How to Remove Brown Hair Dye

While some people visit a salon for all-over hair color, many people color their own hair at home to save money. When buying hair color, you probably think that the color swatch and model on the box look great in the shade you selected. Unfortunately, once you get home and try it on yourself, the hair color doesn't turn out exactly the way you had hoped. While this can be a stressful realization, don't fret too much. There is a way to remove the dye and return your hair to its natural color.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• L'Oreal Color Zap Hair color Shampoo such as Prell or Head and Shoulders

1. Contact the salon as soon as possible if you had your hair color done professionally. Let the stylist know you are unsatisfied. The stylist will most likely offer color correction services free of charge. You may want to consider going to a salon, even if you home colored, as corrective coloring can get tricky.

2. Act quickly. The fresher the hair color is, the easier it is to remove. Purchase a product like L'oreal's Color Zap which removes permanent and non-permanent dyes from the hair after just one application. Color Zap is likely to leave hair slightly brassier than usual, so it is best you be prepared to recolor it in a shade closest to your natural color. Follow the directions within the Color Zap package carefully for best results.

3. Complete a strand test. Before you recolor again, this time do a strand test first with the new hair color to be sure you don't experience the same disappointing results again. This will save you time, money and extra wear and tear on your hair.

4. Recolor your hair using the color you strand tested that is closest to your natural shade. You can use semi-permanent or permanent hair color. Follow the directions included in the package carefully and be sure to condition your hair thoroughly upon completion.

5. Wash your hair more frequently if the color was just semi-permanent and you don't want to try Color Zap. Increased washings will make the color fade more quickly.

6. Try Prell, Head and Shoulders or Dawn dishwashing detergent to help strip mild color quicker. These shampoos and soaps have the reputation of being good at pulling color out of hair. You can also experiment with clarifying shampoos. Try ones that swimmers use to get rid of chlorine green tinted "swimmer's hair."

Resources

• L'Oreal Color Zap