How to Safely Remove Hair Dye at Home

Facing a hair colouring mishap? Don’t panic, we can safely show you how to remove hair dye at home, without using any bleach. Whether you’re a hair colour devotee who wants to try a new shade, or you’ve just had a D.I.Y hair colour disaster, these four easy methods are all you need to help you naturally remove hair dye.

4 Ways to Remove Hair Dye From Hair

Ready to remove dye from your hair? Just try any of these methods, below. Keep in mind, they work best if you try them directly after dyeing your mane. If you’ve got semi or demi-permanent colour, these techniques will effectively help you remove dye from your hair.

These D.I.Y hair dye removal hacks are can be drying, so make sure to use moisturising and repairing hair products alongside anything else suggested to keep your mane in tip-top condition. Also, remember that this process is gradual and will not work immediately.

Method 1. Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Baking Soda

We recommend this dynamic duo for those who recently dyed their hair. The technique requires some baking soda and an anti-dandruff focused shampoo. Baking soda is a natural cleaning agent, which makes it the perfect product to use to remove hair dye without bleaching your strands.

A mixture of anti-dandruff shampoo and baking soda should be strong enough to help lift your hair dye, without drying out your strands. Use equal parts of both ingredients and leave the mixture on in the shower for about 5-7 minutes before rinsing it out.

Repeat this method for a few days or for as long as needed.

Method 2. Remove hair dye with a Clarifying Shampoo

The next tip to remove hair dye comes straight from Unilever In-House Stylist Bailey Pope. Bailey recommends using a clarifying shampoo to slowly wash off hair dye at home, although it can be a potentially “brassifying” process.

“I would recommend using clarifying shampoos to gradually lighten/remove colour. People usually don’t understand colour principles and will be surprised by “brassiness” when lightening/removing colour due to the natural undertones of each level of colour,” she says.

Editor’s tip: Looking for a cleansing shampoo to help you remove your hair colour? Try the TRESemmé Cleanse and Replenish Deep Cleansing Shampoo. Not only will it help refresh by removing impurities, but it will give your hair added body and a natural shine.

Method 3. Use Dish Soap and Shampoo

Another way you can remove hair dye? Try dish soap and shampoo. Warning: it can be a little drying to your strands. Take about 5 drops of dish soap and add it to a quarter-sized amount of your shampoo. Use this concoction for 2-3 days to slowly remove the hair dye and see some results.

If this is your method of choice, it’s important to use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner duo, like the Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner, with a repairing hair mask, like the TONI&GUY Damage Repair Mask.

Method 4. Vitamin C With Hot Water

Yes, you read that right! As well as helping boost your immune system, Vitamin C also has amazing hair stripping properties. All you need to do to remove hair dye, is add between 5-10 tablets (depending on your hair length) together in a bowl. Then, add hot water and crush with a spoon to make a thick paste.

Apply the paste to wet hair, then let it sit in your hair for 1 hour. Rinse out the paste thoroughly, then shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would.