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Get hair dye off your skin with these safe and easy tricks
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You’ve just finished dyeing your hair, and it looks fantastic! But there’s one problem: your hands are covered in dye. If you act quickly, hair dye is easy to wash off with soap and water, but what if the stain has set into your skin and nails? There are several ways to lift hair dye off your skin with household items, but some can be harsher than others. Take a look at the list of methods below to see which will work best for you. With our help, you can have your hands looking back to normal in no time!
Best Ways to Get Hair Rinse Off Your Hands
- Rub makeup remover on your hands or wipe them with makeup-removing wipes.
- Massage baby oil, olive oil, or petroleum jelly into your skin.
- Wash your hands with dish soap and baking soda.
- Spray your hands with hairspray.
Steps
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Squeeze non-gel toothpaste into your hands and scrub. Toothpaste has abrasive agents that scrub your teeth, and these can also exfoliate your skin. Removing the dead, dyed skin cells of your hands reveals the new skin underneath, which may not be stained. [1] X Research source- Scrub your hands for about 30 seconds, then rinse with warm water.
- If your hands are still stained, try scrubbing again and adding a pinch of baking soda.
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Apply baby oil , olive oil , or petroleum jelly and allow it to sit overnight. This is an especially helpful method if you have sensitive skin. The oils slowly dissolve and break down the dye while simultaneously softening and conditioning your skin. [2] X Research source
- Rub the oil over your hands using a cotton ball or a damp washcloth.
- The oil may ruin your sheets if you touch them while you sleep, so wear gloves or clean socks on your hands to bed.
- Use a cotton ball to remove excess oil in the morning and scrub with warm water.
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Wash your hands with a combination of dish soap and baking soda. The dish soap can help break up the dye while the baking soda exfoliates your skin. Rinse with warm water. The baking soda will start to bubble, and that’s okay! This can actually help lift the stain from your skin. [3] X Research source
- Look for a dish soap that is gentle on your hands and won't dry them out.
- If your hands feel dry after trying this method, soften them with lotion or moisturizer.
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Rub makeup remover on your hands. Because it’s formulated for use on your face, makeup remover is usually gentle on the skin. If the stain hasn't penetrated too deeply, makeup remover can help dissolve the dye and lift the pigment. [4] X Research source
- Pour the makeup remover onto a washcloth or cotton ball and rub the stain. Wait for at least five minutes before rinsing.
- You can also use makeup-removing wipes . The fibers of the wipe can help exfoliate dead skin while lifting the stain.
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Try a professional dye remover. If you want to skip the home remedies and do like the professionals, visit a beauty supply store and purchase a hair dye remover that’s safe to use on the skin. These products can be found in the form of a solution or wipe. -
Act quickly after hair dye gets on your hands. The dye will take a few minutes to pigment your skin. Even if the dye has begun to set, the sooner you treat it, the easier it will be to remove.- Your skin is made up of layers, and as the dye seeps into your skin, it will dye it layer by layer. If you allow the dye to sit on your hands, it will be able to dye more layers of your skin and deeper layers of your skin.
- If the dye stains the deep layers of your skin, it will likely take harsh measures to remove, which may damage your skin.
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Spray hairspray on your hands. The hairspray may be able to break the bonds between the dye and your skin, helping the color wash away. [5] X Research source
- Spraying the hairspray onto a cotton ball and then rubbing it on your hands may increase the effectiveness of this treatment. Rubbing the hairspray in may help it penetrate deeper, and the fibers of the cotton ball may help loosen dead skin cells.
- Use warm water to rinse the hairspray off your hands.
- Keep in mind that the alcohol in the hairspray may dry out your skin so use lotion or moisturizer after trying this method.
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Mix laundry detergent and baking soda and rub it into the stain. Detergent may irritate your skin, but it can work quickly and effectively to break down dye. [6] X Research source The baking soda adds an abrasive element, which exfoliates and removes dyed dead skin cells. Here’s what you can do:
- Use the detergent and baking soda in a 1:1 ratio. For instance, if you use 1 spoonful of detergent, use 1 spoonful of baking soda.
- Rub the mixture into your skin for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Rinse with warm water.
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Make a paste from cigarette ashes and warm water. As strange as it sounds, this is an old home remedy that’s believed to work wonders. Just be aware that this treatment is not scientifically proven and may damage your skin. [7] X Research source
- Mix cold cigarette ashes and warm water in a small bowl, then use a cotton ball to dab it onto your stained skin.
- Wait 15 minutes.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
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Use nail polish remover if all else fails. The acetone solvent in nail polish remover can redissolve the dye, and once in its liquid state, the dye can be washed away. Nail polish remover is, however, very harsh on your skin and may cause dryness and other damage. [8] X Research source If you try this method, follow these steps with caution:
- Dip a cotton ball in nail polish remover and gently rub it over the stained skin.
- If you experience a burning sensation, stop immediately and rinse your hands with warm water.
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Soak a cotton ball with nail polish remover. Apply the saturated cotton ball to your nails immediately after you get the dye off the skin. Rub the cotton ball on your nails and the dye should start to come off on the cotton ball. [9] X Research source
- Nail beds are mostly dead skin cells that absorb dye easily. It may be very difficult to lift the dye without actually removing the dead cells.
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Use a nail brush or toothbrush to get under your nails. If you're having trouble cleaning the skin under your nails, use a clean toothbrush or a nail brush to scrub underneath. [10] X Research source
- Try soaking the brush in soap and water to wash away any dye that is under your nails.
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Paint your nails if you can't remove the dye. If you've tried everything and your nails are still discolored, your best bet is to cover them with a fun nail polish. Be fashionable and disguise the stain at the same time!
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I get really stubborn dye off?Janet Miranda is a Professional Hair Stylist, Makeup Artist, and the Founder of Be.NYLA. With over 15 years of experience, Janet specializes in makeup and hair for advertising, commercial, editorial, runway, special events, television, and videos. She was trained at Vidal Sassoon Academy and with top hair and makeup artists including MAC Cosmetics and Redken. Janet has worked five seasons of New York Fashion Week and one season on Project Runway. She continues to add brands to her growing client list including Armani Exchange, Neutrogena, and Pantene. Janet’s work has been featured on CBS, Brides Magazine, 100 Layer Cake, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Ireland Image Brides Magazine, and Elle Japan.Normally it's best to avoid anything with alcohol in it, but it really does help if the dye on your skin is stubborn and won't come off.
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QuestionI tried everything to get blue hair dye off my hands and nothing is working. I look like a Smurf. What can I use to remove it?I like sushiTop AnswererPumice stones help if you exfoliate your hands with them very lightly to avoid doing damage to the actual skin.
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QuestionWhat if nail polish remover and olive oil don't work?HlingafelterCommunity AnswerTry vinegar. Also, they may sell wipes in the hair dye section of your local store that can remove dye from your hands.
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Tips
- Professional hair stylist Janey Miranda recommends wearing gloves when using hair dye, so you don't stain your hands. [11] X Expert Source Janet Miranda
Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist Expert Interview. 11 February 2021.Thanks - Coat your hands and skin around your face with a layer of petroleum jelly if you know they will come in contact with hair dye. This serves as a barrier and can help prevent dye stains.Thanks
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Warnings
- Using a washcloth to remove the dye will likely ruin the washcloth, so try to use a rag or washcloth you don’t mind getting ruined.Thanks
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References
- ↑ http://www.totalbeauty.com/editors_blogs/how-to-get-hair-dye-off-skin
- ↑ http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/advice/a4503/how-to-remove-hair-dye/
- ↑ http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/advice/a4503/how-to-remove-hair-dye/
- ↑ http://www.sheknows.com/beauty-and-style/articles/845883/how-to-remove-hair-color-from-skin
- ↑ http://www.sheknows.com/beauty-and-style/articles/845883/how-to-remove-hair-color-from-skin
- ↑ http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/advice/a4503/how-to-remove-hair-dye/
- ↑ http://www.sheknows.com/beauty-and-style/articles/845883/how-to-remove-hair-color-from-skin
- ↑ http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-nail-polish-remover
- ↑ https://orlybeauty.com/blogs/news/how-to-remove-hair-dye-from-nail-polish
- ↑ https://orlybeauty.com/blogs/news/how-to-remove-hair-dye-from-nail-polish
- ↑ Janet Miranda. Professional Hair Stylist & Makeup Artist. Expert Interview. 11 February 2021.
About This Article
Article Summary
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To get hair dye off your hands, try washing them with soapy water and some baking soda. The baking soda will exfoliate your hands and scrub the dye off. You can also try rubbing alcohol. Pour rubbing alcohol onto a cotton pad, and dab the pad over the hair dye on your hands until it comes off. Another option you can try is non-gel toothpaste. Squirt some of the toothpaste into your hands and rub them together to get the dye off. Then, rinse off your hands. For really stubborn stains, try olive oil. Pour a little olive oil into your hands and rub them together until all of the oil has soaked in. Leave the olive oil on your hands for at least 1 hour, then rinse it off. To find out how to clean dye from your nails with nail polish remover and what to do with your cuticles, read on!
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