Buzz
Kool-Aid powder offers a safe and budget-friendly way to experiment with hair color, creating bold streaks or a dip-dye look at the tips. However, removing Kool-Aid dye can be tricky. While the color fades naturally after 2-3 weeks with regular washing, you might want to speed up the process. Baking soda is the key ingredient that helps lift the color faster, whether dissolved in hot water for a soak or mixed with shampoo to create a paste.
Steps
Hot Water and Baking Soda Soak
Boil a pot of water and pour it into a container or small basin. Fill the pot with enough water to submerge your hair, bring it to a boil, and then remove it from the heat. Pour the hot water into a glass bowl, plastic basin, or any container wide enough to hold the water.
- If you're only removing dye from the tips, around 4 cups of water should suffice, but more water will be needed for larger dyed sections.
- This method works best for dip-dyed or longer hair, rather than color close to the scalp.
- Be careful with the hot water; avoid splashing to prevent burns.
Stir 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of baking soda until fully dissolved. Measure the baking soda and stir it into the hot water until both ingredients are completely mixed. The mixture may bubble while stirring, but this is normal, so don’t worry!
Soak the Kool-Aid dyed hair in the water for about 30 seconds. Dip the dyed hair into the water. After a few seconds, you will notice the color starting to lift from your hair. Once the 30 seconds are up, the water will have taken on the Kool-Aid color, and your hair will return to its natural shade.
- This method will leave your hair very dry, so make sure to soak for no more than 30 seconds.
Dispose of the water and shampoo under the shower. Pour the baking soda water down the drain and rinse the basin immediately. Shampoo your hair under warm water. You will see the Kool-Aid color fade significantly after washing.
- Use a moisturizing shampoo, as the baking soda will dry out your hair.
Apply a deep-conditioning product to restore moisture to your hair. This color-removal method will leave your hair very dry and strip away its natural moisture. Always follow up with a hair treatment like a deep moisturizing oil or hair mask. Wait for 15-30 minutes to let the product absorb into your hair, then rinse with cool water to help seal the hair cuticles.
Repeat this method the next day if the first attempt didn’t fully remove the dye. Lighter hair often absorbs dye more easily, especially bright colors like Kool-Aid. You may need to repeat this process the next day, and remember to deep-condition after each soak.
Make a paste with shampoo and baking soda
Mix equal parts shampoo and baking soda to create a paste. Combine the baking soda and shampoo in a 1:1 ratio in a plastic or glass bowl. To ensure you have enough paste to cover the dyed sections of your hair, use the same amount of shampoo you would normally use for washing your hair, and then add an equal amount of baking soda.
- Dandruff shampoo is considered the most effective because it has a high pH, which helps fade the hair dye. However, you can also use a deep cleansing shampoo.
Take the paste into the bathroom and wet your hair. Standing under the shower makes it easier to apply the paste without making a mess in the house. Set the paste aside while you rinse your hair with warm water.
Massage the paste into your hair until it starts to foam. Take a small amount of the paste and begin massaging it into the dyed sections of your hair. Use your fingers to work the paste down to the tips, adding more paste if needed until all the dyed parts are covered. You don’t need to apply the paste to your natural hair—only the Kool-Aid-dyed areas.
- If the dye starts near the roots, be sure to massage the paste at the roots and work it down to the tips.
- If the dye is only at the tips, apply the paste about 2.5-5 cm above the dyed section to ensure you cover every part of the colored hair.
- Unlike the hot water and baking soda method, this method is gentler on the scalp.
Leave the paste on your hair for 2-3 minutes. Set a timer to avoid leaving it on too long. Stand under the shower during this waiting period, turn off the water, or try to keep the water from running into your hair.
Rinse the paste out with hot water. Once the waiting time is up, rinse the paste from your hair under the shower. Use the hottest water you can comfortably tolerate to help remove the color and continue rinsing until the paste mixture is completely washed out.
Use a deep-conditioning product to replenish moisture in your hair. This color-removal method also dries out your hair, so be sure to focus on the ends. Wait for 15-30 minutes for the product to soak in, then rinse with warm water.
- Make sure to rinse with cool water to help seal the hair cuticle.
Repeat the process once a day for 2-3 days. After your first treatment, the Kool-Aid color will have faded significantly. However, you may need to repeat the process several times to fully remove the dye. Use the paste mixture once a day for a few days, and remember to deep-condition after each wash to replenish moisture and nourish your hair.
Restore moisture to your hair
Use a deep-conditioning product after any color-removal method. Any technique that removes color from your hair will leave it dry, and you may notice brittleness, dryness, and split ends afterward. A deep-conditioning treatment will quickly provide nutrients and help restore some of the moisture lost during the color-removal process.
- You can either buy a deep-conditioning product or make one yourself using castor oil.
- Focus on deeply moisturizing the ends of your hair, as they tend to be the driest and most brittle.
Use a deep-conditioning hair mask once a week to maintain moisture in your hair. Your hair will still require extra care for weeks after the color removal. Once a week, apply a moisturizing hair mask all over your hair and leave it on for the recommended time before gently rinsing with warm water.
- You can purchase a ready-made hair mask or make your own using ingredients like yogurt, honey, and olive oil.
Avoid heat styling tools until your hair is fully recovered. To prevent further damage, refrain from using heat styling tools such as curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers. It's best to wait a few weeks after using moisturizing hair products and once your hair feels stronger and more resilient before exposing it to heat again.
Wash your hair every 2-3 days to allow it to recover its natural oils. After color removal, your hair may become dry and brittle, so give it some rest by washing it less frequently. Use a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to clean your hair every 2-3 days. During this break, your hair will restore its natural oils, helping it regain its shine and health.
- If your hair is extremely brittle, you should only rinse it briefly and apply conditioner to the ends.
Wait 4 weeks before re-dyeing your hair. Since Kool-Aid is not a permanent dye with harsh chemicals, you don't need to wait too long before reapplying color. A 4-week waiting period is enough for your hair to regain strength and moisture, but if your hair still feels dry, you might need to wait another 1-2 weeks.
Things You'll Need
Soak with hot water and baking soda
- Pot
- Water
- Baking soda
- Plastic container or basin
- Deep hair moisturizer
Make a paste mixture with shampoo and baking soda
- Dandruff shampoo (or deep cleansing shampoo)
- Small bowl
- Deep hair moisturizer
Restore moisture to your hair
- Deep hair moisturizer
- Hair hydrating mask
- Sulfate-free shampoo
Warning
- Any method used to remove hair dye can lead to significant dryness, so caution is needed! Avoid these methods if your hair is already dry, brittle, or if you have a sensitive scalp.
- Be extra careful not to burn yourself when rinsing your hair with hot water.
