Understanding the Color Wheel & Color Theory

Understanding the color wheel and basic color theory can benefit you and your hair in the long run. Color theory is how different colors interact and how they can create specific effects. Understanding basic color theory can help you achieve the perfect hair color for your desired look! One of the most important concepts in color theory is the color wheel. The color wheel is a visual representation of the different types of colors. The color wheel principles help to fix or neutralize unwanted red, orange, yellow, and brassy tones in your hair.

Primary Colors

In the haircare world, knowing the three primary or pure colors is very important. These three colors are red, yellow, and blue. These colors cannot be created by mixing other colors as they are fundamental colors that are used to create secondary colors, such as orange, green, and violet.

Complementary Colors

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that are located opposite each other on the color wheel. When placed next to each other, they create a strong contrast and enhance each other's visual impact or cancel out unwanted tones. For example, the most common use of complementary colors is when trying to cancel out yellow, or brassy tones in blonde hair. Violet is located on the opposite side of the color wheel as yellow, therefor violet helps to cancel out yellow tones within the hair. Another great example is red. Sometimes your beautiful deep brown hair can turn a little on the red side. To counteract this, you would use a green-based shampoo or conditioner to neutralize that unwanted tone. If your brassiness is more orange, then a blue-based product would be used. This works because these colors contain wavelengths that are opposite to those of other colors on the color spectrum. When these opposing wavelengths mix, they create a visual effect that reduces the intensity and brightness of both colors.

The most common colored shampoo and conditioner options to neutralize unwanted tones are violet, blue, and green. They sit opposite on the color wheel from yellow, orange, and red, therefore they neutralize or counteract those specific shades.

Here are a few of the many options for Purple, or Violet shampoos that Beauty Care Choices has to offer.

• Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo
• Loma Violet Shampoo
• Biolage Colorlast Purple Shampoo
• Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
• Pravana The Perfect Blonde Cleanse Purple Toning Shampoo
• Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo
• Surface Violet Shampoo
• Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo
• Framesi Color Lover Dynamic Blonde Violet Shampoo for Blonde / Grey Hair

Here are a few options for Green Shampoos and conditioners to neutralize red undertones.

• Matrix Total Results Dark Envy Color Obsessed Shampoo
• Matrix Total Results Dark Envy Color Obsessed Conditioner
• Matrix Total Results Dark Envy Color Obsessed Red Neutralization Mask
• Alter Ego Italy Anti-Red Shampoo
• Alter Ego Italy Anti-Red Conditioner

Here are a few options for Blue shampoos and conditioners to neutralize orange undertones.

• Alter Ego Italy Anti-Orange Shampoo
• Alter Ego Italy Anti-Orange Conditioner
• Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo
• Joico Color Balance Blue Conditioner

The same concept works if your hair has taken on too much of a specific shade. For example, say you left your violet shampoo or conditioner on for just a little too long, and now your hair is slightly purple. You can use a gold depositing shampoo or mask to bring your hair back to a more neutral shade. A great option for that would be the Goldwell Dualsenses Color Revive Color Giving Conditioners. They have a variety of different shade options that can deposit tones back into your hair to bring you back to a more natural shade. Another great example of the use of these conditioners when color correcting is if your brown hair is looking a little on the green side, you can use a red or copper pigment to neutralize the green and give you a more fresh and vibrant brown tone.

Beauty Care Choices has so many different options for colored shampoos, conditioners, and masks that can help you achieve beautiful and vibrant tones, while also enhancing the shades that you desire.