When it comes to hair dye, there are two main types: temporary and permanent. Permanent hair dye is more difficult to remove than temporary hair dye. Is permanent hair dye really ‘permanent’? And what if you want to get rid of the dye?
In this article, we will discuss how to remove permanent hair dye from the hair using two gentle at-home methods, plus the professional route. We will also provide a few tips on how to avoid damaging your hair while trying to remove permanent hair dye.
How Does Permanent Hair Dye Work?
Permanent hair dye is a chemical-based product that penetrates the cortex of your hair, altering its molecular structure. The change in the molecular structure of the hair makes it more difficult to completely remove than semi-permanent hair dyes.
How to Remove Permanent Hair Dye from Hair
Understanding how permanent hair dye affects your hair and makes it difficult to get out is one thing. The next thing you want to know is how to remove permanent hair dye from your hair when required.
Method 1: Clarifying or Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Clarifying shampoo and anti-dandruff shampoo will help fade hair color. Used consistently over several washes, they can fade the dye noticeably without as much damage as you might experience when using bleach.
Work a generous amount of clarifying or anti-dandruff shampoo through wet hair, starting from the scalp and working to the ends. Leave it on dyed hair for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it off with water.
If you’re dealing with tough cases, such as dye over gray hair, you can try it again for several days until you remove all the dye from your natural color.
It’s a good idea to use a conditioner after each application. The conditioner will help prevent brittle hair as you watch the hair dye gradually fade.
This method can damage your hair, so it is important to use it with caution.
Method 2: Hot Oil
If you have olive oil in your pantry, you’re in luck because it’s a natural method for removing permanent hair dye.
Extra virgin olive oil works best, but pure virgin olive oil or refined olive oil will also do. You’ll also need a shower cap or plastic wrap for this method.
First, rinse your hair in lukewarm or hot water to open the hair cuticle. Pour a half cup of olive oil into a bowl and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
If it’s really hot when done, let it cool before moving on to the next step because you don’t want scalding hot oil on your head.
When the olive oil is cool enough, drizzle it over your head beginning at the scalp. Use your fingers to work the oil through your hair, especially the underside.
When your hair is coated, cover it with the shower cap or wrap plastic wrap around your head to seal the oil in. If it drips out, you can wrap a towel around your head too.
Leave your hair wrapped for at least 30 minutes before rinsing out with lukewarm water or a clarifying shampoo. Use this method once a week to start removing hair dye.
Will Developer Remove Hair Dye?
Short answer: not by itself. Developer is the activator in a color or bleach mix; applied alone it lifts very little and mostly dries the hair out. When people say developer removed their dye, they almost always mean a soap cap, also called a bleach bath: bleach powder, developer, and shampoo diluted together.
A soap cap is real chemistry. It is gentler than full-strength bleach but still a lightener, and the difference between a soft all-over fade and patchy damage comes down to judgment about strength, timing, and hair condition. That is why it belongs in the salon-request category rather than the kitchen-recipe category; if you want to understand the technique itself, our bleach bath guide explains how it works and where it goes wrong.
Either way, start with the gentle methods above first. Faded dye needs far less chemistry than fresh dye, and every gentle round lowers what the stronger option has to lift later.
Methods That Can Damage Your Hair and Scalp
As you learn how to remove permanent hair dye from your hair, you should know that some color removers can cause damage to your hair and scalp.
- Bleach – Bleach, ammonia, and peroxide are all harsh chemicals that are bad for the hair. They can lead to hair breakage, make it more susceptible to damage, and dry it out. It’s also easy to overestimate how much you put in your hair, so leave the bleach to the professionals.
- Chlorine – Chlorine sucks out all your hair’s natural oils, which is why it’s best to keep your hair out of pool water when you can. Chlorine will completely dry out your hair, cause split ends and negative chemical reactions, and weaken your hair.
- Hand Sanitizer – Since hand sanitizer contains alcohol, your hair will only end up super dry and brittle if you attempt to use it as a permanent hair dye remover. It may also irritate your scalp and leave it dry and flaky.
Professional Treatment To Remove Permanent Hair Dye
If you don’t have experience in removing permanent hair dye or want to save time and have peace of mind, visit a professional hair colorist to get the permanent hair dye safely removed.
Depending on your hair length, hair color removal can cost $70 – $200.
The colorist will use bleach or an ammonia-free process to remove the hair dye. You will most likely need a professional when dealing with very long hair, gray hair, or hair recently dyed.
Removing permanent hair dye can be a tricky process, so unless you feel completely comfortable doing the job yourself, knowing it will take longer and might not even come out right, go see a professional.
Summary
- Permanent hair dye alters the hair’s molecular structure, making it harder to remove than semi-permanent dyes.
- Clarifying or anti-dandruff shampoo, used over several washes, fades dye gradually with the least damage.
- Treating the hair with hot oil, such as olive oil, can also remove hair dye. Apply heated oil to the hair and leave it for 30 minutes before rinsing.
- Avoid using bleach, chlorine, or hand sanitizer to remove dye as they can damage the hair and scalp.
- Professional treatment can safely remove hair dye, with costs ranging from $70 – $200, depending on the hair length and color.
There are many methods out there for removing permanent hair dye, and it can be challenging to discern which one is safe, affordable, and effective.
If you do decide to DIY, steer clear of bleach and the other harsh methods listed above. Keep to the gentler options covered here and be patient. If you aren’t seeing the results you’d hoped for within a week or two, it might be time to call in the pros. Either way, you have options!
