How to Remove Semi Permanent Hair Dye in One Day

Co-authored by April Ferri and Caroline Heiderscheit

Last Updated: March 10, 2023 References

You just colored your hair with semi-permanent hair dye and the color is way too dark or not at all what you wanted. Don’t panic—luckily, there are some easy ways you can lighten your dye job and even completely remove the dye in just one day. Check out the tips below to learn how to get semi-permanent dye out of your hair so you can get back to your natural color or a shade that you actually like.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Color Remover

1
Get a color remover. Color remover gets into the hair shaft and strips artificial coloring while leaving your hair's natural color pigments. You can find color remover at beauty stores, drug stores, and some supermarkets. This option can be a bit harder on the hair, but it's usually more effective.^{[1]
X
Research source
[V161666_b01]. 8 December 2020.} Because you used semi-permanent dye, make sure that your color remover is meant for semi-permanent dye, not permanent dyes or demi-permanent dyes.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Check the products' labels for signs that the color remover is ammonia and bleach-free. Color remover can damage your hair as is, but if a product's formulas include either of these chemicals, they may be more harmful.
- To help battle hair damage when removing a dye, look for products that have butters, oils, silicones, keratins, or proteins. These are all strengthening and hydrating ingredients and should help reduce damage.
2
Mix your color remover and the provided activator in a bowl. Your color remover kit should come with a color remover and an activator. Use your kit's brush or mixing tool to stir the two together until they're fully combined.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Your box may include specific instructions you should follow, so read those carefully before you begin.
- Use gloves if they're provided and throw on some grubby clothes when you start working with the mixture. Color remover can stain clothes, and gloves will help keep your hands clean throughout the process.
Advertisement
3
Perform a strand test. Tie back your hair except for one thin strand. Then, apply the color remover mixture to that strand with a dye brush and wrap foil around it (to trap heat in). Let it sit for 1 hour, or however long the instructions on the box specify, before washing it out with shampoo. If you’re satisfied with the color, you can move on to doing the rest of your hair.
- Doing a strand test can be a little annoying, but it’s better to test the color remover on a small piece of your hair instead of your whole head in case you don’t like the resulting color!
4
Apply the color remover using a brush. Use hair ties or clips to separate your hair into manageable sections. Then, use the dye brush to apply the color remover to each section. Make sure each section is fully saturated so you don’t end up with any spots.^{[4]
X
Research source}^{[5]
X
Research source}
5
Let the color remover sit for one hour. Cover your hair with a tied grocery bag or hair cover. You'll usually need to let the color remover sit for 1 hour, but check your product’s instructions to be sure.^{[6]
X
Research source}
6
Rinse your hair and repeat as needed. Rinse the color remover from your hair for the amount of time specified in your directions. Then, find a blow dryer and dry your hair. When it's dried, you should be able to see what tint you ended up with. Depending on how satisfied you are, you may need to start the process over again.^{[7]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Baking Soda

1
Mix equal parts baking soda and anti-dandruff shampoo. Combining baking soda, an abrasive, with anti-dandruff shampoo, a clarifying product, creates a mixture that can help strip dye out of hair. Use 1 tablespoon (14 grams) of baking soda and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of anti-dandruff shampoo. Stir them together in a bowl until they’re thoroughly combined.^{[8]
X
Research source}
2
Apply the mixture to your hair like shampoo. Get your hair lightly damp (not soaking wet) with hot water. Next, apply the mixture to your hair by kneading it in as you would shampoo in the shower.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Try your best to evenly spread the mixture across all of your hair, remembering to cover the lower layers, the ends, and the scalp.
3
Let your hair sit for 20 minutes. Now, you wait! Don’t wash the mixture out. Instead, throw a towel over your shoulders and under your hair, set a timer, grab a book, and chill out.^{[10]
X
Research source}
4
Rinse and condition your hair. When your 20 minutes is up, rinse the mixture out. Baking soda can really dry out your hair, so give your locks a nice condition once you've rinsed out your mixture.^{[11]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Vitamin C and Clarifying Shampoo

1
Crush 15-30 vitamin C tablets. Vitamin C, like baking soda, has natural lightening properties. Combined with clarifying shampoo, it can help strip the dye and get your hair a few shades lighter. Using a pill crusher, a mortar and pestle, or a bowl and spoon, crush the tablets into a fine powder.^{[12]
X
Research source}^{[13]
X
Research source}
- You can also buy ¹⁄₂ cup (120 mL) of ascorbic acid powder instead of 15-20 vitamin C tablets. Ascorbic acid and vitamin C tablets are both available for purchase at drug stores, supermarkets, or vitamin stores.
2
Mix clarifying shampoo with the crushed vitamin C powder. In a bowl, pour your powdered vitamin C in with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of clarifying shampoo. Use a mixing tool, like a spoon, to stir the mixture until it’s completely combined. You can add a bit of extra shampoo to get a smooth texture.^{[14]
X
Research source}
3
Apply the mixture to your hair. Dampen your hair, but don’t get it totally wet. Use either your fingers or a dye brush to cover your entire head with the mixture. If you have thick hair, try sectioning off lower layers, middle layers, and upper layers using clips or hair ties. Apply the mask to one section at a time to ensure you don't miss any portions of your hair.^{[15]
X
Research source}
4
Let your hair sit for an hour. Pull on a hair cover, ensuring your hair sits inside of the bag. Let the mask sit on your hair untouched. Then, remove your mask and wash out the mixture with warm water.
- If you're hair feels itchy or dried out, try giving it a nice condition. Dry your hair to see your finished results.^{[16]
  X
  Research source}