Q&A for How to Remove Dye from Hair

Bleach doesn't add color to your hair, it removes color from your hair. It cannot be undone, but it can be dyed over.

Depending on the type of dye that was used, baking soda can help remove dye. It works best on semi and demi-permanent colors.

This sounds like you want to return to your natural hair color, which is white. Since the color has been on your hair for a while, the crushed vitamin c technique may not work for you. You should try the other three techniques that are outlined in the article above.

Permanent hair color works two ways: it deposits new pigment molecules and it breaks down existing molecules. You can dye your hair back to a color resembling your natural, but once you have dyed your hair, you cannot reverse the process.

It sounds like it hasn't been that many days since you've dyed your hair black. I would suggest trying the crushed vitamin c technique, since your hair is dyed a dark color. You should began to see the color fading right away.

There could be lots of reasons: the type of dye in your hair, the intensity of the pigment, your hair's porosity, etc. That method is pretty mild. If it didn't work for you, try another option.

Think “fading” rather than “stripping” of the hair dye color; rather than completely removing or stripping the hair dye, clarifying shampoo tends to fade hair to a few shades lighter than the original dye. It does require quite a few washes with clarifying shampoo to achieve a noticeable change, and this repeated use can remove your natural hair oils too, so you’ll need to use a hair moisturizing mask or similar product, to restore moisture to your hair.

Plain white vinegar, when used as a mixture of equal parts vinegar and warm water, will help to remove hair dye. Pour this mixture over all of the dyed hair, saturating it completely. Pop a shower cap over it and leave for 15 to 20 minutes, then shampoo it and rinse out. Repeat if needed, it won’t hurt your hair.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is only slightly acidic; as such, it is not that effective when used in a vinegar rinse to remove hair color. It is better to use white vinegar for such a rinse, as it is much more acidic and will be more likely to strip the hair dye.

There are various possibilities for removing black hair dye from your skin. First, react quickly, as the sooner it’s removed, the easier it will be to remove. Read the instructions accompanying your particular dye, as they may give a specific process that will work best for that dye. If not, various household items might help, including hairspray, vinegar, toothpaste, baby oil, etc. Since each method for removing dye from skin has its own application amounts and process, it’s recommended that you read: How to Remove Hair Dye from Skin for thorough advice.

Add a half cup of baking soda into the shampoo until it makes a paste. Apply it to your hair generously and work it through for 4-5 minutes, then rinse your hair.

Speaking from personal experience, I've found that red hair dye is a huge pain to get out. Even about a year or so later, mine still has a light pink stain from where the dye was applied. You're probably going to have to dye your hair back to its natural color.

Yes. The oil treatment will actually help your hair and it's health.

Colors with reds in them tend to fade faster anyway, but the easiest way to make it not last long is to either use temporary spray hair dye, or use a semi permanent (a dye that doesn't use developer) dye like Manic Panic or Ion, and wash your hair with hot water instead of cold. Since you're going for something that fades fast, don't use Pravana as that stuff lasts forever.

I would wait a day or two and deep condition after using the baking soda. Your hair will be very dry and stripped of natural protective oils and bleaching afterwards can be more harmful.

Yes, the images show Dawn and Palmolive just to give you some ideas of what to get. Be sure to condition thought. Also, if you wash your hair in the shower and not just in a basin, make sure you moisturize, it can be drying for your skin too.

Yes. I use olive oil on a regular basis. It should be the good virgin olive oil, thoughl. It's great!

Use a toner that gets out green tints (possibly found at Sally's beauty supply).

Try using Dawn dish detergent to get rid of the color. You may want to add a repairing shampoo or conditioner to it because it does dry out your hair quickly.

Using a strong color remover may help. Color removers do not contain bleach; all they do is shrink the color molecules so they can be washed out.

Try to use a hard water shampoo or treatment. It will help to take out the brassy tones that build up from the mineral build up. You may find our article on How to Correct Poorly Dyed Blonde Hair helpful.

If you want to strip your hair colour, it will not work, but if you want a less vibrant colour, lemon juice and salt could work. Remember to let the mixture sit for a while before you wash it off.

I don't think it'll work on old box dyed hair, but it doesn't hurt to try it out. Don't use the shampoo/baking soda method too often.

Add some highlights to hide the gray instead of bleaching your hair. You could also tone your highlights to an ash blonde or platinum color that would pick up the gray better.

Wash your hair frequently and use lots of shampoo to remove the color. It may take time, depending on the type of dye you used, but frequent washing will help remove the color.

Using an extra strong color remover is the best way to remove black hair dye without significantly damaging your hair. However, you can also use a color stripper. Use bleach as a last resort.

You could still follow any of these methods. It would just take a bit longer than usual to get the same effect, so you would have to repeat it often.

I don't see why they wouldn't.

Any vegetable-based oil should work equally well.

No. If it is permanent, the only way to make it fade slightly is to wait until your hair grows back in your normal color, first.