5 Painless & Effective Ways to Strip Your Hair Color

Get rid of permanent hair dye fast with these tried-and-true remedies

Co-authored by Ashley Adams and Finn Kobler

Last Updated: March 20, 2023 References

Using a Color Remover

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Trying Home Remedies

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Video

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Q&A

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Tips

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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

If you've dyed your hair and you're unhappy with how it looks, don’t stress. There are plenty of steps you can take to lighten or remove the color quickly and easily. Keep reading and we’ll offer you the best expert-approved approaches for phasing out the hue of your hair dye (no matter how permanent it says it is). From the clinical option of a color remover to the more natural remedies like lemon juice and baking soda, use these methods to say goodbye to a color you don’t like and hello to a fresh start for your fresh do.

Things You Should Know

Remove your dye using a color-stripping product from your local beauty store. Rub the product through your hair and let it sit for 20-60 minutes before rinsing it out.
For a home remedy, crush 12 vitamin C tablets into an anti-dandruff shampoo and massage the mixture into your hair. Let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing.
Talk to a professional hairdresser if you’re unsatisfied with your hair’s color after using a remover. They can recommend products to adjust and tone it to your taste.
Thoroughly shampoo and condition your hair after using any type of remover. Color-stripping products require lots of rinsing and moisturizing.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Color Remover

1
Buy a color removing product. Go to a local beauty supply store or pharmacy and purchase a color remover. Color removers work by infiltrating your cuticles (the layer of your hair that protects its shine) and breaking down the molecules in your hair dye so they're easier to wash out. ^{[1]
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- Remember that hair color remover can only strip colors that are darker than your natural shade. If you bleached or chemically lightened your hair, there are no dye molecules that the hair color remover can break down.
- If you have long hair, you might need to buy 2 packages.
- Color removers are aggressive and work especially well removing blonde and purple hair dyes from lighter hair.
2
Mix the chemicals in your color remover. Open the color remover package and take out the 2 bottles of liquid that are inside. 1 bottle will be a color remover and the other bottle will be an activator. Pour the activating agent from the into the bottle with the color remover. Then, seal it. Shake the bottle for 30 seconds so the mixture is combined.^{[2]
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- If you have tightly-curled hair, talk to a professional hairstylist before using any over-the-counter color removers. Because your hair is dry and finely-textured, their harsh chemicals may cause damage to your roots and scalp if you’re not careful.
- Always read the manufacturer's instructions before beginning to use the color-removing product.
- Some packages may recommend that you pour both of the bottles into a non-metallic bowl and stir until the liquids are combined.
Tip: Because you're working with chemicals, wear vinyl or latex gloves to protect your hands. In addition, wear a cape to protect your clothing and your skin.

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3
Massage the liquid through your hair. Pour the thin liquid onto your hair and carefully rub it down to your roots so the strands in each section are totally saturated. Since the liquid is very thin, you'll have to work quickly so it doesn't run through your fingers.^{[3]
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- If you have thick or knotty hair, brush your hair out first so the liquid doesn’t get tangled.
- If you have long hair, divide your hair into 3 to 5 sections using clips. Massage each section, 1 at a time.
- If you'd like more control in applying the liquid, pour it into a bowl and dip a tint brush into it. Brush the liquid onto strands of your hair until it's coated.
4
Leave the product in your hair for 20 to 60 minutes. Follow the package's recommended leave-in time, which is usually between 20 and 60 minutes. The color stripper will remove the dye from your hair during this period.^{[4]
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- To prevent the liquid from dripping onto your face, wear a plastic shower cap.
5
Wash and rinse your hair for 20 minutes. Once you’ve left the product in your hair for the recommended time, rinse your hair with warm water and massage shampoo through each coated section. Rinse out the shampoo. Then, massage more shampoo back into your hair. Continue to rinse and shampoo for 20 full minutes.
- You'll probably wash your hair at least 4 times during this process, but it’s best to be thorough, otherwise your hair can become damaged, dry, or brittle from any leftover color-stripping residue.
- Not only does shampooing cleanse, moisturize, and protect your hair from the oxidizing agents in color remover, rising with shampoo can strip down the molecules in your hair dye even further.^{[5]
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  Go to source}
- Choose a shampoo designed for your hair type and avoid using color-enhancing or protecting shampoos. For example, if you have fine, dry, brittle hair, choose a moisturizing shampoo. If you have thick, oily or greasy hair, choose a paraben or sulfate-free shampoo.
6
Deep condition your hair for 20 minutes to protect your hair. After you’ve fully scrubbed with shampoo, massage your favorite normal or deep conditioner through your hair for a few minutes. Then, put on a shower cap and leave your hair conditioned for 20 more minutes before rinsing with warm water.^{[6]
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- If available, sit under a hooded hair dryer while the conditioner is in your hair. This can increase the conditioner's nourishing ability and its overall benefit to your hair.
- If your hair is tightly-curled or particularly dry, allow your hair to air dry instead of blow drying it. Drying your hair with heat can further damage your hair.
7
Go to a professional if you want them to adjust your remaining color. If you’re still unsatisfied after using a hair color remover, go to a salon and ask them to help you with re-coloring. Talk to a hair stylist about blending and offsetting until you get the hair color you're looking for. Also ask which toners might be right for recoloring your hair.
- If you used a dark dye color and you have fair hair, it will likely take a few uses of toner to get your hair back to its original shade.
- To save a little money, go to a beauty school and ask about their color correcting services. Their options will likely be cheaper, because their stylists are still in training.^{[7]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Trying Home Remedies

1
Mix powdered vitamin C into shampoo to leach color from your hair. Crush 12 vitamin C pills into a fine powder and stir the powder into as much shampoo as you usually need to cover your hair. Massage the vitamin C shampoo into your hair and leave it in for 30 minutes. Then, rinse it out of your hair and apply a conditioner.^{[8]
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- Vitamin C will make the hair cuticles expand, making it easier to lighten your hair dye.
- If you have dark hair, mix vitamin C with a clarifying shampoo, which will be more effective in returning you to your original shade.
- Shampoo and rinse your hair several times to fully remove the dye.
2
Wash your hair with anti-dandruff shampoo for a commercial option. Purchase an anti-dandruff shampoo that lists selenium sulfide as an active ingredient. (These shampoos can be found online, or at your local beauty store or pharmacy.) Get your hair wet and rub the shampoo through your hair so it's totally covered. Then, rinse out the shampoo using hot water.^{[9]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- The selenium sulfide will penetrate your hair for deep cleaning and gradually cause the dye to fade away.
- Condition your hair several times to successfully remove all of the dye that's in your hair.
- Anti-dandruff shampoos can damage your hair if you don't condition after using them.
- Consider adding about ¼ cup of honey and a dash of ground cinnamon when you condition. This will expedite the hair-lightening process.
3
Use dish soap to gradually wash away the hair dye. Choose a mild, natural dish soap and massage the detergent into your wet hair just as you would normal shampoo. Then, rinse it out with hot water, which will help loosen the dye from your hair.^{[10]
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- You may need to do this several times or throughout the week to completely remove the dye from your hair, especially if your natural hair color is darker.
4
Apply a baking soda paste to your hair to strip the color from your hair. Pour equal parts baking soda and clarifying shampoo into a small bowl until it’s about half full. Then, stir until you’ve achieved a putty-like consistency. Massage the putty-like paste through your hair until it's completely coated. Let the paste sit in your hair for 5 to 10 minutes before you rinse it off. Follow up with a conditioner to prevent the baking soda from drying out your hair.^{[11]
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- Since baking soda is a mildly abrasive cleansing agent, it's a good natural choice to strip your hair.
- Use the hottest water you can handle since this will help the color wash out of your hair.
- You may need to apply a baking soda paste several times before the color washes out.
5
Soak your hair in lemon juice for 1 hour to gradually lighten your hair. Lemon juice is highly acidic and will remove some of the permanent dye from your hair. Squeeze enough lemon juice onto your hair to completely soak it. Then, leave the juice in for 1 hour before you scrub it out with hot water and [moisturizing conditioner.^{[12]
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- For a gentler hair-stripping treatment, use white or apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice to prevent altering the pH balance of your scalp. While lemon juice’s antioxidants are nourishing for most hair types, those with sensitive skin may find some redness afterward.^{[13]
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- You’ll probably have to do this several times to notice a major difference in the color of your hair.
- You may need to condition your hair a few times after each lemon juice soak, as lemon juice’s high acidity can dry your hair out.
- Consider wearing a shower cap while letting the lemon juice soak to prevent it from leaking down your head.

Community Q&A

Question

I've mixed my hair color remover with water (like the directions said). Why is it coming out thick and gel-like?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Every hair color remover is different. Some may not be as thin as others. As long as you follow the directions carefully, your remover's consistency should work.
Question

How do I get hair dye off of permed hair?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Talk to a stylist about removing your perm first. Then, use one of the suggested methods for stripping hair color.
Question

Will I lose hair if I use the lemon method?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

No. Using lemon juice to lighten your hair should not cause any significant hair loss.

Warnings

If your hair dye is truly permanent, it may not be possible to remove it, even using these methods.

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Because you're dealing with chemicals, work in a well-ventilated room. Keep a fan on and all nearby windows open.

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