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How To Remove Permanent Hair Dye With Baking Soda

Have you recently dyed your hair with permanent hair dye but realized you dislike the color? No need to fret – you can remove permanent hair dye with baking soda.

Yes, permanent hair dye is designed to make your hair dye last for a long time. However, baking soda can significantly strip the color of your hair. Below, we’ve listed nine ways to use baking soda to remove permanent hair dye.

Does Baking Soda Remove Permanent and Semi-Permanent Hair Dye?

Yes, baking soda can fade permanent and semi-permanent hair dye due to its lightening properties. It acts like a mild bleaching agent but is generally safe for use on hair and skin.

How To Remove Permanent Hair Dye With Baking Soda

In addition to baking soda, several different complementing substances can help increase the effectiveness of this permanent hair dye removal option. Below are nine different ways to remove permanent hair dye from baking soda.

The below measurements are minimum amounts. Depending on your hair length and thickness, you may need to double the measurements to create enough paste to saturate your hair thoroughly.

The goal for the paste is a medium-thick consistency that isn’t too thick or too watery. For example, you need to apply the mixture to your hair evenly without it dripping off.

Follow this process for all the baking soda mixtures unless otherwise specified.

  • Once you finish making the paste, massage it into your hair, ensuring it saturates your hair evenly.
  • Leave each baking soda mixture on your hair for 15 minutes for lighter hair color and 30 minutes for darker hair color.
  • Once the recommended time is up, rinse the mixture with a shampoo for dry hair.

1. Baking Soda + Water

How To Remove Permanent Hair Dye With Baking Soda and Water

The first way to use baking soda to remove permanent hair dye is also the most straightforward method. It consists of a mixture of baking soda and water. For this method, mix one tablespoon of baking soda and one teaspoon of water into a paste.

2. Baking Soda + Lemon Juice

Thanks to the Vitamin C and citric acid in lemon juice, it can help quicken the process of removing hair dye.

For this method, use the baking soda and water mixture method; then, after rinsing out the paste, apply two ounces of lemon juice to your hair. Then allow your hair to remain in direct contact with the sun for at least an hour and rinse out the lemon juice. At the end, apply a moisturizing leave-in conditioner.

3. Baking Soda + Honey

How To Remove Permanent Hair Dye With Baking Soda and Honey

Honey is a natural lightening agent and includes the added benefit of conditioning your hair. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with one teaspoon of honey and one-fourth teaspoon of water into a paste.

4. Baking Soda + Vitamin C

The fourth way to use baking soda to remove permanent hair dye is a mixture of baking soda and Vitamin C.

Vitamin C boasts numerous health benefits, one of which is its ability to brighten or lighten things; it’s a great addition to a baking soda mixture because it will help increase the lightening effect of baking soda.

Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with five crushed tablets of Vitamin C and one teaspoon of water into a paste.

5. Baking Soda + Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

How To Remove Permanent Hair Dye With Baking Soda and Shampoo

Anti-Dandruff shampoo is another great cleansing shampoo known for removing build-up, and because of this, it’s an excellent additive for removing permanent hair dye.

  1. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of anti-dandruff shampoo, creating a smooth mixture. This should take about 2 minutes.
  2. Wet your hair with hot water and then apply the baking soda and shampoo mixture to your hair.
  3. Allow the mixture to sit in your hair for about 20 minutes.
  4. Rinse the mixture out of your hair using warm water.
  5. Condition your hair thoroughly after rinsing.
  6. Do this for 3-4 consecutive days to help strip color from your hair effectively.

6. Baking Soda + Clarifying Shampoo

Clarifying shampoo is excellent at eliminating build-up and cleansing hair and is known to help fade hair dye from your hair. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with one tablespoon of clarifying shampoo into a paste.

7. Baking Soda + Apple Cider Vinegar

How To Remove Permanent Hair Dye With Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar

The seventh way to use baking soda to remove permanent hair dye is a mixture of baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is another great additive for a baking soda mixture because it acts like an excellent cleansing agent.

Vinegar is typically used in hair care routines to remove excessive build-up on the hair.

  1. Mix 2 tablespoons baking soda with ½ cup water.
  2. Wet hair and apply the baking soda mixture.
  3. Leave the mixture in hair for 10 minutes.
  4. Rinse hair with water.
  5. Prepare a final rinse by mixing 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 cup water, and 5 drops of preferred essential oil.
  6. Pour the vinegar mixture through the hair as a final rinse; do not rinse out afterward.
  7. Repeat for 3-4 consecutive days.
  8. Regularly oil and condition hair, and drink sufficient water.

8. Baking Soda + Dish Soap

Thanks to dish soap’s powerful cleaning ingredients, it can break down grease and strip away hair dye from your hair’s cuticles.

To remove permanent hair dye with baking soda and dish soap, do the following:

  1. Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda, 4 tablespoons of anti-dandruff shampoo, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap to form a smooth mixture. Preparation should take around 2 minutes.
  2. Apply this mixture to your dry hair until it’s completely saturated.
  3. Cover your hair with a shower cap or a plastic bag.
  4. Leave the mixture on your hair for about 20 minutes.
  5. Wash your hair thoroughly with warm water.
  6. Apply a good conditioner to your hair.

You can repeat this process for 2-3 consecutive days to fade the hair color effectively.

9. Baking Soda + White Vinegar

Remove Permanent Hair Dye With Baking Soda and White Vinegar

This method is slightly different from the rest. It uses baking soda and vinegar separately, creating a two-step process that progressively strips hair dye from your hair.

First, mix two parts baking soda to one part water, and massage the paste into your hair. After 15-30 minutes, rinse your hair with water.

Then, combine equal amounts of shampoo and white vinegar. Massage the mixture into your hair and wait 10 minutes before rinsing as usual.

These are the nine different methods for using baking soda to remove permanent hair dye. You can also use baking soda with a developer to remove or lighten your hair color.

So, if you’re dealing with a dye job gone wrong or a hair color that no longer makes you happy, you’re prepared to eliminate it with only a couple of needed ingredients effectively.

FAQs

How long to keep baking soda on hair to remove permanent dye?

On average, you can leave it on for 15 minutes for lighter hair color and 30 minutes for darker hair color.

Can baking soda burn my hair?

Yes. Regular use of baking soda can damage the hair and cause scalp and skin irritation. This irritation is possible because your skin’s ideal pH is between 4.7 and 5.75 (making it slightly acidic), while baking soda’s pH is 9.5.

So regular use will upset your skin’s ideal pH level and irritate it. This irritation is especially problematic if you have sensitive skin.

Can I put baking soda on dry hair?

Yes, you can put baking soda on dry hair. However, because baking soda can cause hair dryness, you should only use it on excessively oily hair.

Use it like a dry shampoo and apply a small amount from the roots to the ends of your hair, then work it through your strands, let it sit for a minute or two, then brush it out.