- Those who previously bleached their hair or added highlights.
- Anyone with naturally dark roots and lighter coloured ends.
- Those who recently coloured their hair right before keratin
If you fall in any of these groups, orange hair after keratin treatment can happen simply because your hair strands were already holding different colours.
How to Fix the Orange Colour Without Damaging Your Hair
Here’s where the relief comes in: it’s fixable.
You do not need to cut your hair or redo the entire treatment. You only need to correct the tone. The smoothing benefits of the keratin treatment are still working; the only issue is the colour.
The easiest fixes include:
A Toning Session
A toner softens the orange shade and brings your hair back to your desired colour. It’s gentle and safe as long as it’s done the right way, especially during the healing period after keratin.
A Cool Shade Gloss
If you prefer shine and deep colour, a gloss can mask the warm tone while keeping the hair smooth.
A Neutralising Purple or Blue Shampoo
A purple shampoo like GK Hair Silver Bombshell Shampoo brightens your colour gradually and helps prevent the orange shade from returning.
Most women who choose these solutions find that their hair colour looks even better than before.
Worried that keratin treatment is still not safe for your coloured hair? Read Expert Insights On: Is a Keratin Treatment Kit Safe for Colored or Damaged Hair?
What You Should Not Do
Just as important as what to do is what not to do.
- Do not colour your hair immediately after the keratin session.
- Do not choose high-heat styling right away.
- Do not switch to harsh shampoos that strip moisture
Doing any of these can make the warm tone come back or even make your hair feel dry.
Hair Keratin Treatment Aftercare that Makes All the Difference
This is where many people get it wrong. Once the colour has been corrected, daily habits matter a lot.
Here’s what we recommend for women in Saudi Arabia:
Use Gentle Cleansers
The wrong shampoo can strip your colour and expose the orange tone again. A mild cleanser like GK Hair Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner keeps the colour and the smoothness intact.
Reduce Heat Styling
Too much heat can make the colour look warmer and fade faster. When you need to style with heat, always use a protectant like GK Hair ThermalStyleHer.
Choose Products That Help Lock in Moisture
A leave-in like GK Hair Leave-In Bombshell Cream or GK Hair Argan Oil Serum keeps the hair shiny and makes the colour look richer. The sweet part is, you can even get our GK Hair Intense Moisture Pack needed for your hair care at a discounted rate.
Adding these into your hair care routine ensures you won’t deal with the same problem again.
Your Questions, Answered
Will the orange go away on its own?
Not completely. It may soften slightly over time, but a toner or gloss gives the best result.
Will fixing the colour cancel out the smoothing treatment?
No. Colour correction can be done safely without disturbing the keratin effect.
Can this happen again in the future?
It can, if hair is coloured too soon after keratin or if harsh products are used. With proper aftercare, you can avoid it completely.
How to Prevent It Next Time
If this experience taught you anything, let it be that timing matters.
To avoid saying “keratin treatment turned my hair orange” again, follow these steps next time:
- Colour first, then wait at least 10–14 days before keratin.
- If doing keratin first, wait 2–3 weeks before adding colour.
- Pick a salon that considers your hair history before beginning.
- Never rush the process because of an event or deadline.
Taking your time gives your hair the best chance to stay healthy, smooth, and beautifully coloured.
Final Thoughts
When keratin turned hair orange, it can feel disappointing—especially when you were looking forward to smooth, shiny hair. But the truth is, this colour shift doesn’t mean the treatment failed. It simply means your natural warm tone has been exposed and needs a little toning love.
Once the colour is corrected and aftercare is handled the right way with the right products, most women find that their hair looks even better—softer, shinier, and easier to style than before. So don’t panic, don’t rush to remove the keratin, and don’t think your hair is ruined. A simple adjustment is all it needs.
If you live in Saudi Arabia and experience this, you’re not alone— and you absolutely can get your dream colour back without giving up the smoothness you paid for.
