Can I Mix Dyes To Get A Custom Maroon Red Hair Color?

I’ve always approached color mixing like fixing a recipe in a kitchen I’m still learning to navigate — careful, a little nerdy, and with a lot of tasting (aka strand tests). When I wanted a deeper maroon that wouldn’t fade into orange after a couple of washes, I ended up learning the technical bits the hard way, so here’s a more measured breakdown from someone who’s done the late-night experiments and the follow-up repairs.

Understanding pigment is the first real step. Maroon is essentially a deep red with cool, brownish or purplish undertones. If your starting hair pigment is dark, it will fight red; if it’s brassy, the result will skew orange unless you neutralize the brass first. That means for a dramatic maroon you’ll often need to lift hair to a warmer mid-blonde (level 6–7) and use a filler if you’ve previously lightened the hair — red pigments are large and need a surface to cling to. If bleaching is necessary, do it carefully with proper developer strength (I’d avoid doing a full 30-volume lift at home if you aren’t experienced — 20 volume is safer, but slower).

When mixing, choose products with similar bases when possible (both semi-permanent or both permanent matched with appropriate developers). For a stable at-home mix I’ll pick a permanent base color if I need longevity and a demi-permanent for softer, less damaging shifts. A practical formula I’ve used: one tube of deep red mixed with a teaspoon of chocolate brown and an even smaller dot of violet — this prevents the red from leaning too warm. Always mix on a non-reactive surface (glass or ceramic), write down exact measurements, and do a strand test with the same development time. Time and temperature affect tone: longer processing or higher heat can intensify depth but might also pull more purple/brown undertones.

Maintenance and correction are where a lot of people get stuck. Maroon will fade toward warm tones, so use cool water, color-safe low-sulfate shampoo, and a weekly color-depositing mask in burgundy. If the color goes too warm, a purple toner or ash rinse can help, but be conservative. If you’re unsure or making a big change from very dark to maroon, consult a colorist for at least the initial lift — it can save your hair and a lot of time. If you enjoy tinkering, keep notes, small test jars, and a quiet evening — the right maroon is out there and the experiment is half the fun.

Oh man, mixing dyes to chase a perfect maroon is one of my favorite little experiments — like a tiny chemistry lab in my bathroom with a hairbrush as the wand. I’ve spent more evenings than I’d like to admit testing mixes on a strand clipped behind my ear, because maroon lives in that sweet spot between red, brown, and purple and it changes so much depending on your base color and the dye types you use.

First off: yes, you can mix dyes to make maroon, but there are a bunch of practical caveats. If your hair is dark (level 3–4), a straight red dye will look muted or brownish unless you lift it first. For a vivid maroon you usually want your base at around level 6–7 (a warm blonde) so the red and purple notes show through. If your hair is already light-ish, you can get away with depositing color only. Use semi-permanent or demi-permanent dyes when you’re mixing at home — they’re more forgiving, less damaging, and blend more predictably than permanent dyes. I tend to favor pigment-rich semi-permanents because a tiny bit of violet or burgundy mixed into a crimson will give that cooler maroon tone without overpowering the red.

As for ratios, think of red as the main ingredient, brown to mute/deepen, and violet (or a touch of blue-violet) to cool and add depth. A starting point I often try on a strand test is: 3 parts deep red : 1 part brown : a tiny quarter part violet. If the mix looks too warm on the strand, bump the violet a touch; if it’s too purple, add more red. Mixing small batches is key — do a strand test, wait 20–30 minutes, rinse and observe in natural light. Beware mixing different permanent formulas with different developers because the chemistry can be unpredictable. Also always do a patch test for allergies.

Aftercare matters just as much as the mix. Maroon fades into brick or rusty tones if you wash with hot water and abrasive shampoos. Use sulfate-free, color-safe products, cool water, and occasional color-depositing conditioners or masks in burgundy tones to keep it vivid. If you’re nervous about the whole lifting + mixing thing, book a consult with a pro — I’ve saved myself cringe-worthy DIY blunders that way. But if you love tweaking and testing, start small, keep careful notes on ratios and times, and enjoy the process — discovering your perfect maroon can be ridiculously satisfying.