Hey Fox! Are you ready for this color spotlight? US TOO! 😉 Let’s go!

Our current color spotlight is none other than Sunset Orange! This versatile color can be used for tons of different looks year-round. Which makes sense as to why this shade is a consistent best seller! 🏆 Today, we’re going to cover all things Sunset Orange, so let’s get to know her a bit.

Who is Sunset Orange?

Sunset Orange is a vibrant red-orange that is one of the more highly pigmented shades in the AF lineup! Since it’s primarily red-based, the red undertones of Sunset Orange may come through more strongly on hair that is more of a light blonde but we’ll be getting into that more later! 🤌

Coloring With Sunset Orange 🎨🧡

Let’s go over some best practices when using Sunset Orange because if there’s one thing we’re gonna do for you bestie, it’s set you up for success! As a general rule of thumb, the darker your base, the deeper the shade! With that being said, you can do a lot with this shade on a plethora of bases and even fun mixes! 

Let me ask you this… What is your goal? Is it to achieve a color without bleaching your hair? Maybe you simply want to create a custom mix? Or are you planning on covering a shade using Sunset Orange right over the top? The possibilities seem endless with this shade and for good reason. She is the gift that just keeps on giving. 🎁

This fiery, deep red-orange turns out STUNNINGLY vibrant on a prelightened base (around a level 9 or lighter) ⚡However, this shade is notoriously known for going over brunette hair no problem! Curious if it’ll appear over your natural dark base? We recommend a strand test before coloring to be sure!

As mentioned earlier, Sunset Orange is a surprisingly versatile shade and can be used in lots of different mixes for custom colors! However, while it’s highly pigmented and can cover up a lot of other colors pretty well, there are some instances in which using Sunset Orange may not be your best option. 

A faded warm tone like a red, pink, or most purples would be easily covered by a similar warm tone like Sunset Orange. But cooler shades like blues and greens may cause Sunset Orange to appear more muddy or dark if it’s applied on top 🤢 So for example, if you’re wanting to cover a blue or green shade, transitioning to a purple that can cover cooler tones more easily first, then moving more toward a red or orange, will give you a more accurate result in the long run!! I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again; The color wheel MATTERS! Want to learn how to understand the color wheel and become a color theory pro? Check out our other post on The Hair Color Wheel Explained ✨

Level Up: Sunset Orange on Different Hair Levels

Since this shade is so pigmented, this means it will take well to a wide variety of base hair colors. Showing most vividly on a lightened base and giving more of a dark, subtle tint to darker base colors. Let’s break it down, shall we? 💃

If you’re applying Sunset Orange over a platinum base (level 9-10),  you may notice it leaning more red than orange, especially when it’s fresh! Due to the red undertones, this is where you’ll be able to achieve a bold blood orange shade!