The hair color removing process is one that has proven to be tricky, especially when doing it on your own. Whether you’re dealing with a post-salon snafu or a DIY session that’s gone terribly wrong, not liking how your hair turned out is never a pleasant feeling. This is where hair color remover comes in handy, as it removes the unwanted dye from your hair.
While it’s ideal to let a professional take the reins when removing hair color, it’s not always an option. Keep in mind there are many things that can go wrong when attempting to do color removal at home. However, knowing exactly what to do on your own and using the right products can help you avoid an unnecessary and costly trip to the salon. The whole process can be a little confusing, luckily we spent hours researching the absolute best products to guide you in the right direction.
Below, our picks for the best hair color removers you can use right at home.
This extra-strength hair color remover shrinks the breaks down the dye molecules, allowing you to wash color away in one single step. The product is also bleach and ammonia-free, and you can safely re-color your hair the same day.
Nourishing, non-toxic, and ammonia-free, this hair dye doubles as a hair mask and a mixing medium. It's a semi-permanent hair color fader that allows you to control the color's intensity or fade the dye.
Revolution Beauty's permanent hair color remover is perfect for anyone looking to get rid of or lighten up a more vibrant color. From bright pinks to blues to purples, this formula will remove color, product build-up and pollution while nourishing the hair throughout the process.
Developed to remove oxidative dyes, this hair color remover fades unwanted permanent hair color regardless of how long you’ve had it in your hair. The three-step system is made with argan oil, customizable, and allows you to use as much of the product as you need depending on the length and texture of your hair. Although this may work great for permanent color, it may not be as effective on semi- or demi- permanent hair dye.
For more stubborn permanent hair dyes, Scruples' heavy-duty hair color remover is up for the challenge. While it is one of the stronger hair color removers, it nourishes your hair with avocado oil and bamboo oil, and adds a layer of protection from damage and breakage.
Easily reverse your hair color in 20 minutes with this extra conditioning remover. The formula contains aloe vera—which nourishes and provides hair with hydration—along with a healing soy protein complex to rebuild and restructure processed hair.
The Power Tools Color Balance Corrector helps to tone down brassy, warm red, and gold tones on darker hair for that perfect ash look. To see the real magic of the product, mix it with your shampoo or a color mixture.
If you’re looking to lift a pastel or bright color, the Joico Hair Color Intensity Eraser will get your hair ready for its next color in 30 minutes or less. The formula includes keratin, which will help keep your locks healthy during the process.
The single-use packs make this process extremely easy and will keep your hair hydrated. While this vegan, cruelty-free product will remove the color from your hair in just five minutes, the end result may not be your desired hue.
The checklist for a quality at-home hair removal product is pretty long, and this one ticks all the boxes. This formula can remove extra color build-up from the ends of your hair and can clean up any stains from the dye on your skin and clothes for us non-professionals. But, this hair color remover does contain ammonia, so you should stick to applying it on any spots or stains and on your ends
For sensitive hair, Rogerio Cavalcante of The Second Floor Salon recommends The Fader Shampoo by Overtone, especially if you’re looking to get up to two tones lighter. He advises to always make sure the product is applied evenly to get a good result — which will make all the difference. It gently fades your current hair color to prepare for a new shade or go back to your natural color.
What should we look for in a hair color remover?
Cassie Siskovic, of Alfaparf Milano Professional says the first step in figuring out what type of hair color remover to use is understanding the type of color you need to remove. “You can figure this out by thinking through your hair color history, and then making a decision with this in mind," she says.
Before moving forward with removing hair color at home, Siskovic recommends thinking about the following:
If you used a pastel color conditioner on your highlights/lighter hair.
If you used a color/received color that went darker than you expected.
If you’ve been coloring your hair for years and want to make a change.
If you fall under example one or two, you could remove your hair color with a clarifying shampoo. “Usually, in these cases, the outer layer of your hair (the cuticle layer) is already open because your hair has been bleached or colored,” she adds. Since the cuticle is already open, the color you want to remove has a good chance of coming out easily.
If you fall under example 3, it’s likely clarifying your hair won’t remove your color. “The more consistent you are with hair color, whether it’s the same color or if you change it, the more stained or pigment loaded your hair becomes,” Siskovic explains. At that point, the best option for you may be to head to a salon.
What should we avoid?
Siskovic suggests avoiding any at-home chemicals, bleaches, dish soaps and detergents. “You’ve seen the horror videos on TikTok of people pulling out chunks of their hair due to damage — we deserve better than that,” she says. It’s best to try a safer method, like using a clarifying shampoo, or visiting a salon you trust.
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