We’ve all been there, haven’t we? We’ve all faced wash 12 of 24 (sometimes in a single day, let’s be honest), of a semi-permanent hair dye and stood there staring at our regrets in the mirror. It’s still there and it’s not going away. Pastel rainbow hues seem like a good idea for a weekend at a festival, but come that Monday morning Zoom call, perhaps not.
Semi-permanent colour change is all about experimentation; sometimes those experiments work, sometimes they JUST DON’T – and should never be spoken of again, for that matter. Unfortunately, reality tends to strike fairly swiftly after turning to a bottle of sem-permanent hair dye and if said experiment failed, well, it’s a couple of weeks of hats, scarfs or just not leaving the house whatsoever. Lockdown was a good time for experimenting with hair dye, but with an open world again, you need quick solutions to remove semi permanent hair dye when disaster strikes (for example trying to get hair dye off our skin).
So, if you’re reading this with your hair in a bun, hidden under a beanie hat – maybe the curtains are drawn too – fret not; we’ve got you. There are speedy, nifty and affordable ways to remove semi-permanent hair dye from our regretful heads – and they work.
So scroll through these permanent solutions, then open the curtains and go outside; you’ll be back to you in no time. But first things first…
We know it’s all too easy to Google quick-fix solutions, but when dealing with hair dyes and protecting your hair (especially permanent hair colours), it’s always best to reach out to a professional, and by that we mean your regular colourist or salon. They’re the real hair wizards, so if you’re looking for a magical fix, they’ll have the spell. It’s also good to remember one thing when it comes to hair issues: be patient. Be sensible and patient with your hair and you’ll be back together in not time.
With that being said, there are some DIY tried and tested solutions for reversing semi-permanent hair dye disasters. If you can’t consult a professional for whatever reason, give these removal tricks a try:
Wash your hair… a lot
A tried and tested solution to this hardly mic drop moment – it’s washing your hair a lot. But make sure you’re washing it right, and by that we mean use a decent, strong shampoo, followed by a deep conditioner to compensate. Ensure the water is nice and hot (hot, not boiling), too; this will speed up the de-colouring process, as hot water will force your hair follicles to open and the colour to be stripped out.
Wash your hair with baking soda and warm water
Some people think this is a bit of colourist’s old wives' tale, but it can actually work if done correctly. This natural remedy is a scrubbing agent, so washing your coloured hair with it can gradually strip the dye and even restore shine. Two tablespoons of baking soda and warm water should make a difference. Just be sure you’re using baking soda, not baking powder – they’re very different things.
Use vitamin C and warm water
Sadly, popping a Barocca won’t instantly dissolve that colour from your head, but Vitamin C could be the key to turning back the clock, and it’s very safe for your hair and scalp. Crushed Vitamin C can lift out colour from hair that has gone a little dark or to remove colour build-up. Try crushing up Vitamin C into a fine powder and mix it in with n anti-dandruff shampoo. Apply the paste to your hair, let it set, then rinse and repeat.
Wash your hair with warm water and plain white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
White vinegar and apple cider vinegar works in a similar fashion to baking soda. The acidity of the vinegar will help to remove unwanted dye, but it’s unlikely to remove it completely. AVOID this option if you’re trying to remove a red hair dye.
Deep dive into YouTube
There are probably more ‘how to remove semi-permanent hair dye’ videos than there people suffering with a bad DIY dye job right now. So don’t be afraid to have a browse on there for some step-by-step videos, particularly if you're facing a very specific colour battle. Be sure to go for the ones that have plenty of views and positive reviews in the comments. Lots of these videos try the products we mentioned above, so if you’re in need of some reassurance, YouTube is a good visual option.