How to Remove Hair Dye from Skin

Hair dye may seem impossible to remove from the skin, but if you have hair dye on your skin or the skin of an unfortunate friend or relative, don’t panic. The hair dye can be removed. There are many effective methods of removing dye from the face, hands, ears, cheeks, and other areas of the skin. The success of particular methods depends greatly on the dye itself and individual skin types.

The following information provides a number of methods for removing color from the skin. Some of these methods work for some, but not for others. Try the easiest methods first, and continue down the list until you find the removal method that works for you.

Dye Removes Dye

Like many stains, it often takes the stain producing product to actually remove the stain. The strongest cleaners won’t remove coffee stains from some counter tops or other hard surfaces, but use a little coffee while scrubbing the stain, and amazingly, it comes right off. The same goes for hair dye. The following method of color removal is recommended by professional hair stylists.

While in the shower, use leftover hair dye to remove the dye from stained skin. Simply apply leftover hair dye to the dyed areas of your skin, apply it as you would soap, and rub the stained skin using a circular motion. Immediately afterwards, wash the area with shampoo or soap and a washcloth. The color should come off like magic.

Baking Soda and Dishwashing Liquid

This is a home remedy that is said to work well for some people. Simply mix equal parts of baking soda with dishwashing liquid. Apply this mixture to a damp washcloth, and rinse off the baking soda and dishwashing liquid along with the dye. Dishwashing liquid that contains lemon is said to be the best choice.

Try Toothpaste

Toothpaste is good for more than cleaning teeth. Toothpaste is used for cleaning a number of surfaces other than teeth, and many people have found toothpaste to work well at removing dye from the hands, ears, neck, and face. Toothpaste doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s worth a try since toothpaste is cheap and readily accessible.

Commercial Hair Dye Remover

If you try the above home remedies to no avail, consider buying commercial hair dye remover. You can find hair dye remover at most beauty supply stores. Follow product label instructions for best results, and keep it on hand for future use.

Preventive Measures

Hair dye is easier to remove from oily skin that dry skin, and many people find it helpful to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly, baby oil, or conditioner around their hairline and on their neck and ears before dyeing their hair or the hair of a friend or loved one. The slippery surface makes dye removal much easier, so next time you plan on dyeing hair, consider trying this preventative method to avoid dyeing the skin.