DIY: How to Remove Hair Color at Home?

By Upasana KakatiOct 18, 2023 4 min read

How to strip color from hair without running to the salon

Use a clarifying shampoo

Vitamin-C treatment

Dishwashing liquid

Baking soda

Rinsing hair with vinegar

Sulfur-based dye stripping products

References

Coloring your hair in fresh hues is exciting and gets you makeover ready. Trying a new shade every changing season is always tempting. Whether you got yourself a salon-fresh professional permanent or at-home semi-permanent hair color, it’s not uncommon to get bored of it.

Overwhelmed with taking care of the color-treated hair and looking for the perfect hair color remover?

We have good news for you, which doesn’t involve rushing for a salon appointment. If you want to remove the existing color and reclaim the natural shade, do it the DIY way at home without damaging your hair. The bucket full of home-made solutions might be tricky, but it has delivered results

Also Read - A Guide to Semi Permanent hair Color

How to strip color from hair without running to the salon

Use a clarifying shampoo

Before coloring hair or opting for a chemical treatment, a thorough wash with clarifying shampoo helps deep cleanse scalp and hair. The product is specially formulated to eliminate traces of dirt, dust, grease, and product buildup. The shampoo doesn’t dramatically affect the permanent hair color , but it is effective in gently fading semi-permanent color. Always use a deep conditioning mask after the clarifying shampoo to strip hair color and prevent hair strands from drying.

Vitamin-C treatment

Owing to the strong antioxidant properties of Vitamin C, it helps with the gradual fading of hair color. If you are figuring out how to remove color from hair , consider using a Vitamin-C mask. Due to its rich antioxidant content, it oxidizes the pigment or dye and loosens it from the hair. Mix powdered packets or crush vitamin-C pills with hot water, and apply the paste to your hair. Keep it on for 45 minutes before washing off.

Dishwashing liquid

It is probably the most bizarre thing you must have heard - using dishwasher liquid on your hair, what? People have used dishwashing detergent as hair color remover, and it does work to an extent. However, it is not suitable for frequent use as it tends to damage and dry out hair. The presence of strong cleaning agents in the dishwasher strips off the dye, the moisture and, natural oil. Ensure to rinse off your hair properly to remove any traces of harsh liquid.

Baking soda

The bleaching or oxidizing effect of baking soda makes it one of the candidates for stripping hair color. Baking soda is alkaline, and with its ability to penetrate the cortex of hair, it helps with the removal of hair dye. Mix two tablespoons of baking soda with half a cup of water and apply the same to wet hair. Use the mixture from roots to tips and leave it on for 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing off. Followed by using a hydrating and moisturizing conditioner to prevent dryness.

Note: It is more effective for removing semi-permanent hair color than permanent hair dyes

Rinsing hair with vinegar

Vinegar is often considered an alternative to clarifying shampoo as it deep cleanses the scalp, hair, and prevents infection. Its acidic nature helps with fading or stripping hair color while leaving it silky smooth. It’s a great alternative to chemical products as it helps restore pH balance. The color or shades become less vibrant as they break down the bond between color molecules and the hair shaft. Mix one part vinegar with two parts of water, apply it after shampooing your hair, and rinse it with cold or lukewarm water.

Sulfur-based dye stripping products

These can reverse a badly done hair color job, but it is quite drying to the hair. The hair color remover consists of a sulfur-based chemical process that helps remove the permanent hair color. The product application breaks down the bond between the hair color and the hair shaft, shrinking the hair color molecules. Rinsing hair with water helps in removing the hair dye. It is less damaging than bleach as it does not contain oxidizing agents.

The hair color remover comes with its set of drawbacks. While using at home, reading the usage instructions and following the directions is important. Here’s what you need to know before using the product at home:

The chemicals in the color remover lift the hair cuticles, resulting in drying and damage to the strands. Thorough rinsing is necessary to prevent hair breakage and weakening of the hair shaft.
It removes the hair color but also makes your hair unruly. Stripping dye from hair needs to be compensated with a nourishing hair mask and conditioner.
Before using the color remover, a patch test is recommended to avoid potential allergic reactions.

Botched hair color can be reversed, if not completely fixed, using the right products picked straight from the kitchen. DIY color stripping is easier for semi-permanent hair colors but not effective for permanent ones. Now that you know how to remove hair dye at home , try these tricks, but don’t forget to deep condition the strands.