How to Get Hair Dye off Your Face

Co-authored by Angela Justice

Last Updated: November 4, 2022

Sometimes, we're not as neat and tidy as we know we should be when we dye our hair. That's when you end up with ugly, embarrassing hair dye stains on your face. Luckily, there are many ways to remove those stains with simple household items. If any one of these methods doesn't work on your particular stain, just move on to another method!

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Using Toothpaste

1
Buy a toothpaste to remove the hair dye stain. Any non-gel toothpaste will probably do, since they all have abrasive properties, but choose one that has baking soda in it. They tend to be even more abrasive, and baking soda has stain-lifting properties in it.
2
Apply a thin layer of toothpaste over the stained area of skin. You can use your fingers if you don’t mind getting a little messy; otherwise, use a cotton ball.
- The toothpaste layer should not be too thick — you want a thin layer.
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3
Rub the toothpaste into your skin. Some sources suggest using a toothbrush to rub the toothpaste into your skin, but that could result in skin irritation, so don’t do that. Instead, use your fingers or a cotton ball to gently massage the toothpaste into the dyed area using a circular motion.
- Be careful not to rub too aggressively, as this can irritate your skin.
- Take a break or stop the process altogether if your skin starts burning or itching.
4
Rinse the toothpaste off your face using warm water. Use a face cleaning product to make sure your face is clear of all products that don’t belong there.
- If the stain isn’t completely removed at this point, repeat the process as many times as is necessary.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Using Shampoo

1
Apply shampoo to a cotton ball. Just a little dab of shampoo is all you need. Any shampoo will work, although clarifying might be most effective. This method works best on fresh stains just after dyeing your hair.^{[1]
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2
Rub the cotton ball into the stain. Use gentle, circular motions as you do so. The stain should start to rub off.^{[2]
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3
Scrub off the dye with a warm, damp wash cloth. Make sure to remove all of the shampoo as you do so. Be very gentle as you scrub. If it didn't get all of the dye off the first time, try it again.^{[3]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Using Petroleum Jelly

1
Rub a thin layer of petroleum jelly onto the stained area. Using your fingers, massage your skin in a circular motion, working the jelly into the stain. Continue doing this until the stain begins to come loose from your skin.
- The benefit of using petroleum jelly and your fingers is that there’s a decreased chance of irritating your skin with abrasive rubbing!
- The drawback is that as the stain comes loose, things get messy. Be careful not to get the dye on anything as it starts coming off of your skin.
2
Consider using a cotton ball instead of your fingers to keep the mess in check. The dye will transfer easily to your fingers, and from your fingers to anything you touch. Using disposable cotton balls will keep the mess in check, but be careful not to irritate your skin when rubbing it.
3
Wipe the jelly and dye off with a soapy washcloth. You’ll be able to see when the dye starts coming off the skin and mixing with the jelly, but it may be difficult to see if the whole stain is off. If there’s still some dye on your skin when you wipe off the jelly, you have two options:
- Reapply another layer and repeat the process as many times as is necessary
- Move on to the next step
4
Apply another layer of petroleum jelly over the stained area. Follow the same procedure as the first step, but make the layer thicker than the previous one. This time, though, allow the jelly to sit on your skin for several hours.
- If you can stay at home all day, just go about your day at home as though it isn’t there. Do chores, cook dinner, read a book — whatever you want. If not, try to wipe off the stain again.
5
Wipe the jelly off with a damp washcloth once a few hours have passed. Rub gently in a circular motion as you remove the jelly. Again, wash your face with warm water, soap, and a clean washcloth to remove the jelly.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Using Baby Oil

1
Rub a generous coating of baby oil over the stained area.^{[4]
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Research source} You can use your fingers, a cotton ball or pad, a washcloth — it doesn’t really matter.
- Don't apply so much that it drips down your face.
2
Let it soak into your skin and stain for at least 8 hours. If you do this in the morning, just go about your day normally at home, or go out with the oil and stain on your face if you’re confident enough! If you do this at night, go ahead sleep with the baby oil on your face. This will help you remove the stain in the morning.
- Cover the stained area with gauze bandages or cotton balls and athletic tape to make sure the oil and dye don’t get all over your pillows and sheets while you sleep.
3
Rinse the oil and dye off with warm water and a gentle face cleanser when at least 8 hours have passed. Use your hands or a washcloth to gently scrub the stain away.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Using Baking Soda and Liquid Dishwashing Detergent

1
Mix equal parts baking soda and dishwashing liquid in a bowl and mix it into an evenly mixed, loose paste. A good amount to measure out is two teaspoons of each product. Even separately, these two products are good at removing hair dye stains. Together, they’re almost a sure solution.
- To avoid irritating the skin, choose a mild detergent that doesn't have a lot of added fragrances or dyes.
- Just mixing a little bit of dish soap and warm water together would probably also do the trick.
2
Add a squeeze of lemon if you have it on hand. This is an optional step; on its own, lemon juice won’t remove hair dye stains, but it can boost the effect of the other two products being used in this case.
3
Dampen a washcloth with water, then dip it into the mixture you’ve created. A dry washcloth won’t pick up as much of the mixture, and you’ll have a harder time getting the stain off your skin.
- You can also use cotton balls or your fingers, but a washcloth will do a better job of rubbing it into the stain.
4
Apply the mixture to the stained skin with the washcloth. Rub gently at the stain, making sure not the irritate the skin or rub yourself raw. Depending on how much dye you have on your skin, this might take some time, so be patient.
- Re-wet the washcloth and re-apply the baking soda and dishwashing detergent mixture to it as necessary.
5
Wash your face with warm water when the stain has been lifted from your skin. Use a face cleaning product to make sure your face is clear of all products that don’t belong there.
- If the stain isn’t completely removed at this point, repeat the process as many times as is necessary.
6
Apply a moisturizing cream to your face. Baking soda can really dry your skin out, so you want to give it a moisture boost after you get the stain out.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you get a stain off your skin?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

This really depends on the type of stain, whether it is from a permanent or semi-permanent dye. Most hair color stains can be removed with nail polish remover or vinegar.
Question

How do I remove splat hair color from skin?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Bright semi-permanent dyes like splat are hard to remove from the skin. Vinegar can work, and baking soda is also effective.
Question

How do I get dye off of my skin?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Massage some shampoo into the skin before you get it wet, then rinse. Ashes can also be very effective for removing dye stains.

Warnings

Be careful not to get any of these products into your eyes as you’re scrubbing them around your hairline. If any chemicals get into your eyes, flush them immediately with water and/or eye drops.

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