Oh no! Your freshly dyed hair didn’t turn out as expected! Fortunately, there are several methods to help you strip the color. Feel free to experiment with different techniques or repeat a method multiple times until you achieve the desired result. Keep in mind that these methods work best when applied immediately after dyeing and are most effective for semi-permanent or demi-permanent dyes.
Steps
Dandruff Shampoo and Baking Soda
Purchase dandruff shampoo. You can find this product at pharmacies or supermarkets. The label will clearly indicate it’s a dandruff treatment. Popular brands include Head & Shoulders and Original Formula Prell.
- Dandruff shampoo is slightly stronger than regular shampoo; individuals with dandruff often have excess oil that causes flaking, requiring a more potent formula.
Take some baking soda. Ensure it’s baking soda, not baking powder. The packaging for these two products often looks similar, but baking powder won’t work for this purpose. Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent (though not very strong).
Why use baking soda?
Baking soda is a natural cleaner—you might have even used it before to remove stains! It will lighten and strip hair dye without bleaching your hair. When combined with dandruff shampoo, which contains active ingredients that fade hair color, you’ll have an effective dye-removing mixture.
Tip: If you don’t have baking soda, just try using dandruff shampoo alone. Simply washing your hair can help remove dye, especially for semi-permanent colors.
Mix baking soda and shampoo in equal parts. You can mix them in a container or simply pour equal amounts into your palm. Precision isn’t necessary!
Wash your hair with the mixture. Lather it up and leave it on your hair for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly.
Tips for washing your hair:
Wet your hair completely before applying the shampoo. Stand under the shower and let water run through your hair for about a minute, as you would with regular shampoo.
Apply the mixture evenly throughout your hair. Use both hands to work it from roots to ends.
Let the mixture sit. The shampoo and baking soda need time to penetrate the hair strands and remove the dye. Leave the mixture on for 5-7 minutes before rinsing.
Rinse your hair thoroughly. The dye will fade as you rinse. You can repeat the process with this mixture if needed. This method works best if you’ve recently dyed your hair.
Dish Soap
Mix 4-5 drops of dish soap with regular shampoo. Popular options like Palmolive and Dawn are great choices. Use a coin-sized amount of shampoo and mix it with a few drops of dish soap.
Wet your hair and apply the mixture. Work the mixture into a lather, ensuring the dish soap penetrates deeply. Massage it into your hair for at least 2 minutes.
Rinse your hair thoroughly. Dish soap can be very drying and strip your hair of its natural oils, so make sure to rinse well. You may need to repeat this process more than once, but avoid overdoing it, as dish soap is quite strong.
Check your hair after each wash with dish soap. You might not see immediate results, but
the dye will start fading significantly after 2-3 days of washing.
Deep condition your hair after each wash with the shampoo and dish soap mixture. After the final rinse, make sure to use a deep conditioning treatment, such as a hot oil mask.
Dish soap can leave your hair extremely dry; it will need intense hydration after each use of this mixture.
- You can even sit under a hair dryer to enhance the effectiveness of the conditioning treatment.
Crushed Vitamin C
Crush vitamin C tablets into a paste. If you’ve recently dyed your hair a dark shade with semi-permanent dye (the type that fades after about 28 washes) and it’s only been a few days, try this method. Take a handful of vitamin C tablets, add a little water, and crush them into a paste using a spoon.
How to use vitamin C
Why choose vitamin C? Vitamin C is a safe and non-abrasive option for dark hair dye. The acid in vitamin C oxidizes the dye, reducing its adherence to your hair.
Purchase vitamin C from a pharmacy. Visit a store that sells vitamins and supplements to find vitamin C in tablet or powder form. Powder dissolves more easily, but both work equally well.
Vitamin C works best if you’ve dyed your hair within the last 3 days. If it’s been longer, this method may still work but won’t be as effective.
Apply the paste mixture to wet hair and let it sit for an hour. Ensure your hair is wet.
Vitamin C absorbs best when hair is damp.
After applying the mixture, cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap. Leave it on for an hour.
Rinse out the mixture and shampoo your hair. Thoroughly rinse out the paste, then wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner as usual. As long as you use vitamin C within a few days of dyeing, you’ll see noticeable results.
- You won’t need to redye your hair; the vitamin C mixture won’t damage it.
Vinegar Solution
Mix vinegar with warm water. Make sure to use white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar has a lower acidity level and won’t be as effective.
- Most hair dyes can withstand alkaline substances like soap and shampoo but not acids. The acid in white vinegar helps strip the dye.
Laura Martin, a licensed cosmetologist, explains: "Depending on the type of dye, vinegar can fade the color but may not completely remove it. However, avoid using vinegar to strip red dye from your hair."
Soak your hair thoroughly with the vinegar mixture. Lean over a sink or bathtub and pour the vinegar solution evenly over your hair, ensuring it’s fully saturated.
Cover your hair and wait 15-20 minutes. Use a shower cap or plastic bag to wrap your wet hair. Let the vinegar mixture penetrate for 15-20 minutes.
Shampoo and rinse thoroughly. You’ll notice the dye fading as the water runs. Once the water runs clear, shampoo your hair again.
Repeat the entire process multiple times if necessary.
Warning
- Always deep condition your hair after trying any of the methods mentioned above.
What You’ll Need
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Baking soda
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White vinegar
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Dish soap
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Dandruff shampoo
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Vitamin C tablets
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Shower cap
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Deep conditioning treatment
Buzz
