Remove Black Hair Dye
Black dye is applied to hair for a number of reasons. Unfortunately, the processes by which the dye is removed from hair is much more challenging. The processes for removing black hair dye are very similar to other colors but the timeline could be longer, product more damaging and your natural color will not come back without natural growth. Now that you have unwanted black hair it is time to see how to get to a color that compromises between your natural color and one that looks good on you.
Contents
Steps
Using Color-Removing Kits
- Use color removing kits. Drugstore kits are designed for the removal of any unwanted hair color. There are a variety of these kits on the market, each of which contain different chemicals and instructions.
- Look for extra strength as black hair dye is the most difficult dye to remove.
- Consider your length and how heavy the color dye is that you used. Think about getting two boxes in case you need a double treatment. Two boxes can also come in handy if you have long or thick hair.
- Read the instructions. Be sure to carefully read the manual contained in the kit, and follow all steps as indicated for the best results.
- Check for any possible side effects like a color change or intense drying that you may need to prepare a conditioner to treat.
- Prepare before starting to apply. Similar to dyeing your hair you will need to put on specific cloths, use gloves and prepare you hair before you start putting the chemicals on your hair. You may want to add a towel around your shoulders in case the chemical is watery and drips.
- Put on clothes you are ok with staining. Something that you only wear at home or would feel comfortable getting paint on. This is not something you want to do in formal wear.
- Brush your hair before application. The chemicals could get caught in the tangles of your hair and remove more dye in these areas. This can cause you to have spots throughout your hair where more dye was removed.
- Use a balm like vaseline to cover your face and around your hairline to avoid any staining or skin interactions. This will keep the skin from having too much chemicals on it. This is also a great option to remember the next time you dye your hair to keep your skin from changing colors.
- Put on your gloves and start mixing. Now that you are prepared for working with the chemical read the instructions and mix it before putting it on your head. Some kits will have a very sulfur or rotten egg smell that could be distracting. It may be best to turn on a bathroom fan.
- Apply to your hair. Now that the chemical is ready it is best to apply to your hair evenly. Some of the color-removing kits have a more watery consistency than others.
- Apply in 1 inch strips starting from the bottom half of your hair and moving up to the crown. This will give you consistency throughout the hair. It will allow you to control how much product gets on your hair as well.
- Cover and wait for the allotted amount of time. If your product works best with heat look at placing a blow dryer on a heat resistant stand pointed down at your head while you sit on the floor.
- Repeat. You may need to apply a color removing kit more than once for your desired results. Especially if you have dyed your hair black many times. If you feel like this might be true it is best to purchase an extra box or keep any remaining chemicals after you are done with the initial application.
- Do a deep conditioning treatment. This is best to have prepared just in case you need it for brittle or damaged hair. Add a hair mask or consider not doing styles that require excessive heat or blow drying for best results.
- Dye it again. When using an at-home hair color removal kit, be aware that you may have to dye your hair following the removal of the black dye. This is due to the fact that your hair will likely be lighter in color than its natural shade following the removal of the black hair dye. While this may be acceptable for some, you may prefer to add additional color to get a more natural look. You may also want to wait to color your hair again for at least a couple of weeks to give time to rest. However, many kits will say your hair is safe to dye immediately after use.
Try Home Remedies
- Try an oil treatment. This is recommended to remove henna dye and more permanent colors. It may not remove the color as much as lift any excess faster than washing does.
- Choose an oil type (olive oil, coconut oil, Argan, etc.) or purchase a hair specific oil. You may be able to make your own mixture or purchase something premixed. You also may want to purchase enough to do the treatment twice.
- Apply an ample amount to your entire head.
- Let it sit for as long for a few hours. If you can, cover your hair and keep the oil on overnight, it could give you better results.
- Remove the oil with shampoo. Remember, oil and water don’t mix well so you may need to wash it a few times to get the oil out.
- This method reduces the chances for damage as the oil should be conditioning your hair while it strips the dye.
- Use a Vitamin C treatment. Much like removing other hair dyes from your hair, a Vitamin C treatment could lighten your black hair a shade or two. However, this works best with semi-permanent dye as the acid will work more like lemon juice to lighten your hair.
- Make a paste of Vitamin C tablets and water.
- Apply the paste to damp hair
- Let it set for about an hour
- Wash the paste out of your hair
- Try a honey treatment. It is normally used just to lighten your hair so it may not strip dye as much as turn it a lighter color. The treatment is known to produce peroxide and we know this as a form of bleach.
- Mix four parts honey with one part water
- Let mixture sit for 30 minutes to an hour
- Apply mixture to damp hair
- Cover and let sit for at least for 2 hours
- Rinse and repeat as desired
- Use dish soap with baking soda. It will be harsher on your hair than shampoo, so you'll need to follow it with a deep conditioner.
- Mix five drops of dish soap with a quarter drop of shampoo
- Massage into damp hair
- Let sit for a few minutes
- Rinse and repeat as desired
- Use color-removing shampoos. Using a color-removing shampoo is by far the easiest way to lighten your hair. It will act faster than normal washing.
- Clarifying shampoos designed to get chlorine out of hair help with removal of black hair dye.
- Anti-dandruff shampoos have been known to strip some types of hair dye from your hair. This effect can be enhanced in some cases by mixing with equal parts baking soda. Keep it on your hair for a few minutes and then rinse to check the results.
- This may require multiple washes to get the desired results. Washing your hair multiple times will see more hair color go down the drain each time. Keep trying!
Seeking Professional Help
- Know the process. It can be a long process to take your color from black to a natural blonde. Think about what you will be getting into with this process and where you hope to be by the end.
- Each session may include a stylist bleaching out the color and toning it to an acceptable shade.
- It could be several sessions but the professionals will know how to reduce damage and the proper products to send you home with to continue the process.
- There may still be a stage where your hair is orange but in the salon they can fix it with recoloring.
- Discuss different options with a trusted stylist
- Get a quote. Removing black hair dye is an expensive process. It is best to shop around at a few different salons to find a group with a good price that you can trust.
- Realize that you will get what you pay for so going for the cheapest quote could cost you your lovely hair just as much as home remedies could.
- Take time to grow it out. Work with a professional stylist to gradually grow dye your roots to your natural or desired color. It is a slower process but will cause less damage to your hair overall and it doesn’t necessarily mean your hair will turn orange.
Tips
- If hair had been dyed black over black over black, do the ends, wait for 10 mins and then do the rest, when stripping, black hair dye is harder to get out of the ends.
Warnings
- While bleach removes dye from fabric, you'll want to refrain from using bleach directly on your hair unless you become desperate to remove the black dye. Understand that bleach will change your hair to red or orange, and will cause your hair to be brittle and even fall out. Hair salons use a bleaching agent to strip the hair of color, but their personnel have the knowledge of how to use the professional-grade bleaching agent as well as the proper conditioners to help prevent or lessen damage.
Related Articles
- Prepare Henna Hair Color
- Remove-Dye-from-Hair
- Lighten-Hair-Naturally-With-Honey
