How to Remove Permanent Hair Dye from Grey Hair

Co-authored by Karen Leight and Sophia Latorre

Last Updated: December 21, 2021 References

Permanent hair dye is great when you don’t want your color to fade, but becomes a bit of a pain when you want to get rid of it. The darker the dye is, and the fresher it is, the harder it will be to remove, and most color-removal strategies damage your hair. Your best option is to work with a professional hair stylist, as they’ll be able to remove the color with the least amount of damage to your hair. If you’re determined to try this at home, though, we’re here to help! Check out this list of DIY ways to ditch the dye and get back to gorgeous gray.

1

Shampoo

Choose a clarifying or anti-dandruff shampoo for this job. Shampoos with a lot of sulfates will do a better job of removing the color. Hop in the shower and wash your hair 3 or 4 times with a clarifying or anti-dandruff shampoo. Then, lather up your locks once more and let the shampoo sit for 15-20 minutes underneath a shower cap. Rinse it out and replenish some moisture with a deep-conditioning treatment.^{[1]
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- Use hot water, as it opens up the hair cuticle and will allow more color to be removed.^{[2]
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2

Baking Soda and Shampoo

Try this if you’ve recently colored your hair. Baking soda will be more effective if your hair color is relatively new. Mix equal parts baking soda and anti-dandruff shampoo. Get your hair wet, work the mixture in to evenly coat each strand, and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse out the shampoo and repeat daily as needed.^{[3]
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- Follow up with conditioner, as your hair is likely to be pretty dry after trying this.
- The abrasiveness of the baking soda helps scrub out the color.

3

Dish Soap

Use this option for 2 or 3 days to fade out the dye. Regular dish soap is full of detergents that will help strip the dye from your hair. The sooner you try this after coloring your hair, the better! Just use dish soap in place of shampoo. Be sure to moisturize your hair after.^{[4]
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4

Vitamin C

Even the experts try this hack. Vitamin C powder can lift the color from your tresses.^{[5]
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5

Hot Oil

This works best on purple, red, and similar colors. Warm up ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of olive oil in the microwave for 30 seconds or so—don’t get it so hot that it will burn you. Fully saturate your hair with warm water, then work the olive oil through your hair, making sure it coats each strand. Stuff your slick tresses into a shower cap and let the oil work its magic for half an hour. Then, wash your hair with warm water and a thickening shampoo to open up the cuticle and help remove more color. Finish with conditioner as usual.^{[7]
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- As a bonus, this option moisturizes your hair!

6

Vinegar

Use white vinegar rather than another variety. The acid in the vinegar helps loosen the dye molecules, removing it from your hair strands. Simply mix together vinegar and water and saturate your hair with it. Let the mixture soak in for 15-20 minutes under a shower cap, then wash it out.^{[8]
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7

Lemon Juice

Give this a go if you bleached your hair, then applied color. The citric acid in lemon juice can help lighten your hair dye. Just wet your hair and coat it in lemon juice. Slip on a shower cap and wait 20-30 minutes before rinsing your hair with lukewarm water. Deep condition when you’re done!^{[9]
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8

Hydrogen Peroxide

This is a good option if the dye is really dark. Mix together equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water. Fully and evenly saturate all of your colored hair with the mixture (you could use a spray bottle so long as you apply the liquid evenly). Wait about a half hour, then rinse the hydrogen peroxide out thoroughly.^{[10]
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- Hydrogen peroxide opens the hair cuticle, so you’ve got to make sure you close it when you’re done or your hair can get really damaged. Rinse with cold water and apply conditioner or apple cider vinegar to close up the cuticles.^{[11]
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9

Color Stripper

If your hair is healthy and a natural shade, try a commercial color stripper. Follow the directions on the package to mix the chemicals together, then immediately apply the mixture to clean hair using gloved hands or a hair color brush. Make sure each strand is evenly coated, then cover your hair with a shower cap. Wrap the cap in a towel or aim a hairdryer at your strands to keep them warm and accelerate the process. After 20 minutes, rinse your hair with warm water and shampoo it. Rinse and repeat the washing process a couple of times to get rid of as much color as possible. Finish with a deep conditioner.^{[12]
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- Unfortunately, this usually doesn't work on neon colors like blue, purple, green, or pink. However, it’s pretty effective for natural colors.
- Look for a color stripper with nourishing ingredients, like natural oils, keratin, aloe vera, or soy protein.^{[13]
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10

Pro Treatment

Make an appointment with a stylist who specializes in hair color.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Karen Leight
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 13 November 2020.} DIY color-removal methods are risky, and often end up damaging your hair. A pro will be able to use the best technique for your hair color, texture, and type.^{[15]
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11

Hair Cut

If all else fails, chop off your colored hair.^{[16]
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Expert Source

Karen Leight
Professional Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 13 November 2020.} From sleek bobs to stylish pixie cuts, there are short haircuts that flatter all features. The easiest way to get rid of permanent hair dye is to cut if off and let your gray grow in naturally.^{[17]
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- Color-treated hair tends to be more damaged anyway, so as a bonus, you’ll end up with healthier hair.

Warnings

DIY color removers can damage your hair and/or leave it an unappealing shade. Try these options at your own risk!

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Using developer or a bleach bath to remove the dye can fry your hair. Don’t try it at home!

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