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There are many reasons people dye their hair at home. Maybe you want to cover your roots or greys because they’re starting to peek out again. Maybe this is your first box-dye and you want to ensure you’re prepared. Or maybe you’ve already started and noticed some dye past your hairline and want to get it out. Whichever situation you’re in, here’s how to get hair dye off skin – safe and easy.
How to Remove Hair Dye Off Skin, According to Experts
More Questions About Removing Hair Dye From the Skin
Yes, the dye will come off after a few days, but what happens if you have an event tonight or have a presentation on a big project tomorrow? You don’t have to cancel your plans and hide away. You can use these methods to get hair dye off sensitive areas like your neck and face.
Hair dye stains quickly, so it’s key to act fast. Thankfully, celebrity hairstylist and master barber Cody Renegar suggests using vinegar to remove the product from the skin. “Apply vinegar on a cotton ball and rub on the skin,” he recommends.
The acidity can help break down the product and free it from the skin. However, it’s best to patch test on a small area first since it can irritate people with sensitive skin. It can also smell, so remember to wash and moisturize afterward.
Maybe you already rinsed the dye bowl and noticed the stain after you had shampooed, and conditioned and wanted to look in the mirror to take a sneak peek at your new do. An oil-based product can help with removal— Renegar recommends baby oil and olive oil.
Baby oil not only protects your new dyed hair by making it less porous or water-absorbent, but it also works well in removing stains. It picks up the color when you rub it in without being abrasive or harsh on your skin. Use the baby oil on a cotton ball and rub it for a few seconds, then rinse. Alternatively, layer a thick coating of olive oil, rub it in, and leave for about five hours, then rinse.
Celebrity hairstylist Jamielynn “JJ” De Leon, who is also the New York Fashion Week hair director and Roge House Salon owner, says makeup remover wipes are on hand at all times. “When disaster strikes, we keep makeup remover wipes because the oil-based formula breaks down dye molecules without harsh scrubbing.”
You can also apply makeup remover solutions to the stain with a cotton ball and rub in circular motions until you see the stain lifting. If it promises to remove waterproof eyeliner and mascara, it can also lift the tint off your skin.
If you don’t have both wipes or solutions, use micellar water on your face or hand sanitizer for other parts of your skin instead. Use a cotton ball for precision and be gentle.
Another rigorous method for freeing the skin on your hand from dye stains is a mixture of dish soap and baking soda. “For stubborn marks, equal parts baking soda and gentle dish soap create the perfect lifting paste,” De Leon recommends.
The science behind it? The dish soap’s strong ingredients are effective enough to lift the color and the baking soda adds an exfoliation effect to lift dead skin cells stained with dye. Make a paste and rub the stained areas, then rinse well.
Toothpaste keeps cavities and coffee stains at bay, and it can do the same for hair dye. Grab a new toothbrush and your everyday toothpaste and get to scrubbing. Try this for a few minutes, with one or two rinses in between and you should see the stain lift in no time.
While you may be tempted to try the whitening toothpaste for its stain-removal properties, your best bet is to use regular toothpaste. The chemicals that make your teeth whiter might dry out your skin.
More dye? Yes. It seems counterproductive, but the fresh tint will lift the old tint with it when you rub it in. You can also try pinching the ends of your hair and using them to scrub your hairline to remove the stain. It will transfer to the strands and off your skin.
This trick works if you want to remove a stain before you wash your hair or immediately after you’ve washed it. All you do is apply a small amount of leftover dye to the stain, rub it, let it get frothy, and rub some more until the stain lifts. Wipe the extra dye away, then rinse and shampoo. Wearing gloves protects your hands, nails and fingers from unsightly stains.
In the hairdressing world, every hair colorist knows that dye removes dye. And now you do too!
Preventing dye stains is the best way to keep your skin clear while adding life to your hair. Talk with your hairstylist and make these requests:
You can also moisturize the night before and a few hours before applying the dye to your hair. It lessens the chances of dye sticking to your face and scalp.
If a large amount of hair dye got on the clothes, act fast and remove the excess by scraping it off. Preemptively soak the stain with a good amount of liquid detergent. You can also mix oxygen-based bleach and cool water to submerge the garment. Soak it for about eight hours to let the color bleed out before washing it as usual.
If the dye itself can withstand several hair showers, it can last as long as a week or more. If you’re going for trendy hair colors like midnight black or cowboy copper, exercise extra caution. Stains from colors like black and brown are more evident and stubborn. Even with scrubbing, it takes a lot before they’re entirely gone.
All the ways you can remove hair dye from your skin also work on your hands. If you’re doing your hair yourself, you can also practice wearing gloves throughout the process. Keep them on until you see the water run clear when you rinse the dye off. Wearing gloves protects your hands, nails, and fingers from unsightly stains.
Vaseline doesn’t break down the dye and lift it from your skin once it stains. It works better as a preventive barrier applied right before hair application. Be generous with the amount you put onto the scalp, ears and neck.
Dawn dish soap can help remove hair dye if mixed with baking soda. That said, hair stylists don’t recommend any specific brand, so you can use any gentle dish soap of your choice. Be gentle when applying and removing this space.
The most natural way to remove permanent hair dye is to use natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and the like. You can also let it naturally fade when you’re showering. Scrub the skin a little to accelerate the process.
Remember, always try the methods with the least amount of rubbing first. The stubborn stains might require more vigorous action like scrubbing, but gentle rubbing should work. Next time you Dye-IY, keep a teaspoon of the dye just in case you need to remove a stain quickly.
Originally published 02/12/2024 | Updated 09/05/2025Dye-IY, keep a teaspoon of the dye just in case you need to remove a stain quickly.
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