Basic Orange 31

FunctionSemi-permanent basic dye

What it is — Basic Orange 31 (INCI: Basic Orange 31) is a cationic, or *basic*, hair dye used in semi-permanent and gradual colour, with no developer required.

What it does — Its positive charge draws it onto the negatively charged surface of washed and weathered hair, where it deposits a warm orange-copper tone. In a grey-covering blend it does the work most people never notice: unpigmented white hair has no warmth of its own, so an orange-red note has to be added back or the finished colour looks ashy and artificial. It builds over repeated washes and fades as the deposit wears off.

Typical use — Grey-toning shampoos, semi-permanent browns and colour-depositing conditioners, as one part of a multi-dye shade blend.

Who it suits / good to know — No peroxide and no oxidative chemistry means none of the PPD-family sensitizers that cause most hair-dye allergy. The trade-offs are the usual ones for basic dyes: gradual build, gradual fade, and no true lift or permanent coverage. Warm dyes are the most visible on skin, so temporary staining of the hairline, nails and light fabrics is common.

Safety — DHALIORA grades it mid risk: a surface-deposit colourant with a far lower sensitisation profile than oxidative dyes, but still a dye applied to the scalp. This reflects the ingredient in general and is not medical advice; patch-test if your scalp is easily irritated.