A DIY hair dye remover can help you get rid of an unwanted hair color using only natural ingredients.
If your new hair color went wrong just because you were too lazy to go to a beauty salon, then here are some tricks which can help you make your own DIY hair dye remover.
It may be that you applied too much color at the roots or the ends of your hair.
Probably you applied the hair dye wrong, and now you look like a Dalmatian, having all sorts of spots of color in your hair.
You must find a way to get rid of this look and quick. Keep in mind that you can create your own healthy and natural hair dye remover which will make you feel relieved. Let’s take a look at some recipes in today’s article.
The dish soap recipe
Some women might have already heard about this method, and they might have already used it.
However, it is good to know that you can use something in your home to help you without going out and drawing everyone’s attention with your messy hair color.
You can also use a sulfate-laden shampoo that can help fade your hair dye.
It is best if you apply this immediately after dying your hair.
You will first need to shampoo your hair and make sure that when you rinse it the water is clear.
You can use this method to fade your hair color within 72 hours after dying it.
So you can say goodbye to your good night’s sleep because you have to take care of your hair.
You might stay up all night trying to rinse that color off your hair, washing it multiple times.
Keep your fingers crossed to get lucky.
The Vitamin C recipe
Some specialists indicate that Vitamin C helps your hair dye to fade. Unfortunately, there is no exact recipe for this method which specifies the ingredients or the exact amount of vitamin C you can use.
Nevertheless, you can use about 20 to 30 vitamin C tablets. Make sure you smash them in a plastic bag. The next step is to use a bowl to mix shampoo, vitamin C powder, and dish soap.
Make sure you obtain a nice mixture and apply it on your damp hair, from roots to tips.
Let this mixture sit for a couple of hours before thoroughly rinsing your hair.
This method is more efficient than the previous one.
If you repeat the trick four or five times, depending on the level of the disaster, then you need to know that you will get rid of the unwanted hair color.
However, you need to keep in mind that sulfate-based products can produce irritation to your scalp. Therefore, you need to make sure that your scalp will not remain sore and dry.
More DIY Hair Color Remover Recipes
Below are ten popular at-home mixtures that can help fade unwanted hair dye gradually. Always strand-test first and follow each treatment with a deep conditioner.
1. Clarifying Shampoo + Baking Soda
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp clarifying shampoo
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- Method:
Mix into a paste, apply to damp hair, leave for 5–10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and condition.
2. Vitamin C Fade Treatment
Ingredients
- 5–10 crushed vitamin C tablets
- Enough clarifying shampoo to form a paste
Method:
Apply to damp hair, leave for 20–30 minutes, rinse well, then deep condition.
3. Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Wash
Ingredients
- Anti-dandruff shampoo (containing selenium sulfide or zinc)
Method
Massage into wet hair, leave for 5 minutes, rinse, and condition. Repeat every few days for gradual fading.
4. Dish Soap + Shampoo Mix (Strong Fading)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp dish soap
- 2 tbsp regular shampoo
Method:
Wash hair with the mixture, leave for 3–5 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and condition deeply. Use sparingly to avoid dryness.
5. Lemon Juice + Conditioner
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp conditioner
Method:
Apply evenly, sit in sunlight for 20–30 minutes if possible, rinse, and moisturize hair afterward.
6. Honey + Water Lightening Mask
Ingredients
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup warm water
Method
Mix well, apply to hair, cover with a shower cap, leave for 1–2 hours, then rinse and shampoo lightly.
7. Coconut Oil Overnight Treatment
Ingredients
- Coconut oil (enough to saturate hair)
Method:
Apply generously, leave overnight, shampoo with clarifying shampoo the next morning to help lift loosened pigment.
8. Baking Soda + Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp anti-dandruff shampoo
Method:
Massage into damp hair, leave for 5–10 minutes, rinse, and deep condition.
9. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Ingredients
- 1 part apple cider vinegar
- 2 parts warm water
Method
Pour over hair after shampooing, leave for 5 minutes, rinse, and condition. Helps gently fade color over repeated uses.
10. Clarifying Shampoo + Epsom Salt
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp clarifying shampoo
- 1 tbsp Epsom salt
Method
Mix into a paste, apply to damp hair, leave 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and condition well.
Tip: DIY removers work best when used gradually over several sessions, allowing the color to soften without stressing the hair. Always follow with hydration treatments to keep hair smooth and healthy.
Mistakes to Avoid When Using DIY Hair Dye Removers
When you need to lighten a color or fix a coloring mistake, DIY hair color removal can be very helpful. However, a few common mistakes can cause dryness, uneven results, or damage that isn’t necessary. If you stay away from the following mistakes, your color correction will be smoother and safer.
1. Trying to take away too much color too quickly
Trying to do more than one strong treatment in a single day is one of the worst things you can do. Hair needs time to heal between sessions, and results that fade slowly almost always look more even and natural. Whenever possible, space out treatments by a few days.
2. Not taking the Strand Test
Different types of hair dye, how porous your hair is, and how many treatments you’ve had before can all affect how even mild DIY mixtures work. You can avoid bad surprises and guess how much fading will happen by testing a small, hidden area first.
3. Keeping Treatments on for Too Long
A lot of people think that longer processing times mean better results, but leaving mixtures on for longer than the recommended time can make skin dry and irritated without making color removal much better. Follow the suggested timing and do the treatment again later if you need to.
4. Not remembering to deep condition
Fading treatments often strip the hair of both color and some of its natural oils. If you don’t use conditioner after washing your hair, it may feel rough, dull, or brittle. Always use a moisturizing mask or conditioner after each session.
5. Using harsh ingredients too often
Small amounts of things like baking soda or dish soap can work, but using them too often can dry out the hair and scalp. Limiting the use of stronger fading methods to only a few times a month helps keep hair healthy.
6. Putting the Mixture on Unevenly
If you don’t apply it evenly, the color may not look right. Take your time spreading the remover out evenly, and be careful when you do it, especially in the darkest areas.
7. Not paying attention to how your hair looks
Stop fading treatments and focus on strengthening and hydrating your hair first if it already feels very dry, stretchy, or damaged. Changing the color of healthier hair is easier to predict.
8. Expecting to get rid of everything in one treatment
DIY methods are meant to fade dye over time instead of removing it right away. Expect the lightening to happen slowly over the course of several sessions, not all at once.
9. Changing the color right away without checking the result
If you put on new dye right after the old one fades, you might end up with colors that are too dark or muddy. Before you choose your next color step, make sure your hair is completely dry and conditioned.
10. Not Knowing When to Get Help
If the color is very uneven, very dark with a lot of buildup, or you just bleached your hair, it might be safer and more effective to have a professional fix it than to try to do it yourself over and over again.
If you don’t make these common mistakes, DIY color fading will be much more predictable and your hair will stay healthier throughout the process. This means that your next shade will go on smoother, shinier, and exactly how you want it.
FAQs
1. Do hair color removers that you make yourself really work?
Yes, there are a lot of do-it-yourself ways to fade hair color, especially if the dye was put on recently or is semi-permanent. They usually don’t get rid of all the color in one session, but they can make dark or bright colors noticeably lighter after a few treatments.
2. What is the safest way to remove hair dye at home?
Using clarifying shampoo, vitamin C treatments, or mild baking soda mixtures to fade your hair is usually thought to be the safest way to do it at home. These methods help lift pigment slowly, without the harsh effects of strong chemical removers. This is especially true when followed by deep conditioning.
3. How long does it take for do-it-yourself removers to work?
After the first treatment, some people see a little fading, but most people see more noticeable results after two to four sessions spread out over a few days. It is usually better to let the color fade gradually than to try to remove it all at once.
4. Can DIY removers get rid of permanent hair dye?
DIY treatments can make permanent dye less bright, but they don’t usually get rid of it completely. Permanent color goes deep into the hair shaft, so it’s best to use home methods to soften or lighten the color before coloring it again or getting professional help if you need to make big changes.
5. Is baking soda bad for my hair?
If you use baking soda too much, it can dry out your skin. Most people can safely use it every now and then, as long as they follow it up with rich conditioning treatments. Limiting use to once every few days helps keep hair from getting dry and breaking.
6. Can vitamin C get rid of hair dye?
Yes, a lot of people use crushed vitamin C and clarifying shampoo as a home remedy. The mild acidity helps break down dye molecules, which makes it great for fading new color or lightening color that is too dark.
7. How soon can I use a DIY remover after coloring?
You can usually start fading your hair gently 24 to 48 hours after dyeing it, when it has settled down. If you start too soon, the lifting may not be even. Waiting a day or two lets the color settle before you change it.
8. Do color removers that you make yourself work on all hair colors?
They usually work best on semi-permanent dyes, colors that are darker than you want them to be, and colors that are too strong. If you want the best results, you may need to see a professional for colors that are very hard to lighten, colors that build up too much, or big changes.
9. Should I condition my hair after using a homemade remover?
Yes, for sure. Fading treatments can make hair a little dry, so using a deep conditioner or hair mask after each session helps keep hair shiny, restore moisture, and stop breakage.
10. When is it better to go to a salon than to do it yourself?
A professional colorist is usually the safest choice if your hair is very damaged, very bleached, very uneven, or needs a big color change. Salon correction can stop more damage from happening and get better results.
Summing it all up, these two recipes can help you remove or at least fade your unwanted hair color by using ingredients from your household. Let us know if they worked for you in the comments below!
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